South Shore Line

For other uses, see South Shore Line (disambiguation).

Not to be confused with the Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad.

The South Shore Line (reporting mark NICD) is an electrically powered commuter rail line operated by the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) between Millennium Station in downtown Chicago, Illinois and the South Bend Airport station in South Bend, Indiana, United States. The name refers to both the physical line and the service operated over that route. The line was built in 1901–1908 by predecessors of the Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad, which continues to operate freight service. Passenger operation was assumed by the NICTD in 1989, who also purchased the track in 1990. The South Shore Line is one of the last surviving interurban trains in the United States. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 1,406,900, or about 6,300 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2024.

South Shore Line
A South Shore Line train west of Michigan City, Indiana
Overview
Locale	Chicago, Illinois to South Bend, Indiana
Termini	Millennium Station South Bend Airport
Stations	19
Website	mysouthshoreline.com
Service
Type	Commuter rail
Services	1
Operator(s)	Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District
Daily ridership	6,300 (weekdays, Q3 2024)[1]
Ridership	1,406,900 (2023)[2]
History
Opened	1903
Technical
Line length	90 miles (140 km)
Track gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Electrification	Overhead line, 1,500 V DC
Route map South Shore Line highlighted in red Show interactive map Legend 0 mi Millennium Station Metra | NICTD 0.8 mi 1.3 km Van Buren Street 1.4 mi 2.3 km Museum Campus/11th Street Amtrak to Union Station 2.7 mi 4.3 km McCormick Place (events only) I-55 (End) 7.0 mi 11.3 km 57th Street 7.9 mi 12.7 km 63rd Street Metra to South Chicago Amtrak to Union Station to Mich., Miami, NYC, Boston I-90 / Chicago Skyway 14.5 mi 23.3 km Kensington/115th Street (Bypassed) Metra to Blue Island to University Park Amtrak to Carbondale to New Orleans I-94 Grand Calumet River 19.0 mi 30.6 km Hegewisch Illinois Indiana West Lake Corridor 20.7 mi 33.3 km Hammond Gateway West Lake Corridor to Munster/Dyer Main Street 20.9 mi 33.6 km Hammond CSX Transportation Grand Calumet River 23.4 mi 37.7 km East Chicago Indiana Harbor and Ship Canal Grand Calumet River Branch Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad CSX Transportation 28.0 mi 45.1 km Gary/Chicago Airport Norfolk Southern Railway Ambridge 30.9 mi 49.7 km Gary Metro Center I-90 / Indiana Toll Road EJ&E Railway 34.7 mi 55.8 km Miller CSX Transportation Amtrak to Chicago 38.9 mi 62.6 km Portage/Ogden Dunes Little Calumet River Amtrak to Michigan, Miami, NYC, Boston to Burns Harbor Bailly Dune Acres 46.0 mi 74 km Dune Park Tremont Kemil Road 50.4 mi 81.1 km Beverly Shores Willard Avenue Amtrak to Chicago to Pontiac, Port Huron 55.8 mi 89.8 km 11th Street Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad 57.5 mi 92.5 km Carroll Avenue Carroll Avenue Yard and Shops Trail Creek Amtrak to Chicago to Grand Rapids I-94 Galena River LaLumiere I-80 / I-90 / Indiana Toll Road Rolling Prairie Amtrak to Chicago 74.6 mi 120.1 km Hudson Lake Central Time Eastern Time CSB&NI Ry to Michigan City New Carlisle CSB&NI Ry to South Bend Planned realignment 90.1 mi 145 km South Bend Airport South Bend Amtrak to New York City, Boston, and Miami South Bend St. Joseph River South Bend Terminal Yard Key South Shore Line West Lake Corridor Metra Electric District This diagram: view talk edit Show route diagram

Route

Departing South Bend Airport, the South Shore Line heads south alongside Bendix Drive, then west along Westmoor Street, before connecting with the tracks that ran to its former terminus. Between that point and Hudson Lake, Indiana, the South Shore Line runs parallel to Norfolk Southern's Chicago Rail Line, also used by Amtrak's Lake Shore Limited and Capitol Limited, on the north side of the tracks. Just before Hudson Lake, the line crosses from St. Joseph County into LaPorte County and enters the Central Time Zone.

From Hudson Lake, the South Shore continues straight west to Michigan City. In Michigan City, the track runs parallel to 11th Street from Michigan Boulevard to Tennessee Street, where it crosses over to Tenth Street. There, the railroad has an at-grade diamond with Amtrak's Michigan Services, after which it runs until Sheridan Avenue on the west side of Michigan City, Leaving Michigan City, the track travels through Indiana Dunes State Park, crosses over the Chicago Line and runs parallel to it, this time on the south side, past Long Lake. At Gary, Indiana, the route heads west to service the Gary Airport, at times running parallel to the Indiana Toll Road, as far as Hammond, Indiana. Just west of Hammond Gateway station, the route crosses into Illinois and Chicago city limits, at which point the track curves northwest, through the Hegewisch neighborhood and, after crossing the Bishop Ford Freeway and the Calumet River, converges with the Metra Electric line south of Kensington/115th Street station. The South Shore Line then runs over the Metra Electric from Kensington/115th Street the rest of the way to Millennium Station.

