SouthShore.Railfan.net
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The South Shore Line is fully CTC with signal installation and crossing signal replacement for the segment between Michigan City and South Bend completed in December 2011.
Kensington Interlocking received new signaling and a bypass track in Spring 2012.
The CREATE funded bridge replacement at Torrence Ave (near Hegewisch) was completed in November 2012.
A high level platform was built at Dune Park in 2013. Track improvements have been completed in East Chicago and Hegewisch to improve the speed of trains.
The Hammond station has been relocated and rebuilt to tie in to the new Monon Corridor service.
Positive Train Control is fully instaled and operational. NICTD has upgraded the catenary to constant tension along the entire line.
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 | Double Track NWI
Construction started spring 2021 with the new double track open in Spring 2024. The Michigan City 11th St Station closed May 1st, 2021 and land clearing began through Michigan City. Passenger train service between Dune Park and Michigan City was suspended February 28th, 2022. Passengers were bused with a special loop bus serving Beverly Shores and 11th St. Busing was extended to Gary on August 6th, 2022. The Beverly Shores bus loop ended November 15th, 2022. Passenger service resumed between Dune Park and Michigan City on October 25th. 2023. Passenger service resumed between Gary and Dune Park on April 9th. 2024. New schedules were effective May 14th, 2024. Updated schedules took effect August 20th, 2024. A more complete construction timeline is available here. Phase 1 construction (Dune Park to Michigan City) began February 28th, 2022. 11th St and the track was removed through Michigan City and a new double track was installed. A new end of double track control point was built on 11th St west of Michigan Ave. High level platforms and gauntlets were built at the 11th St station at Franklin St. A second track was installed from Power (west of Michigan City) to Tremont (east of Dune Park). Four end of siding control points were removed (CP 43.0, CP 38.6, CP 36.0 and CP 35.2). One end of siding control point was converted to a universal crossover (CP 37.9). (CP 36.0 remains as a connection between the new Track 2 and Lincoln Yard at Power.) Beverly Shores received new longer platforms (one on each track 200ft long). Passenger service resumed October 25th, 2023. The 11th St Station is open. The new 11th St station building and parking structure are under construction. Phase 2 construction (Ogden Dunes to Dune Park) began August 6th, 2022. The end of siding control point at Dune Park was removed (CP 43.7). Track 1 at Dune Park was removed and replaced by a gauntlet and crossover (CP 43.5). Track 2 at Dune Park was extended west past Waverly Rd (CP 43.9). A new gauntlet track was installed on track 1 past the Dune Park platform. A new low level platform was installed on track 2 at Dune Park (4 car platform). A new left hand crossover was installed east of the Dune Park platform. Two new passenger tracks were built between CP 46.5 and CP 43.9 (Bailly Yard). (The former passenger track became part of a two track freight yard.) CP 46.5 was upgraded and CP 43.9 was added to provide access to the freight yard. Two new bridges were built at the east end of Wilson (former CP 47.5). CP 47.5 was removed. The north parking lot at Ogden Dunes closed January 9th, 2023 for construction. Track 1 at Ogden Dunes was removed and rebuilt with a high platform and gauntlet (CP 50.8). Passenger service resumed April 9th, 2024 (entire line). Ogden Dunes Station is open. Phase 3 construction (Gary to Ogden Dunes) began in March 2023. Two new bridges were built at the west end of Wagner (east of Miller). Miller Station busing moved to a temporary location September 15th, 2022 for construction. Miller Station was rebuilt as a double track station with high platforms and gauntlets (CP 55.0). The connection to CSX at Miller station became part of the new control point. A new layover yard was built at Miller station (trains turning in Gary will turn in Miller). Track between CP 58.1 and Miller was realigned with a second track added to the south of the main. A universal crossover was built at Clay St in Miller (CP 55.7). Two end of double track control points were removed (CP 58.1 and CP 54.0). Passenger service resumed April 9th, 2024 (entire line). Miller Station is open. Schedule A new schedule with 53 trains each weekday took effect May 14th, 2024. Parking New parking lots at Dune Park, Ogden Dunes and Miller (east lot) were completed in 2022. New parking at Miller (west lot) was completed in 2023 with lots opening as train service resumed. SEE THE UPDATED LINE MAP COMPARISON. |
 | West Lake Corridor - Monon Corridor of the South Shore Line
Construction started spring 2022 with the new line set to open in 2025. This is an eight mile extension south from Hammond through Munster along the west edge of Lake county. The project includes the relocation of the Hammond South Shore station. There will be five peak trains from Munster to Chicago each day with one reverse peak train. Additional shuttle trains will run from Munster to Hammond. New Hammond Gateway Station opened October 18th, 2024. GENERAL INFORMATION and SIGNAL INFORMATION |
 | Metra Track 4 - Improvements at Van Buren St and Millenium Ststion
Construction started summer 2023. In Chicago from Millenium Station to Kensington, the South Shore Line operates on the Metra Electric District. To handle the increase in trains for Double Track Indiana and Monon Corridor, NICTD is paying Metra to build a fourth track north of 11th St to Millenium Station. This is a historic three track bottleneck with a single track entering the NICTD platforms. A second entry point will be added at Millenium Station and the platform tracks will be reconfigured. A new platform will be added at Van Buren St station on track 4 and at Millenium Station on track 14. Metra will also be modernizing the existing platforms at the Van Buren St Station. |
 | Studies are underway to build a new station to replace the 1992 station at South Bend International Airport with a shorter and faster routing to the west side of the airport. A new station has been discussed for several years (the 1992 station was considered temporary) but at the end of 2022 NICTD is pushing forward to complete the final engineering so they can apply for funding for construction. |
New on SouthShore.Railfan.net
Site updates in 2024 include the new schedules (effective August 20th) reflecting double track construction.
SEE THE MEET POINT GRID.
Additional updates were made throughout the site in 2021-2024 to cover the construction projects mentioned above.
Site updates in 2013 included construction photographs of Dune Park. READ MORE HERE.
The new high level platform went in to service August 30th, 2013. The full 8-car high platform opened November 13th, 2013.
Site updates in 2012 included adding photographs of Millenium Station and the completed Kensington Interlocking.
Site updates in 2011 included adding photographs of Millenium Station, Van Buren St, Museum Campus, McCormick Place, 57th St, 63rd St and Kensington in Chicago. The signalling changes at Michigan City Shops are reflected on the station page and a new page has been added detaiing the new configuration of CP 32.2.
The "line map" showing track configuration and signalling remains up to date with notations reflecting current construction.
