Chicago South Shore & South Bend (NICTD) discussion (2023-2024)

[BlackDiamond]

South Shore double track opens

The South Shore Line has released new schedules effective Oct. 25 for the resumption of train service between the Carroll Avenue station in Michigan City, Ind., and Dune Park in Chesterton, Ind., as well as continued bus substitution between Dune Park and the Gary (Ind.) Metro Center station.

This includes the new double track segment that replaces street running in Michigan City, the last interurban style street operation left in the US

Full rail service over the entire line is slated to resume in spring 2024.

 

[grover5995]

South Shore double track opens


This includes the new double track segment that replaces street running in Michigan City, the last interurban style street operation left in the US

Full rail service over the entire line is slated to resume in spring 2024.

There have also been discussions about eventually running AMTRAK Michigan service over South Shore Line between Kensington and Michigan City in order to avoid congestion on the current NS route.

 

[west point]

Looking at the new CAT for the SS it appears that all structure and insulators resemble installations that are for 25 kV AC CAT. Now the contact wire does appear thicker for the 1500 DC Volts. Could this be for a future conversion from 1500 Volt to 60 Hz? It will be informative how the CAT appears on the Dyer extension.

 

[BlackDiamond]

Looking at the new CAT for the SS it appears that all structure and insulators resemble installations that are for 25 kV AC CAT. Now the contact wire does appear thicker for the 1500 DC Volts. Could this be for a future conversion from 1500 Volt to 60 Hz? It will be informative how the CAT appears on the Dyer extension.

For this either the entire system including Metra Electric District (former ICRR) would have to convert as well, or they would have to obtain dual mode equipment. The latter should not be a big deal given that in Europe there is a lot of multi mode operation given that 1.5KV and 3 KV DC, 15KV 16.7 Hz AC, and 25 KV 50Hz AC are all prevalent and many trains have to run over some or all of these systems.

 

[jis]

There have also been discussions about eventually running AMTRAK Michigan service over South Shore Line between Kensington and Michigan City in order to avoid congestion on the current NS route.

Extensive discussion of this subject in the context of "Ambitious transformation of Chicago area" can be found in the following thread...

https://www.amtraktrains.com/thread...-in-the-chicago-area.67127/page-6#post-961916

 

[turtlypo]

For this either the entire system including Metra Electric District (former ICRR) would have to convert as well, or they would have to obtain dual mode equipment. The latter should not be a big deal given that in Europe there is a lot of multi mode operation given that 1.5KV and 3 KV DC, 15KV 16.7 Hz AC, and 25 KV 50Hz AC are all prevalent and many trains have to run over some or all of these systems.

I'm not an EE but also think the difference between the two probably don't matter.

I was watching this HSR Alliance video and Rich Harnish said (51:55) Chargers convert from high voltage (25kV) AC to 1500VDC, then AC for the actual motors. Making CUS 1500VDC would enable electric running while also allowing far shorter clearances (he says "inches of clearance").

 

[eldomtom2]

Also in news regarding the South Shore Line, a few days ago it was announced that busing will end and full rail service resume on April 9th, with the new schedule taking advantage of the double-tracking starting on May 14th.
https://www.abc57.com/news/south-shore-line-busing-to-end-april-9-double-track-opens

SOUTH BEND, Ind.-- South Shore Line leaders announced Monday construction to the double track should wrap by early April, with new service lines starting in May.

The South Shore connects South Bend to Michigan City and all the way to Chicago. Right now, passengers must bus for part of the trip to Chicago as crews work on the double track.

But that all ends April 9, and with two tracks instead of one going back and forth, plus more trains, ride times to Chicago should speed up to only be about 90 minutes.

The busing ends April 9 but the current train schedule will continue. Then, on May 14, the new train service will start. This means seven additional trains westbound and eastbound, more rush hour trains, and hourly trains during non-peak hours.

 

[Metra Electric Rider]

Interesting about another 15 minutes shaved with a relocation of the station within the airport - and eventual extension to downtown.

 

[Locobill]

South Shore double track opens


This includes the new double track segment that replaces street running in Michigan City, the last interurban style street operation left in the US

Full rail service over the entire line is slated to resume in spring 2024.

The South Shore still runs through the streets of Michigan city. The difference is now there are two tracks running through the streets!

 

[Metra Electric Rider]

The South Shore still runs through the streets of Michigan city. The difference is now there are two tracks running through the streets!

