CHICAGO — Onboard educational programs will return to select South Shore Line off-peak commuter trains beginning July 1, following a 15-month pause because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The programs are offered by the Midwest Rail Rangers, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, two to three times per month on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. In addition to July 1, upcoming dates for programs include July 25; Aug. 12, 21, and 29; and Sept. 2 and 19. Additional dates through November are listed at the Rail Rangers website.
Thursday programs take place on eastbound train No. 7, departing Chicago’s Millennium Station at 8:45 a.m., with eastbound programs on train No. 18, departing South Bend’s Airport station at 12:49 p.m. ET. On Saturdays and Sundays, eastbound programs are conducted on train No. 504, departing Chicago at 8:40 a.m., and westbound train No. 506, departing South Bend at 1:05 p.m.
The Rail Ranger programs are conducted in one car near the center of the train, denoted by yellow signs posted inside. They are provided at no additional cost for ticketed passenger, and require no reservations. Seating in the Rail Rangers car is on a first-come, first-served basis. Passengers must continue to observe all COVID-19 protocols, including a continuing federal requirement for mask use on public transportation.
The programs are presented in partnership with the Northwest Indiana Commuter Transportation District and Indiana Dunes State Park.
The weekend eastbound train is #503, not #504. South Shore/NICTD trains are odd-numbered eastbound, even-numbered westbound, breaking with conventional passenger train (and most freight train) numbering. To my knowledge it has always been thus dating back to when South Shore began tenancy on the Illinois Central between Kensington Interlocking and downtown Chicago. That way they conformed to the IC and now Metra Electric District numbering with southbounds odd-numbered, northbounds even-numbered.
Given what Mark said, one would assume, then that Train #18 would be a westbound trip, not an eastbound as stated in the article.