The line is quadruple tracked along the section shared with the Metra Electric line from Millennium Station to Kensington/115th Street, double-tracked from Kensington/115th Street to the yard at Michigan City, and single-tracked from there to South Bend Airport.

Service

The most recent service update was on August 20, 2024, when NICTD published an updated schedule incorporating passenger feedback regarding new double-track service.^[3]

Weekday schedule

In the westbound direction, 26 trains terminate at Millennium Station. Six of these trips run the whole length of the line from South Bend Airport, while all other trips originate at other stops in Michigan City and Gary (8 trains from Carroll Avenue, 5 trains from 11th Street, and 7 trains from Miller). Some trips are "express" and do not make certain station stops; while mainly concentrated in the morning peak, some trips in the afternoon are also express.

In the eastbound direction, 27 trains originate at Millennium Station. Six trains continue all the way to South Bend Airport, while 6 trains terminate at Miller and the remainder terminate at either Carroll Avenue or 11th Street.

In addition to service at Millennium Station, there are three trains that run only between Carroll Avenue and South Bend Airport, with eastbound service in the early morning and westbound service in the late evening.

Weekend and holiday schedule

On weekends and holidays, there are nine trains to and from Millennium Station. In the westbound direction, four trains originate at Carroll Avenue while all others originate at South Bend Airport; however, in the eastbound direction, all but three trains terminate at South Bend Airport.

Additionally, three shuttle trains run between Carroll Avenue and South Bend Airport in the westbound direction, but only two trains are scheduled for eastbound service.^[4]

History

Private operation

Main article: Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad § History

The South Shore Line was constructed between 1901 and 1908 by the Chicago and Indiana Air Line Railway (reorganized as the Chicago, Lake Shore and South Bend Railway [CLS&SB] in 1904). Revenue service between Michigan City and South Bend began on July 1, 1908.^[5] The CLS&SB leased the Kensington and Eastern Railroad on April 4, 1909, giving it access to Chicago. That year the full line to Kensington on the Illinois Central was completed, and beginning on June 2, 1912, the electric cars were coupled to IC steam locomotives and run to downtown Chicago.^[6]

A Chicago, Lake Shore & South Bend limited train near the Indiana Dunes in the 1920s

The Chicago, Lake Shore and South Bend entered bankruptcy in 1925 and was bought by Samuel Insull's Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad (CSS&SB).^[7] The line continued to handle both freight and passengers. Under Insull, the CSS&SB embarked on a major rehabilitation program. This included new ballast and ties, 100-pound (45 kg) rail in place of 70-pound (32 kg) rail, brush clearance, and an overhaul of the line's block signals.^[8] In 1949, the company acquired three Little Joe electric locomotives for freight service. These locomotives had originally been constructed for the Soviet Union, but changing attitudes due to the Cold War prevented them from being delivered. Although the exact same type as the Milwaukee Joes, the South Shore bought them before the Milwaukee did. These locomotives continued in freight service on the CSS&SB until 1983. No. 803, is preserved in operating condition at the Illinois Railway Museum.

The power system was changed from 6600 volts AC to 1500 volts DC on July 28, 1926, allowing trains to operate directly to the Illinois Central Railroad's Randolph Street Terminal (now Millennium Station) without an engine change. Trains began running to Randolph Street on August 29.^[9] That same year, the original line between East Chicago and Indiana Harbor was abandoned.^[6]

The Chicago South Shore and South Bend turned a profit during World War II due to the industrial nature of Northern Indiana. However, highway competition and suburban growth led to ridership declines. By the 1950s all interurban lines were seeing a decline in rail travel as automobile use increased.^[10] On September 16, 1956, a street running section in East Chicago was removed with the building of a new alignment alongside the Indiana Toll Road.^[11] A truncation to west of downtown South Bend removed street trackage in that city from July 1, 1970.^[6]

A Pullman Company electric interurban unit heading west toward Michigan City in 1980.

The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway acquired the CSS&SB on January 3, 1967 and continued the operation of passenger services.^[12] The Chicago South Shore and South Bend was one of six railroads with long-distance passenger services to decline joining Amtrak in 1971 and in 1976, they asked the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) to abandon passenger service. The ICC gave the state of Indiana a chance to reply and subsequently, the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) was formed in 1977 to subsidize service.

Public operation

Southbound NICTD South Shore train, led by car No. 109, seen entering the 55th–56th–57th Street station in Hyde Park (Chicago)

In the late 1980s, the Chicago South Shore and South Bend went bankrupt and on December 29, 1989, passenger service was assumed by NICTD.^[13] In December 1990, the track was sold to NICTD and freight service was taken over by the new Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad, a subsidiary of short line operator Anacostia & Pacific. On November 21, 1992, the line's South Bend terminus moved from the Amtrak station to the airport.^[14] On July 5, 1994, NICTD closed the Ambridge, Kemil Road, Willard Avenue, LaLumiere, Rolling Prairie, and New Carlisle flag stops. A seventh station, Dune Acres, closed around the same time once parking was expanded at nearby Dune Park.^[15]

1925 broadside advertising the South Shore Line railroad between South Bend, Indiana and Chicago, Illinois to highlight attractions on the line, such as the beaches at Dunes State Park.

