Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad (NICTD)

Highlights of the South Shore Line

The NICTD South Shore Line is a busy commuter rail line with 59 trains per weekday and 23 trains on the weekend schedule. NICTD operates a roster of 82 modern rail cars. 48 cars are self propelled single level with cabs at each end. 10 cars are self propelled single level cars with a cab at one end. 10 more cars are trailers with no propulsion. In 2009 NICTD added 14 bi-level gallery cars to the fleet bringing the total to 82. 26 Highliner double-deck cars are being rehabilitated by Metra and will be leased for 15 years beginning in 2023. The Metra cars will carry NICTD logos to help Chicago passengers see the difference between Metra Electric and South Shore trains.

On weekdays there are 26 westbound passenger trains to Chicago, with seven originating in Gary (Miler Station), 13 in Michigan City and six in South Bend. The first 12 westbound trains are considered peak trains. 27 trains return from Chicago, six ending in Gary, 15 in Michigan City and six in South Bend. Nine of the afternoon eastbound trains are considered peak trains. Six other trains position cars between Michigan City and South Bend. This busy schedule keeps at least one South Shore train in motion from 4:00am to 10:24pm (CT) with the last returns from Chicago at 11:15pm and 12:45pm. The passenger service finally fall silent at 2:08am. On weekends the South Shore runs a reduced schedule of nine trains to Chicago and nine trains returning with at least one in service train in motion from 5:32am until 2:16am.

Weekdays are the best times to catch passenger action along the South Shore, however there is enough weekend action to make a visit worthwhile. SouthShore Freight trains also operate over the NICTD owned lines. With the reduced passenger service on weekends more time is available for freight.

METRA Electric District
METRA's Electric District is the former Illinois Central suburban service in Chicago. NICTD uses the northern 14.5 miles of this system to reach downtown Chicago. Access along the line has changed over the years. In the past stations had turnstiles that prevented people without tickets from reaching the platforms. These barriers have been removed. The Electric District is grade separated which places it above street level for most of it's run and below street level as it approaches downtown. The above street level portions are hard to see unless you're on the platform or trains. The below street level portions are easier to see where bridges are present. Finding safe parking along the line to reach a station may be a challenge. The stations on the section NICTD uses in Chicago are not designed for commuters with cars.

The core downtown stations are within walking distance of each other (given enough time and the desire and ability to walk). Millennium Station on the north end of the line is now underground but the "below ground level" section south of there to 27th St can be viewed from bridges. There are many bridges in the downtown area with a view of the tracks.

Kensington / 115th St station has street parking next to the station as well as a small commuter parking lot. The neighborhood has a crime problem so only daylight visits are recommended. NICTD South Shore trains no longer stop at Kensington (effective February 15th, 2012) but they can be seen passing the platform and passing through the interlocking.

Hegewisch
For short visits the "Kiss and Ride" parking along the platform allows people to park for a few minutes. Otherwise payment is required for parking. The platforms are easily accessible. The Norfolk Southern Fort Wayne line runs parallel to the South Shore just south of the station so if you like freight you may see something interesting.

Hammond Gateway
Station parking is free and the new station has plenty of available space. The old station parking lot two blocks to the east remains available as an overflow. CSX's Toledo Line runs along the south edge of the parking areas. Trains on the nearby NS Chicago District and IHB lines can also be seen from the new parking lot.

Construction is underway for the West Lake Line which will extend south from a new Hammond station to the south end of Munster. When construction is complete there will be a dedicated platform for the Monon Corridor trains. Many Monon Corridor trains will run as shuttles connecting to South Shore trains but there will be peak through trains to Chicago.

East Chicago
There is plenty of free parking here ... and 24/7 restrooms at ground level. The rail line is built on an embankment next to the toll road (similar to the METRA Electric District). The line is only visible from the platform, at an odd angle from the parking area or while driving at highway speeds on the toll road.

Gary
There are three stations in Gary and several other points of interest. The "airport" station is a flag stop at Clark Rd where there is a small parking lot and a clear view of the railroad in both directions. There is a section of line between two "streets" that need repaving where trains are easily seen but there is no good place to stop (except a baseball field). This neighborhood is run down and while many people are friendly and a few houses are well maintained and decorated many buildings are burned out, collapsing or gone. As with Kensington, you may see a drug deal go down.

The downtown station in Gary is the Metro Center. Paid parking is available. Cars are occasionally parked on Broadway for free and there is a small parking area next to a static display steam engine that is usually empty. The Metro Center station is run down and some people may feel unsafe. As far as train action, Gary is built on an embankment which makes it harder to see the line except from the platform or at odd angles.

Gary's eastern station is Miller. Parking at the new train station is plentiful with a second parking located east of the station. The line can also be seen from other parking lots nearby. Other than near the station it may be hard to find a comfortable place to park or stop to see the trains move. Miller is the site of the interchange with the CSX Toledo Line. If you like freight you may be fortunate enough to see some interchange action here.

