NICTD - Monon Corridor aka "West Lake" (Opening Soon)
The Monon Corridor (originally West Lake Corridor) was completed in November 2025. The line connects to the Lakeshore Corridor of the South Shore Line at CP 69.2 just west of a new Hammond Gateway station. The line physically curves to the south just east of the new Hammond Gateway station. After the curve railroad "Eastboound" is physically southbound and railroad "Westbound" is physically northbound. Mile markers are referred to as "WL" and the mile number, counting down from CP 69.2.
Peak trains will run between Munster and Chicago without stopping at Hammond Gateway. Off-peak trains will run as shuttles between Munster/Dyer and the Hammond Gateway station, timed to connect with Lakeshore Corridor trains. The Hammond Gateway station replaced the previous Hammond station at Hohman Ave. All stations on the Monon Corridor have high platforms. The charts below are best read by starting at the bottom of the page and working up toward the top, block by block, seeing the signals in the same order that they would be presented to a train. | |
Westbound to Chicago | |
CP 70.5 - Hegewisch (Passenger Station)
| Westbound trains normally run on Track 2 for right hand running.
The blue "P" represents the main tracks used by stopping passenger trains. (Signal detail applies to both tracks.) Gauntlets are used by trains not stopping at platform "Stop" - Dispacher has not cleared train or a train is at platform. "Restricting" - Track before next signal [722] obstructed. "Approach" / "Diverging Approach" - Closest train west of 722. "Clear" / "Diverging Clear" - Track clear to at least CP 73.8. |
CP 70.0 - State Line / Burnham Yard (West)
| Westbound Monon Corridor trains arrive on Track 1 and normally cross over to Track 2 at CP 70.0. "Stop" - Dispacher has not cleared train or interlocking is blocked. "Restricting" - Track before CP 70.5 is obstructed. (or CP 70.5 is Stop / Restricting). "Clear" / "Diverging Clear" - Track clear to at least 722. "Approach Diverging" / "Diverging Clear Approach Diverging" - Pass Hegewisch station on bypass track. |
CP 69.2 - State Line / Burnham Yard (East) All routes are diverging from the Monon connection. "Diverging Approach" - Stop at CP 70.0. "Diverging Clear" - Track 1 after CP 70.0. "Diverging Clear Approach Diverging" - Track 2 after CP 70.0. | Eastbound from ChicagoThe Monon Corridor ends at milepost WL 61.4 at the southern city limits of Munster. Southbound signals at CP 61.6 will show either RESTRICTING or STOP to protect the end of track.The southbound signal at 61.9 and intermediate signal 634 reflect the limited aspects at CP 61.6. Eastboound trains from Chicago terminate at Munster / Dyer. The Munster siding is available to store up to sixteen train cars. |
Hammond Gateway - Monon Corridor The Monon Corridor uses the upper level platform at the Hammond Gateway station. Through trains from Munster/Dyer to Chicago do not stop at the Hammond Gateway station.Off-peak and weekend shuttle service is available between Munster/Dyer and Hammond Gateway. There is no signal at the Monon Corridor platform at Hammond Gateway. The westbound signals at CP 69.2 are visible from the platform. Shuttle trains will see Stop on the signal at CP 69.2. | CP 61.6 - Munster Siding Track ends at platform (best signal aspect "Restricting"). "Restricting" - Train may move into station stopping before obstruction. A CSX track runs parallel to the west of the Monon tracks. |
CP 68.4 - Hammond Maintenance Yard No clear routes (best signal aspect "Approach Diverging"). "Approach" - Stop at CP 69.2. "Approach Diverging" - Track clear to at least CP 70.0. [Track Speed: ~35, 25 north of signal; Turnout Speed: 15] Trains terminating at Hammond Gateway receive "Approach". Trains to yard receive "Restricting" (bottom red flashing). An additional station is planned north of Douglas St |
CP 61.9 - Munster Siding No clear routes (best signal aspect "Approach"). "Approach" - Stop at CP 61.6. "Diverging Approach" - Take siding, stop at CP 61.6. [Track Speed: 79 (reduced by signal to 40 MPH or less)] [Turnout Speed: 15] |
Intermediate Signal [670] south of Detroit St "Approach" - Stop at CP 68.4. "Clear" - Track clear to CP 69.2. Trains to yard receive "Approach" ("Restricting" at next signal). |
Intermediate Signal [633] north of Fisher St "Approach" - Stop at CP 61.9. "Advance Approach" - Stop at CP 61.6 (best signal aspect). "Approach Diverging" - Take siding at CP 61.9. Munster Ridge Rd Station is located near Ridge Rd |