The railroad began a 3-year project in 2009 to replace all catenary on its line between Michigan City and Gary, some of which was nearly 90 years old. The project cost $18 million and caused service disruptions on weekends while new wires were strung.^[16]

The Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency Program (CREATE), replaced a bridge on the South Shore Line across 130th Street, Torrence Avenue, and Norfolk Southern tracks in the Hegewisch neighborhood of Chicago as a part of a four-year project lasting from 2011 to 2015.^[17][18] The 2,350 ton bridge would be put in place in August 2012.^[19]

In 2015 NICTD began an express service between South Bend and Chicago. Targeted at business travelers, the train makes just two intermediate stops: Dune Park and East Chicago. The total scheduled travel time is 1 hour 55 minutes, more than thirty minutes faster than existing services.^[20]

In July 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, NICTD implemented "mask optional cars" for riders choosing not to wear masks, as Indiana did not have a statewide mask mandate.^[21] This received a controversial reception at the time, as it was alleged at the time to not help slow down the spread of the coronavirus disease, and the "mask optional" car was also the only car with bike racks.^[22][23] On November 14, 2020, the "mask optional cars" were discontinued, requiring all passengers to wear a mask.^[24][25]

Michigan City realignment and Double Track project

South Shore train at the 11th Street stop in Michigan City, Indiana

Since 2005, there has been an ongoing debate pertaining to plans to relocate trackage off the streets of Michigan City.^[26] In July 2009, NICTD announced its intention to relocate the Michigan City track south of its current location in order to smooth out the curves, cut down the number of grade crossings, increase speed and reduce maintenance costs.^[27] The plan also calls for the replacement of both current stations with a single new station located a block west of the current 11th Street boarding location (between Franklin and Washington streets) with a modern, high-level platform and parking lot. The plan would require a demolition of residential and retail buildings currently located on the south side of 11th Street.^[28]

The relocation effort faced a setback in March 2010 when NICTD announced that it was short necessary funds to complete the preliminary engineering study. Unless the funding was found, the relocation would have been postponed indefinitely since, without the engineering study, NICTD would not be able to get state and federal funds necessary to complete the relocation.^[29] NICTD and the city continued to work on obtaining the funds needed.^[30] In 2011 NICTD accepted bids for a $1 million study, expected to take 18 months.^[31] The study was completed in October 2013. The preferred alternative identified by the study preserved an alignment similar to the current route but relocated the tracks alongside the street. It proposed replacing the two existing stations with a new station near the center of Michigan City.^[32]

As part of the Double Track Northwest Indiana project, NICTD added a second track along about 26.6 miles (42.8 km) from Gary to Michigan City during the 2020s.^[33] Work on the Double Track project commenced in 2021,^[34] and the Michigan City realignment was completed as part of the project.^[35] Street running ended on February 27, 2022, and buses temporarily replaced trains within this section.^[36][37] Service between Dune Park and Carroll Avenue resumed on October 25, 2023.^[38] Service on the remaining closed section between Gary and Dune Park restarted on April 9, 2024,^[39][40] with a new schedule taking advantage of the double track beginning on May 14.^[33][41][42] The Double Track project cost $649 million in total.^[34][42]

West Lake Corridor

Main article: West Lake Corridor

Monon Corridor
Legend
0 mi Millennium Station Metra | NICTD 0.8 mi 1.3 km Van Buren Street 1.4 mi 2.3 km Museum Campus/11th Street Amtrak to Union Station 2.7 mi 4.3 km McCormick Place (events only) I-55 (End) 7.0 mi 11.3 km 57th Street 7.9 mi 12.7 km 63rd Street Metra to South Chicago Amtrak to Union Station to Mich., Miami, NYC, Boston I-90 / Chicago Skyway 14.5 mi 23.3 km Kensington/115th Street (Bypassed) Metra to Blue Island to University Park Amtrak to Carbondale to New Orleans I-94 Grand Calumet River 19.0 mi 30.6 km Hegewisch Illinois Indiana reroute peak hours 20.7 mi 33.3 km Hammond Gateway to South Bend Airport CSX Transportation Maintenance and storage facility Grand Calumet River I: Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad N: Norfolk Southern Railway 21.9 mi 35.2 km Downtown Hammond (future) 24.1 mi 38.8 km South Hammond I-80 / I-94 Little Calumet River 25.3 mi 40.7 km Munster Ridge Road Amtrak to Chicago CN South Bend Subdivision 28.1 mi 45.2 km Munster/Dyer Main Street Dyer Amtrak to New York
This diagram: view talk edit

NICTD planned to apply for federal funding for a preliminary engineering study and environmental survey of a Hammond-to-Lowell leg in 2009. As of 2008^[update], that leg had a projected price tag of $551 million.^[43] As of 2019^[update], the cost has increased to $665 million. NICTD was awarded funding in the spring of 2020 and the line broke ground in October 2020.^[44] The project is estimated to open to revenue service in May 2025.^[45][46]

The new line will run through Munster to Dyer, with a possible later extension to St. John, and trains will run as shuttles between Hammond and Dyer during off-peak hours.^[47] The alignment of the new branch leaves the old CSS&SB main immediately before the original Hammond station. Hence, the NICTD built the Hammond Gateway station to serve both branches,^[48] which opened in October 2024.^[49][50]

