Monon Corridor
The Monon Corridor (West Lake Corridor Project) is a new, 8-mile southern extension off the South Shore Line Railroad’s main Lakeshore Corridor that is currently under construction. It runs from north Hammond southward to its terminus at Munster/Dyer Station. The new extension is called the Monon Corridor, and the existing South Shore Line main line is called the Lakeshore Corridor.
The new Monon Corridor includes four new stations:
· Hammond Gateway Station (near Gostlin Street and Sheffield Avenue in Hammond)
· South Hammond Station (near 173rd Street and Lyman Avenue in Hammond)
· Munster Ridge Station (near Ridge Road and Manor Avenue in Munster)
· Munster/Dyer Station (near Main Street and Allison Road at the Munster/Dyer border)
Timeline For Completion and Start of New Service
Previously we reported that the Design-Build contractor’s schedule anticipated a completion date of October 31, 2025, though we had hoped to work with the contractor to improve upon that date. Unfortunately, due to some unexpected rework required by the contractor to install proper measures to isolate low-voltage current along the rail corridor, necessary to avoid corrosion of adjacent utilities, the opening date for the new Monon Corridor has been delayed. The new estimated timeline for completion is the end of 2025, pending completion of construction, testing, and commissioning. Construction is currently over 95% complete. Test trains will run approximately one month ahead of the grand opening of service to allow for the commissioning and testing of the new line, as well as training for onboard crews and dispatchers. The community will be notified when test trains run, as well as ahead of the start of full passenger service. There will be a large-scale media campaign including:
- Fact Sheets that explain how to ride and the difference between Rush Hour trains and Shuttle Trains, and how to transfer between lines if using Shuttle Trains;
- Videos that show how to ride and transfer at Hammond Gateway
- Digital billboards announcing the upcoming date of passenger service
How The Monon Corridor Service Will Operate
Rush Hour trains will run to and from Chicago on the same train equipment, so no transfer will be required on Rush Hour trains. Shuttle Trains, which will operate on off-peak (non-rush hour) trains, will only run from Hammond Gateway Station to Munster/Dyer station; these trains will not continue into Chicago or eastward to South Bend. Should passengers on the Shuttle Trains want to go further towards Chicago or towards South Bend, they will get off the train at Hammond Gateway, then go down the stairs, elevator or ADA-compliant ramp to the lower main South Shore Line platform to board a connecting train. Time is built into the schedule to allow passengers sufficient time to make their connection. The passenger timetable, App, posters and other information sources will clearly demarcate the Shuttle Trains that require transfer.
Train Scedule
- Weekday Inbound (to Chicago): 5 trains to Chicago, 9 Shuttle Trains from Munster/Dyer to Hammond Gateway.
- Weekday Outbound (from Chicago): 6 trains from Chicago, 8 Shuttle Trains from Hammond Gateway to Munster/Dyer.
- Weekend Inbound (to Chicago): 15 Shuttle Trains Munster/Dyer to Hammond Gateway.
- Weekend Outbound (from Chicago): 14 Shuttle Trains Munster/Dyer to Hammond Gateway
- Total Count: 28 trains each weekday, 29 trains each weekend day.
- The projected schedule has trains operating between 5am and Midnight on weekdays and between 7:30am and 2:00am on weekends.
- This is the draft schedule; the final train schedule will be released prior to the start of Monon Corridor Revenue Service.