South Bend, St. Joseph County will commit millions for faster South Shore ride to Chicago

June 1, 2017

St. Joseph County and South Bend have averaged modest population growth each of the past four years, but they’ve trailed the state of Indiana’s growth rate, according to recently released Census Bureau estimates. City, county and business leaders say they have a prime opportunity to change that by double-tracking part of the South Shore Line, which would eliminate the need for the passenger line to wait for oncoming freight trains, and realigning the South Shore’s approach to South Bend International Airport. They say the work, when finished in 2020, will reduce the South Bend-to-Chicago trip from its current 2.5 hours to 90 minutes, and possibly down to 75 minutes on a special limited-stop trip each weekday morning and evening.

Read More

Passenger rail in and around Chicago is becoming more bike friendly

June 1, 2017

About ten years ago I biked with a friend from Chicago to Hammond, Indiana—a 30-mile ride that was made especially easy by a strong tailwind. We could take the train back, my friend assured me, which was a relief because I'd been having knee problems and wasn't up for a return cycling trip. Unfortunately, she turned out to be wrong: when we wheeled into the station we found signs clearly stating that bikes were allowed on trains only if they were packed into boxes. The station didn't sell boxes, and even if it had, we didn't have the right tools with us to disassemble our bikes. It was a long trip back, riding into a wind that seemed to grow stronger with every turn of our pedals.

Read More

RDA makes South Shore commitment for Lake, Porter counties

June 1, 2017

MERRILLVILLE — The Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority on Thursday committed $3 million annually to the South Shore Line's Double Track project, part of a $290 million effort to add a second set of tracks between Gary and Michigan City and to shift the tracks out of the center of the street in the latter community. The allocation constitutes Lake and Porter counties' share of the project. The annual payment would continue for 30 years, unless the project's bonds are retired earlier. LaPorte County has decided to pay its share of the project upfront, as allowed by legislation enacted at this year's Indiana General Assembly, with an $18.25 million contribution from the county and Michigan City.

Read More

South Shore begins summer promotions for rail travel

May 24, 2017

Commuters are the heart of its business, but the South Shore Line also likes to remind people that it offers more than rides to and from jobs in Chicago. "We're starting to increase our outreach to folks in South Bend and Chicago who want to spend some time in Northwest Indiana," said John Parsons, the railroad's vice president of planning and marketing. A free shuttle bus service between the South Shore's Miller station and the beaches in Gary's Miller section will begin on Saturday and continue on weekends through the summer. Also this summer, the railroad will promote Northwest Indiana as a camping destination for people from Chicago, and baseball fans can get half-price tickets to Gary South Shore RailCats home games.

Read More

Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb signs House Bill 1144

May 23, 2017

Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb traveled to Michigan City, Indiana to sign House Bill 1144, which establishes and permits the South Shore Line's main line double tracking and the West Lake Corridor improvement rail projects. 

Read More

NOTICE OF MAINTENANCE RELATED TRAIN DELAYS & TEMPORARY SERVICE IMPACTS – MAY 15-JUNE 2, 2017

May 22, 2017

NOTICE OF ONGOING MAINTENANCE RELATED TRAIN DELAYS & TEMPORARY SERVICE IMPACTS - THAT WAS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED TO CONCLUDE ON MAY 29 IS BEING EXTENDED THRU JUNE 2, 2017

Effective Monday, May 15 and continuing thru June 2 NICTD plans to perform scheduled track maintenance between Gary Metro Center and East Chicago.  This work will require that we operate trains on a single track for the duration of the project.

Read More