Rolling stock

Current

South Shore Line
In service	1982–present
Manufacturer	Nippon Sharyo
Constructed	1982–1983, 1992, 2001
Number built	68
Formation	Married-pair
Fleet numbers	1–48, 201–210, 101–110
Capacity	93[51]
Operators	CSS&SB, NICTD
Lines served	South Shore Line
Specifications
Car body construction	stainless steel
Car length	85 ft (25.91 m)[51]
Width	10 ft 6 in (3.20 m)[51]
Height	15 ft 11 in (4.85 m)[51]
Wheel diameter	36 in (914 mm)[51]
Wheelbase	8 ft 2+1⁄2 in (2.502 m)[51]
Maximum speed	79 mph (127 km/h)[51]
Weight	118,000 lb (54,000 kg)[51] (empty)
Traction system	IGBT-VVVF (Toshiba)[52]
Traction motors	3-phase AC induction motor (Toshiba)[52]
HVAC	Electric heating, Air conditioning
Electric system(s)	Overhead line, 1,500 V DC
Current collector(s)	Pantograph
UIC classification	Bo’Bo’+Bo’Bo’
AAR wheel arrangement	B-B+B-B
Bogies	ND-312[51]
Coupling system	Tomlinson
Track gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

A bi-level unit in service in 2009.

A bi-level unit at Millennium Station in 2017.

The South Shore Line operates with a fleet of 82 rail cars built between 1982 and 2009 by Nippon Sharyo. The fleet consists of 58 single-level self-propelled cars, 10 single-level unpowered trailers, and 14 bilevel self-propelled cars.^[53] The single level fleet's design shares commonalities with MARC's locomotive-hauled MARC II fleet, which were also built by Nippon Sharyo.^[54] An additional 26 cars are planned to be acquired, replacing those to be transferred to West Lake Corridor services.^[55] Several Highliner 2s from Metra Electric have already been acquired.^[56]

Numbers	Model	Built	Builder	notes
1–48	Single-level electric multiple unit	1982–83, 1992	Nippon Sharyo	Engineer cab on both ends
201–210	Trailer	1992
101–110	Single-level electric multiple unit	2001		Engineer cab on only one end.
301–314	Highliner II	2009
1201–1226	Highliner II	2005–2006		Ex Metra Electric

Retired

A CLS&SB wood-bodied interurban car at a siding

CSS&SB no. 102, built by Pullman in 1926, street-running in South Bend in 1962

CSS&SB no. 31, built by Standard Steel Car in 1929, at Randolph Street in 1968

Pullman and the Standard Steel Car Company delivered electric multiple units to the CSS&SB between 1926 and 1929. Many were lengthened in the 1940s and 1950s.^[57]

Numbers	Model	Built	Builder	Notes
1–11	62-seat coach	1908	Niles	Two cars scrapped prior to 1923; the remainder scrapped in 1929[58]
12–15				Built as trailers. Rebuilt in 1915 with motors. Baggage compartments added in 1925. Scrapped in summer of 1929.[58]
60–61	48-seat suburban car		Kuhlman	60 wrecked prior to 1918. 61 scrapped in 1927[58]
62–63		1903	Brill	Originally Chicago and Indiana Air Line Railway cars 1 and 2[58]
64		1918	Kuhlman	Built as a replacement for car 60[58]
70–71	54-seat coach	1908	Niles	71 rebuilt as CSS&SB 401 in 1927. 70 used as a yard office and scrapped in 1935.[58]
72–74	46-seat combine			Rebuilt with larger baggage compartments. 73 wrecked in 1909 and rebuilt to work motor 1126 in 1927; undergoing restoration.[59] 72 rebuilt to line car 1101 in 1927. 74 used as trainmen's room at South Bend and scrapped in 1941.[58]
75–77	54-seat coach			Scrapped in summer of 1929[58]
101–110	52-seat coach		Kuhlman	Two cars rebuilt into CSS&SB 222 and 224 in 1927. The remainder were scrapped in 1929.[58]
111–112	60-seat open vestibule car	[data missing]	[data missing]	Purchased in 1917. Formerly AT&SF cars.[58]
113–114	56-seat open vestibule car	[data missing]	[data missing]
1–10	56-seat coach smoker	1926	Pullman
11–15	80-seat coach			Lengthened in 1942–46
16–25		1927		Lengthened in 1945–47
26–29		1929	Standard Steel	Lengthened in 1948
30–37; 39	48-seat coach smoker
38	56-seat coach
40	48-seat coach smoker	1938		Rebuilt from trailer no. 213
100–109	64–68 seat coach–baggage	1926	Pullman	Lengthened in 1943–44 and modernized in 1949–50
110–111	64-seat coach–baggage	1951	Standard Steel	Rebuilt from coaches nos. 10 and 29
201–206	80-seat coach trailer	1927	Pullman	Lengthened in 1946–48
207–210	50-seat coach smoker trailer
211–212		1929
351–352	16-seat parlor–observation–buffet trailer	1927		Originally 20 fixed chairs; rebuilt with 16 rotating chairs in 1929; rebuilt as coaches in 1942
353–354	56-seat coach trailer	1938–39	Standard Steel	Rebuilt from parlors built in 1929