Portage / Ogden Dunes
Just east of Miller the line runs along US 12 for about seven miles of unobstructed viewing along a double track segment. Parking is best at the Ogden Dunes station but some people are comfortable pulling off the side of the road where possible. The first mile east of Miller (53-54) was the "Ideal" section of the South Shore line built by Samuel Insull. The catenary was replaced in May 2010 making 2010 the last year in which the "Ideal" section supports carried the catenary. The Norfolk Southern Chicago Line runs parallel and to the north of the South Shore for this segment (and along the north side of the Ogden Dunes station parking). Freight rail enthusiasts are often seen in this parking area. NICTD police will also park in or near the station parking lot. Amtrak's Lake Shore Limited, Capital Limited (or "Floridian") and Michigan trains also use the Norfolk Southern line through here (seven trains per day each direction). A new parking lot has been built south of US 12 with a crosswalk on US 12.

Dune Park - Calumet Trail
US 12 continues to follow the South Shore through the Indiana Dunes. Freight action can be seen near the former Bethlehem Steel plant (now Cleveland Cliffs after being Arcelor Mital) and NIPSCO at CP 46.5 (although there is no good place to watch from). The former stop at Dune Acres on Mineral Springs Rd has a parking lot (National Park fee required) where the east end of the freight interchange can be seen.

Dune Park station is headquarters for NICTD. There is plenty of parking although the largest lot is at the east end of the station platform. The station building is open 24/7 with restrooms. Further down US 12 at Tremont is a National Park operated picnic/rest area that (when open) closes at dusk (fee required). The next station is the historic building at Beverly Shores which has a small but useful parking lot and a local history museum. A short drive (or walk, if you are able) north of the station will take you to Lake Michigan and a view of Lake Michigan. (Note: The National Park Service now charges a fee for parking in all areas of the Indiana Dunes National Park.)

The Calumet Trail ends at US 12 on the west side of Michigan City. This trail runs north of the South Shore Line through the dunes area. While there are places along the trail where the South Shore is visible there is enough separation that you may not be able to see the trains through the plant growth. The trail can be accessed from a trailhead near US 12 on the county line and there is a paved path east toward Michigan City where one can see some freight switching.

Michigan City
Due to the street running, Michigan City was a major draw for railroad enthusiasts. Street running began on the west at the corner of Sheridan and 10th St (Sheridan is the first road south after entering the county on the large sweeping curve of US 12). Also at Sheridan has a view of the west end of the Michigan City NIPSCO plant and the line across the north side of Michigan City that connects to the Amtrak line. The South Shore left the middle of 10th St and curved to the middle of 11th St at Chicago Rd. Street running ended at the intersection of 11th St and Michigan Ave.

With double track construction the South Shore now runs just south of 10th St where trains can be followed. Note: Trains have a faster speeed limit than street traffic. The South Shore crosses Amtrak's Michigan Line (four trains per day each direction plus an occasional freight) just south of the 10th St road crossing of Amtrak.

11th St has been rebuilt as one lane eastbound with two tracks occupying the center of the right of way and the former westbound lane. South Shore trains stop east of Franklin at a modern station with high level platforms, ground level parking and a parking structure shared with a to be built appartment complex. The facade of the former South Shore station will be part of the new station facility which will be in the garage.

East of downtown the line continues to another popular location, "Shops". The station on Carroll Ave is the end of the line for most trains. Parking can fill up quickly and there is overflow parking northwest of the station in a well lit gravel lot. During off hours a parking space can usually be found. Shops is the home for all of the mechanical departments that keep the SouthShore Freight and NICTD electric trains running. During normal operations every passenger car returns here at night (SouthShore Freight stages engines in yards along the line). SouthShore Freight's operations are run out of a building on this property. A new dispatching and training center was built here by NICTD.

The Roeske Ave bridge provides a nice overlook over the yard although there is only a walkway on one side (the west side). To the east, Karwick Rd offers a telephoto view of the shops as well as seeing trains entering and leaving the South Bend section of the line. Just east of Karwick Rd is the CSX Grand Rapids line that carries one Amtrak per day to and from Grand Rapids.

South Bend Section
From Shops to South Bend the line is single track with only two places to pass in 32 miles. Much of it was built raised up over farmland or cut through hills. There are crossings nearly every mile but many of them are grade separated or have no parking at the crossing.

Hudson Lake is one of the few places where the line parallels a road east of Michigan City, you can follow the South Shore for 7/10ths of a mile west of the St Joseph Co Line. In New Carlisle the Norfolk Southern Chicago Line returns to a parallel alignment just south of the South Shore. At this point along with heavy freight traffic the NS line carries two Amtrak trains each way per day.

The South Shore Line comes to an end in South Bend, leaving the parallel running with NS at Grandview and spending the last 3.2 miles traveling slowly along the edge of city streets to reach the airport. A new connection to the airport is planned that will end this slow connection and reach the airport via a new connection on the west side. The former main line to Bendix (which remains an Amtrak station) still exists with the catenary removed. Street running to downtown South Bend from Bendix ended in 1970. There is a new "Bendix" station along the north side of Westmoor Ave where up to three eight car trains can stop at low level boarding points. This stop is used for charter trips to South Bend for Notre Dame games.