The popular South Shore rail line between South Bend and Chicago will experience cancellations and possible delays next week as NICTD undergoes overheard wire replacement on the South Bend to Michigan City segment of tracks. The construction will last from July 14 until July 18.
Passengers will be bused from South Bend and Carroll Avenue Station in Michigan City during the project. The buses will not stop at Hudson Lake. NICTD advises passengers from Hudson Lake to drive to Carroll Avenue Station.
“Buses will arrive and depart on the published train schedule. South Bend passengers will board buses north of the train platform at the [South Bend International] Airport,” NICTD says on their website. “Passengers will disembark buses at Carroll Ave. and board their normally scheduled train for the balance of their westbound trip. On their return trip eastbound passengers will disembark their train at Carroll Ave. and board a bus for the balance of their trip to South Bend.”
Westbound Trains 422 and 424 and Eastbound Train 401 are cancelled throughout the four-day project. Train service will be unaffected between Michigan City and Chicago except on July 15 and July 17. Busing will be extended for midday trains between Carroll Ave. and Dune Park for Westbound Trains 116, 18, and 118, as well as Eastbound Trains 7, 107, 9, and 109.
The overhead wire upgrade will completely replace the old wire with a new dynamic, lighter, auto-tensioned system. The old rigid technology is subject to failure causing lengthy service disruptions. The new system will be identical to the one installed west of Michigan City several years ago.