Fare policies

The South Shore Line uses a zone-based fare system, with prices based on the distance traveled and stations' proximity to Millennium Station. There are a total of eleven zones (1–11). Tickets may be purchased at stations, online, and through the South Shore mobile app. Ticket options include one-way, 10-ride, 25-ride, and monthly passes. One-way tickets may also be purchased on trains, but will incur a $1.00 penalty fee if a ticket agent was present at the departure station. Children aged 13 years and under, seniors aged 65 and over, passengers with disabilities, students, active-duty military personnel, and those holding RTA Reduced Fare Permits are eligible for reduced fares. NICTD accepts cash aboard trains, cash and checks at ticket offices, and credit cards online and at Millennium Station's ticket office. Most stations have ticket machines which only accept credit cards.^[60] For travel to Hegewisch station (zone 3), fares are set by Metra.^[61]

Proposed expansions and realignments

Valparaiso branch

At a legislative hearing in October 2008, NICTD officials said they would drop further study of a Munster-to-Valparaiso route, and begin study of a Gary–Valparaiso route. At the hearing, NICTD officials said the projected cost of $673 million for the Munster-to-Valparaiso route as well as low projected ridership would have made it ineligible for federal funding and opted to study the Gary-to-Valparaiso route instead.^[62] The Gary-to-Valparaiso route would utilize the partially abandoned former Pennsylvania Railroad line. NICTD officials contend the shorter length of a Gary-to-Valparaiso run and the chance to use existing tracks there may make it a lower-cost alternative to the Munster-to-Valparaiso route.

Extension to Elkhart

In the 1980s and 1990s, there was some discussion about the possibility of extending the line from South Bend east to Elkhart County, Indiana.^[63][64] In 1988, Elkhart, Indiana Mayor James Perron pushed for the government to look into making long-term plans for an extension into his city.^[65]

Proposed new stations

There are proposals to replace the South Bend terminus with a new station.

There is a proposal to reestablish a station in New Carlisle.^[66]

Station listing

The South Shore Line and the Metra system

The line operates over the tracks of the Metra Electric Line from Millennium Station to Kensington-115th Street. Metra owns the track in this territory. Per a long-standing non-compete clause with Metra, outbound South Shore Line trains to Indiana only stop at Metra Electric stations to receive passengers; inbound trains to Millennium Station only stop at Metra Electric stations to discharge passengers.

South Shore Line trains make the following station stops:^[67]

