PORTER, Ind. — South Shore Line commuter trains should begin running between the Michigan City and Dune Park stations the week of Oct. 16, opening the first part of its Double Track project and ending more than a year of bus substitution to accommodate work between Michigan City and Gary.
The Times of Northwest Indiana reports that General Manager Michael Noland told the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District Board of Trustees on Monday that testing is complete on that segment of approximately 11 miles, but that contractor Walsh Herzog has some work to complete this week, after which crews will begin route familiarization runs.
“Everything’s been tested, everything worked out very well,” Noland said.
Bus substitutions will continue between Dune Park and Gary Metro Center while work continues on that portion of the 26-mile Double Track project, which is slated to be completed next May, at which time full service will resume. The $378 million project is expected to cut travel times between Michigan City and downtown Chicago from 1 hour, 40 minutes to 1 hour, 7 minutes, and will allow the commuter operator to add 14 additional weekday trains.
