NICTD/South Shore Line

Commentary

Chicago Regional Rail Leaders Plan for Post-COVID Future

For the past three years, Railway Age has been reporting the progress of our railroads, including regional/commuter, as the emergency caused by the COVID-19 virus worsened and, more recently, has begun to subside. While ridership on the nation’s regional/commuter railroads still lags far behind pre-COVID numbers, including during traditional peak commuting hours, it is now picking up, and managers are thinking about what the future will be like as we enter a new era.

“This project will deliver improved trip options, taking vehicles off the road and reducing harmful greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions," said Deputy Transportation Secretary Polly Trottenberg.

USDOT: $27.5MM to Upgrade Indiana’s South Shore Line

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) on Dec. 22 announced that its Build America Bureau (Bureau) has provided a $27.5 million Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) loan for a portion of the $649 million Double Track Project along a 26.6-mile segment of the South Shore Line between Gary and Michigan City, Ind.

NICTD Advances Railcar, Track Projects

The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District’s (NICTD) Board of Directors has approved the lease of 26 bi-level EMUs from Metra to boost capacity on the South Shore Line as it advances two expansion projects that, once online, will add 26 trains per day to the schedule.