Tail end of a South Shore train

State	Fare zone	Location	Station	Mile (km)[68]	Avg. weekday ridership (2019)[68]	Connections and notes
IL	1	Chicago	Millennium Station	0.0 (0)	4,227	Metra: ■ Metra Electric CTA Bus: 4, X4, 6, 19, 20, 26, 60, N66, 124, 143, 147, 148, 151, 157 Chicago "L": Red (at Lake), Green Brown Orange Pink Purple (at Washington/​Wabash) Pace Bus: 855 Plainfield–East Loop Express VALPOtransit: ChicaGo Dash
			Van Buren Street	0.8 (1.3)	977	Metra: ■ Metra Electric CTA Bus: 1, 3, 4, X4, 6, 7, J14, 26, 28, 126, 130, 147, 148, 151
			Museum Campus/11th Street	1.4 (2.3)	166	Metra: ■ Metra Electric CTA Bus: 1, 3, 4, X4, 12, 130, 146
			McCormick Place (special events only)	2.7 (4.3)	0	Metra: ■ Metra Electric CTA Bus: 3 King Drive, 21 Cermak
			53rd Street	6.5 (10.5)		South Shore service withdrawn October 16, 1966, replaced by 57th Street
	2		57th Street	7.0 (11.3)	271	Metra: ■ Metra Electric CTA Bus: 15 Jeffery Local, 28 Stony Island, 55 Garfield, 171 U of Chicago/Hyde Park
			59th Street			South Shore service began after 1967, replacing 57th Street. South Shore service withdrawn by 2013.
			63rd Street	7.9 (12.7)	3	Metra: ■ Metra Electric CTA Bus: 63 63rd
			Kensington/115th Street	14.5 (23.3)		South Shore service withdrawn February 15, 2012
			124th Street	16 (26)		Closed by 1965.
			Parsons	16 (26)		Closed by 1943.
			Altgeld	16 (26)		Opened after 1943, closed by 1964.
			Calumet Harbor	17 (27)		Named Bridge prior to 1943. Closed by 1985.
			Ford City	17 (27)		Closed by 1959.
	3		Hegewisch	19.0 (30.6)	862	CTA Bus: 30 South Chicago Pace: 358 Torrence, 364 159th Street
		Burnham	Burnham	19 (31)		Closed by 1959.
IN	4	Hammond	Hammond Gateway	20.8 (33.5)	1,345
		East Chicago	White Oak Ave	22 (35)		Opened after 1937, closed by 1959.
			East Chicago	23.4 (37.7)	1,493	East Chicago Transit: E1 Griffith Plaza, E2 Crosstown, E3 West Calumet GPTC: R1 Lakeshore Connection
			Calumet	24 (39)		Closed by 1959.
		Hammond	Cudahy	25 (40)
	5	Gary	Gary/Chicago Airport	28.0 (45.1)	80	GPTC: R1 Lakeshore Connection
			Ambridge	29.2 (47.0)		Closed July 5, 1994
			Buchanan Street[69]	30 (48)		Closed by 1985.
			Gary Metro Center	30.9 (49.7)	426	GPTC: R1, R3, BMX, L1, L2, L3, L5
			Miller	34.7 (55.8)	339	GPTC: L2 Oak/County Line Rd
	6	Ogden Dunes	Portage/Ogden Dunes	38.9 (62.6)	237
		Portage	Midwest (Wilson)	40 (64)		Named Wilson prior to 1964. Closed by 1985.
		Burns Harbor	Bailly	43 (69)		Named Baileytown prior to 1965. Closed by 1985.
		Dune Acres	Dune Acres	44.7 (71.9)		Closed 1994.
		Porter	Port Chester	46 (74)		Closed by 1985.
			Dune Park	46.0 (74.0)	474	V-Line: Orange Line
		Porter County	Tremont	47.0 (75.6)		Closed June 2, 1986, replaced with Dune Park
			Mt. Vernon	50 (80)		Closed by 1959.
	7		Kemil Road			Opened after 1967. Closed July 5, 1994.
		Beverly Shores	Beverly Shores	50.4 (81.1)	47
		Town of Pines	Pines (Tamarack)	52 (84)		Named Tamarack prior to 1964. Closed by 1985.
		Michigan City	Lake Shore	54 (87)		Closed by 1964.
	8		Willard Avenue			Opened after 1967. Closed July 5, 1994.
			11th Street	55.8 (89.8)	102
			Carroll Avenue	57.5 (92.5)	172	Michigan City Transit: 3
		Springfield	Springville	62 (100)		Closed by 1985.
	9	Smith	LaLumiere	65 (105)		Closed July 5, 1994
			Tee Lake	67 (108)		Closed by 1985.
			Smith	68 (109)
		Birchim	Hillside	70 (110)		Closed by 1942.
	10	Rolling Prairie|	Rolling Prairie	71 (114.2)		Closed July 5, 1994
			Liberty Bell	72 (116)		Closed by 1942.
			Sagunay	73 (117)		Closed by 1959.
			Lake Park	74 (119)		Closed by 1985.
		Hudson Lake	Hudson Lake	74.6 (120.1)	1
		New Carlisle	New Carlisle	76.3 (122.8)		Closed July 5, 1994
		Olive	Olive	79 (127)		Closed by 1959.
		Lydick	Lydick	83 (134)		Closed by 1985.
			Chain O'Lakes	84 (135)		Closed by 1985.
		Ardmore	Fisher	85 (137)		Closed by 1942.
	11	South Bend	South Bend Airport	90.1 (145.0)	227	Transpo: 4 Lincolnway/Airport Greyhound Lines Coach USA
			South Bend			Current Amtrak station, South Shore service withdrawn November 21, 1992
			South Bend			Closed 1970, located in downtown South Bend

Accidents and incidents

Several passengers have died in collisions on the South Shore Line over the years. On June 19, 1909, twelve people died when two trains collided head-on; one of the carriages involved in the incident was later preserved.^[70] Another collision near Gary in April 1926 caused the death of one passenger.^[71] On January 18, 1993, a westbound train and an eastbound train collided on a gauntlet track near Gary, killing seven people;^[72] the National Transportation Safety Board determined that one train's engineer passed a red light, while the engineer of the other train had failed to stop in time.^[73] Three passengers died on June 18, 1998, when a train ran into a truck that was trapped on the tracks near a Midwest Steel factory.^[74][75]