CP 65.3 - South Hammond Siding "Approach" / "Diverging Approach" - Closest train north of 670. "Clear" / "Diverging Clear" - Track clear to at least CP 68.4. [Track Speed: 79; Turnout Speed: 40] |
CP 65.1 - South Hammond Siding "Approach" / "Diverging Approach" - Closest train south of 633. "Clear" / "Diverging Clear" - Track clear to at least CP 61.9. [Track Speed: 79; Turnout Speed: 40] |
The south Hammond siding is used to allow westbound and eastbound trains to pass. |
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CP 65.1 - South Hammond Siding "Approach" - Stop at CP 65.3. "Clear" - Track clear to at least 670. "Diverging Approach" - Take siding and stop at CP 65.3. "Diverging Clear Approach Diverging" - Pass through siding. [Track Speed: 79; Turnout Speed: 40] Munster Ridge Rd Station is located near Ridge Rd |
CP 65.3 - South Hammond Siding "Approach" - Stop at CP 65.1. "Clear" - Track clear to at least 633. "Diverging Approach" - Take siding and stop at CP 65.1. "Diverging Clear Approach Diverging" - Pass through siding. [Track Speed: 79; Turnout Speed: 40] |
Intermediate Signal [634] north of Fisher St "Approach" - Stop at CP 65.1. "Advance Approach" - Stop at CP 65.3. "Clear" - Track clear to at least 670. "Approach Diverging" - Take siding at CP 65.1. |
Intermediate Signal [669] south of Detroit St "Approach" - Stop at CP 65.3. "Advance Approach" - Stop at CP 65.1. "Clear" - Track clear to at least 633. "Approach Diverging" - Take siding at CP 65.3. An additional station is planned north of Douglas St |
CP 61.9 - Munster Siding "Approach" / "Diverging Approach" - Closest train north of 634. "Clear" / "Diverging Clear" - Track clear to at least CP 65.1. [Track Speed: 79; Turnout Speed: 15] |
CP 68.4 - Hammond Maintenance Yard "Approach" / "Diverging Approach" - Closest train south of 669. "Clear" / "Diverging Clear" - Track clear to at least CP 65.3. [Track Speed: 25, ~35 south of signal; Turnout Speed: 15] |
CP 61.6 - Munster Siding
"Stop" - Dispacher has not cleared train. "Restricting" - Track before next signal (CP 61.9) obstructed. (Train may move, stopping before obstruction.) "Approach" - Track clear. Stop at next signal (CP 61.9). "Advance Approach" - Track clear. Next signal "Approach". (Closest train north of 634.) "Clear" - Track clear. Next signal "Clear". (Track clear to at least CP 65.1.) [Track Speed: 79 north of signal] Diverging Aspects (top light solid red): "Restricting" - Siding before next signal (CP 61.9) obstructed. (Train may move into siding, stopping before obstruction.) "Diverging Approach" - Siding clear. Stop at next signal (at CP 61.9). "Diverging Clear Approach Diverging" - Siding and track beyond clear. (Train may move into siding and continue past next signal.) [Turnout Speed: 15] | Hammond Gateway - Monon Corridor The Monon Corridor uses the upper level platform at the Hammond Gateway station. Through trains from Chicago to Munster/Dyer do not stop at the Hammond Gateway station.Off-peak and weekend shuttle service is available between Hammond Gateway and Munster/Dyer. There is no signal at the Monon Corridor platform at Hammond Gateway. The eastbound signals at CP 68.4 are visible in the distance from the platform. |
CP 69.2 - State Line / Burnham Yard (East)
The Monon Corridor connects to the Lakeshore Corridor at CP 69.2. Monon trains will approach CP 69.2 on Track 1 (right hand track). A diverging signal will be shown for trains connecting to the Monon corridor. Diverging Clear or Restricting may also be seen on track 1 for trains continuing east on the Lakeshore Corridor on Track 2. [Track Speed: 25 exiting CP 69.2 eastbound] |
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^^^ Westbound to Chicago ^^^ | ^^^ Eastbound to Munster/Dyer ^^^ |
| Lakeshore Corridor at CP 69.2
Eastbound South Shore Line trains normally arrive on Track 1 (right hand track) and follow the non-diverging route on the Lakeshore Corridor to Gary, Michigan City or South Bend (passing a "Clear" or "Restricting" signal at CP 69.2). "Approach Diverging" is shown for trains remaining on Track 1 not stopping at Hammond. "Diverging Clear Approach Diverging" is shown for trains crossing over to Track 2 (left hand running) but not stopping at Hammond. Freight trains should always be routed to the gauntlets and see "Approach Diverging" or "Diverging Clear Approach Diverging". Trains crossing over for left hand running cannot cross back until CP 64.9 east of the East Chicago station on the South Shore Line. |
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