Not quite: they no longer run in traffic lanes but in a separate right of way much like modern light rail.

 

[turtlypo]

I'm typing away aboard the SSL right now. You can see the road lane they reduced to make way for double track, as well as the new short wall to separate "street" running. Track on ballast too.

View attachment IMG_3016.jpg

 

[west point]

I'm typing away aboard the SSL right now. You can see the road lane they reduced to make way for double track, as well as the new short wall to separate "street" running. Track on ballast too.

View attachment 36438

Your picture shows a transformer on a pole connected to some off picture invisible wire. So, at least some of the electrification is already using 60 hZ. How many conversion stations to 1500V DC are on this rebuilding?

 

[NorthShore]

The new schedule is announced:

https://mysouthshoreline.com/south-...mentation-of-new-double-track-train-schedule/

 

[Metra Electric Rider]

Love that the background image is still single tracked in Tim's link...

 

[cirdan]

I'm typing away aboard the SSL right now. You can see the road lane they reduced to make way for double track, as well as the new short wall to separate "street" running. Track on ballast too.

View attachment 36438

I must see if I can find old pictures (i have quite a few stashed away on some backup somewhere) but I do believe the front yards of those houses have also been shaved back quite a bit. Also, from memory, many if not most of the properties along that section used to be rather dilapidated and sorry looking, so it is pleasant to see they have renovated and are now looking smart (though of course that probably has nothing to do with what happened to the raillroad). It could of course be that uncertainty over pending eminent domain prevented property owners from doing renovations, and that they are now catching up.

 

[turtlypo]

City of South Bend approved buying back their old Union Station from a private owner. Plans to restore Amtrak service to downtown seem to be taking shape slowly but surely.

https://www.southbendtribune.com/st...-officials-approved-the-purchase/74542257007/

I'm hoping that this could also pave the way for SSL service to extend to downtown. Could speculate maybe Amtrak uses this to leverage South of the Lake reroute rights on SSL ROW

 

[thefirewarde]

I'm hoping that this could also pave the way for SSL service to extend to downtown. Could speculate maybe Amtrak uses this to leverage South of the Lake reroute rights on SSL ROW

Forget reroute rights, get some Airo equipment into the Midwest pool set up for DC power and diesel, set up code sharing to streamline ticketing, and get the Detroit/Windsor/Pontiac trains running more frequently via the SSL, with a transfer to the SSL in South Bend.

Edit: I was thinking Michigan City, not South Bend, but the point still stands - for certain services transferring in Michigan City or South Bend for the South of Chicago stops and having Amtrak use some of the SSL as a bypass seems like the best way to expand Midwest service south of the lake. A potential alternative/intermediate solution would be Michigan City to Points Michigan Amtrak service (particularly the soon to be 110 mph Detroit route) with access to Chicago only via SSL.

 

[JWM]

Getting the SSL into Union Station along with Amtrak would be a big plus. I wonder how many passengers take flights after arriving at the current station. I would not think very many.

 

[jis]

There was a bit of a discussion regarding issues with reinstating Amtrak service to South Bend Union Station a while back. It can be found at:

https://www.amtraktrains.com/thread...r-new-amtrak-service.82042/page-3#post-996776

It is much easier to build a dead end platform on the North side of the tracks for use by NICTD trains. Building through platform tracks for use by Amtrak on the North Side (the City downtown Studebaker Museum etc. and station head house side) of the tracks is a very major exercise and hence cost item, as the CN tracks are on the North side at that point with no connection to NS east of the station. Building one on the South side where the NS tracks are is easier but still expensive.

Here is some more past discussion about South Bend Union Station and Amtrak and NICTD:

https://www.amtraktrains.com/threads/south-bend-discussion-continuation.78106/

 

[danasgoodstuff]

Yes, the city buying Union Station seems like a weird move although it would give Kevin Smith more money to redevelop the former Studebaker buildings on the south side of the tracks there which he also owns. I took Amtrak to South Bend from Chicago for a Studebaker event in '22 but being able to take commuter rail to downtown so you don't arrive after dark would be great. And since the bus depot is close by and there is empty space across the tracks from it...

https://www.google.com/search?q=sou...ate=ive&vld=cid:6448c160,vid:Aj6Q74roxwM,st:0

Kevin Smith talking about Union Station and the Studebaker Admin building