See also

• Proposed new South Shore Line station in South Bend

Notes

1. "Transit Ridership Report Third Quarter 2024" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. November 20, 2024. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
2. "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 4, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
3. "South Shore Line Schedule Revision - Aug. 20, 2024". South Shore Line. August 15, 2024. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
4. "Schedule" (PDF). South Shore Line. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
5. "First car runs over new line". The South Bend Tribune. South Bend, Indiana. July 1, 1908. p. 8. Retrieved October 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad (NICTD)". southshore.railfan.net.
7. Ogorek 2012, p. 9
8. Middleton 1998, pp. 6–7
9. Middleton 1998, p. 8
10. Economic Adjustment Study: Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad Corridor, Final Report; Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission and Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District,; March 1980; pg 1
11. "S. Shore on New Line". The Hammond Times. Hammond, Indiana. September 16, 1956. pp. 1–2. Retrieved November 1, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "South Shore Line Switch Approved". Chicago Tribune. December 23, 1966. p. 2 Section 10.
13. "Annual Report" (PDF). Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District. December 31, 2010. p. 15. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 3, 2017. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
14. Wieland, Phil (November 21, 1992). "New train terminal could have folks heading east, young". The Times of Northwest Indiana. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
15. Dodson, Paul (June 17, 1994). "South Shore Railroad Will Close 7 Flagstops". South Bend Tribune. p. B2. There was a train station on the Chain Lakes, near Lydick Indiana. The South Shore had discontinued the stop in 1936 and was later destroyed by fire. The station was located near the Chain-O-Lakes Conservation Club. During that time, in the mid-1930s the Northern Indiana Railroad, and the New York Central made stops in Lydick. The New York Central stopped making stops when it was absorbed into Penn Central in 1968. The Northern Indiana Railroad, however, abandoned the service in 1934. The entire Northern Indiana Railroad was abandoned in 1940 leaving only the South Shore, the last interurban railroad in the United States.
16. "NICTD Board Meeting Minutes July 31, 2009" (PDF). Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District. July 31, 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 14, 2011. Retrieved September 11, 2010.
17. "Major grade separation underway in Chicago, Illinois Gov. Quinn says". Progressive Railroading. August 24, 2011. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
18. "GS15a 130th & Torrence & Norfolk Southern Grade Separation" (PDF). CREATE. July 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 18, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
19. Lach, Jeanette (August 25, 2012). "Bridge weighing 2,350 tons put in place for South Shore". The Times. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
20. Allen, Kevin (February 3, 2015). "Chicago express a major step for South Shore". South Bend Tribune. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
21. Gordon, Aaron (November 19, 2020). "Commuter Rail's Mask-Optional 'Dumb Ass Car' Emblematic of U.S.'s COVID-19 Response". www.vice.com. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
22. Hoyer, Sharon (October 9, 2020). ""It's foolish": Experts say South Shore's Mask Optional Car could cause super-spreader event". Streetsblog Chicago.
23. Greenfield, John (September 23, 2020). "Idiocy or genius? The South Shore Line tries quarantining anti-maskers in a separate car". Streetsblog Chicago.
24. Freeland, Jenny (November 16, 2020). "Digest: South Shore ends 'mask optional' cars". Trains. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
25. "Mask Announcement Update - 7/27/2020". South Shore Line. July 27, 2020. Archived from the original on April 16, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
26. Maddux, Stan (February 14, 2008). "Michigan City weighs South Shore track route". Post-Tribune. Retrieved February 18, 2008.^{[dead link‍]}
27. "South Shore re-route map" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on February 19, 2012. Retrieved October 28, 2009.
28. Wink, Laurie (June 9, 2009). "More South Shore details released". The News-Dispatch. LaPorte County, Indiana. Archived from the original on July 30, 2009. Retrieved August 22, 2009.
29. Ebaugh, Alicia (March 25, 2010). "Funding dire for South Shore study". The News-Dispatch. LaPorte County, Indiana. Retrieved March 26, 2010.
30. Field, Matt (August 17, 2010). "City prepares to study South Shore routes". The News-Dispatch. LaPorte County, Indiana. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
31. Field, Matt (January 28, 2011). "Bids sought for NICTD study". The News-Dispatch. LaPorte County, Indiana. Retrieved February 9, 2011.
32. "Michigan City/NICTD Rail Realignment Study" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on May 13, 2016. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
33. Brown, Alex (May 13, 2024). "'It's surreal': Leaders mark opening of South Shore Double Track". Inside INdiana Business. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
34. Federighi, Ric (April 5, 2024). "South Shore Line Double Track NWI Project construction update". 95.1 FM/AM 1420 WIMS Radio. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
35. Steele, Andrew (February 11, 2020). "South Shore's Double Track project advances in federal grant process". The Times of Northwest Indiana. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
36. "Double-track construction set to end South Shore street running". Trains. February 25, 2022.
37. "South Shore Street Running Ends This Weekend". Railfan & Railroad Magazine. February 24, 2022.
38. "South Shore Line Schedule Revision/Service Announcement Oct. 25, 2023". South Shore Line. October 13, 2023.
39. "South Shore Line ends temporary busing on Tuesday". WNDU. April 9, 2024. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
40. Gallenberger, Michael (March 25, 2024). "South Shore Line trains to resume running between Gary and Dune Park in April". Lakeshore Public Media. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
41. Kate, Annie (March 25, 2024). "South Shore Line busing to end April 9, double track opens". ABC57. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
42. "South Shore double track project complete, schedules begin after grand opening". WSBT. May 13, 2024. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
43. Benman, Keith (December 17, 2008). "Study: Valpo-to-Munster SS line would add few riders". The Times of Northwest Indiana. Retrieved September 1, 2009.
44. Zorn, Tim (October 28, 2020). "South Shore West Lake expansion project breaks ground; 4-year construction cost estimated at $945M". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
45. Carden, Dan (October 28, 2020). "West Lake commuter rail line construction could begin in October". The Times of Northwest Indiana. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
46. Gallenberger, Michael (July 24, 2023). "Progress continues on Double Track, West Lake Corridor". Lakeshore Public Media. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
47. Simón, Marisol R.; Noland, Michael; Federal Transit Administration; USDoT; US Army Corps of Engineers (December 2, 2016). West Lake Corridor Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Chapter 2: Alternatives Considered) (PDF) (Report). NICTD. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
48. "Frequently Asked Questions". West Lake Corridor. 2017. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
49. "South Shore opens new Hammond, Ind., station". Trains. October 18, 2024. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
50. Federighi, Ric (October 18, 2024). "South Shore Line announces new Hammond Gateway Station to open October 18". 95.1 FM/AM 1420 WIMS Radio. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
51. "Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) for NICTD". Archived from the original on July 22, 2017. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
52. "History | Railway Systems | Toshiba Infrastructure Systems & Solutions Corporation | Transportation System History List". Toshiba. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
53. "2013 Indiana Public Transit Annual Report" (PDF). Indiana Department of Transportation. August 2014. p. 111. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
54. "Nippon Sharyo USA Product History". Archived from the original on June 26, 2017. Retrieved July 22, 2017.
55. Andrew Steele, Andrew Steele (December 2, 2018). "NICTD to begin search for rail car manufacturer". The Times Of Northwest Indiana. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
56. @Metra (October 14, 2021). "Metra crews have been working on repainting some of our Highliner cars, referred to as HL1s since they were the first of the Highliners delivered to Metra, for service on the @southshoreline (NICTD)" (Tweet). Retrieved October 23, 2024 – via Twitter.
57. Randall, W. David (1974). Railway Passenger Car Annual, Volume I, 1973–1974. Park Forest, IL: RPC Publications. pp. 74–75.
58. CERA 1960.
59. Mazurek, Marek (January 5, 2020). "Train car restoration sheds light on history of South Shore Railroad". South Bend Tribune. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
60. "Purchase Tickets". South Shore Line. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
61. "SSL Board Approves Fare Increase Effective July 1, 2018". South Shore Line. May 18, 2018. Archived from the original on May 21, 2018.
62. Benman, Keith (December 17, 2008). "Study: Valpo route no good". The Times of Northwest Indiana. p. A1. Retrieved October 23, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
63. "Tie that binds". The South Bend Tribune. July 5, 1992. p. 16. Retrieved October 23, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
64. "Editorial positions set agenda for 1997". The South Bend Tribune. January 26, 1997. p. 15. Retrieved October 23, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
65. Kurowski, Jeff (December 12, 1988). "Perron pushes for extension of South Shore". The South Bend Tribune. p. 10. Retrieved October 23, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
66. Spalding, Mary Beth (July 24, 2020). "Options open for New Carlisle site as county clears old trailers". South Bend Tribune. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
67. Economic Adjustment Study: Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad Corridor, Final Report; Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission and Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District; March 1980; Appendix A
68. "2020 State of the System" (PDF). Metra. November 2020. p. SSL-4.
69. Ogorek 2012, p. 54.
70. Mazurek, Marek (January 5, 2020). "Train car restoration sheds light on history of South Shore Railroad". South Bend Tribune. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
71. "Failure of Signal Cause of Wreck, Coroner Says". The Huntington Press. Associated Press. April 18, 1926. p. 1. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
72. Tribune, Chicago (January 18, 1993). "7 Killed, 40 Injured in Gary Rail Crash". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
73. Bureau, Times Washington (February 5, 2025). "Crash on the South Shore. Final report confirms crash was". nwitimes.com. Retrieved February 6, 2025. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
74. "Train Slams Into Truck in Indiana, Killing 3". The New York Times. June 19, 1998. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
75. Rubin, Bonnie Miller (June 18, 1998). "3 Die as South Shore Slams Into Trailer Rig". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 6, 2025.

References

• CERA (1960). Electric Railways of Indiana. Chicago, IL: Central Electric Railfans' Association. p. I-20.
• Middleton, William D. (1970). South Shore: The Last Interurban. San Marino, CA: Golden West Books. ISBN 978-0-87095-003-2. OCLC 104029.
• Middleton, William D. (1999). South Shore: The Last Interurban : Revised Second Edition (Railroads Past and Present) (2nd ed.). Indiana University Press. ISBN 978-0-253-33533-3.
• Middleton, William D. (1998). "Insull's Super-Interurban". In Cohen, Ronald D.; McShane, Stephen G. (eds.). Moonlight in Duneland: The Illustrated Story of the Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad. Indiana University Press. ISBN 0-253-33418-7. OCLC 38862554.
• Ogorek, Cynthia L. (2012). Along the Chicago South Shore & South Bend Rail Line. Images of America. Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-0-738-59419-4. OL 25977909M.
• SouthShore.Railfan.net. "Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad (NICTD)". southshore.railfan.net.
• Van Hattem, Matt (July 5, 2006). "South Shore Line – The commuter railroad linking Chicago and South Bend, Ind". Trains.
• Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad (September 26, 1937). Time Tables. Poole Bros. Inc.
• Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad (October 15, 1942). Time Tables. Poole Bros. Inc.
• Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad (September 7, 1943). Time Tables. Poole Bros. Inc.
• Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad (April 26, 1959). Time Tables. Poole Bros. Inc.
• Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad (February 2, 1964). Time Tables. Poole Bros. Inc.
• Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad (April 25, 1965). Time Tables. Poole Bros. Inc.
• Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad (October 30, 1966). Time Tables. Poole Printing Co.
• Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad (December 1, 1985). Time Table.
• Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (February 1, 2013). Timetable.

External links

Template:Attached KML/South Shore Line

KML is from Wikidata

• Official website
• Chicago, Illinois / South Bend, Indiana: The South Shore Line
• Hammond, Indiana News Briefs November 2003
• Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District – Our History