South Shore NICTD Double Track Project

This came across Reddit: Streetsblog Chicago's article on the project.

https://chi.streetsblog.org/2021/05/14/ ... -tracking/

Friday, April 30, marked the end of an era for the city of Michigan City, Indiana. For over 100 years, South Shore Line passenger trains traveled, streetcar-like, in the middle of the street through the city center, dropping off passengers in the middle of the road at the 11th Street station. The setup dates back to the line’s origin as an interurban train, something of a tram-commuter train hybrid that treveled on the streets in some areas and on a separate right of way in others. The line used to have several street-running sections, but Michigan City section outlasted all the others.

On May 1, the station was closed to allow the North Indiana Commuter Transportation District, which runs the South Shore, to ramp up work on turning that section into something that looks more like a commuter railroad, with two tracks on separate rights of way. The stop will get wheelchair-and-bike-friendly high-level platforms and a new station house.

The setup dates back to the line’s origin as an interurban train, something of a tram-commuter train hybrid that treveled on the streets in some areas and on a separate right of way in others.

The South Shore was, and arguably still is an interurban railroad. But that description is somewhat insulting. The South Shore was built like a steam line. Heavier carriages than trams and not "wrapped around courthouses" like trolleys. They had street running and served city centers like the trams and trolleys. But they were built like a big railroad ... which may explain why they are still around (or were still around when NICTD was formed).

I am glad to see the South Shore be able to keep the downtown station ... and one way street next to their rails. Their other street running was in East Chicago (bypassed by the interstate side running in 1956) and South Bend (cut to the edge of the city in 1970. There are efforts underway to return the South Shore to downtown South Bend - although a few blocks south of their LaSalle St destination. It is a thriving railroad that hopefully will be around for another 100+ years. Perhaps with flying train cars, but a long history ahead.

Michigan City put out the RFP for the mixed-use development at the new 11th Street Station last week.

https://in-michigancity.civicplus.com/1 ... r-Proposal

https://www.nwitimes.com/business/local ... aa1f2.html

https://www.insideindianabusiness.com/s ... e-line-hub

A couple of weeks ago, but the main contract for the Double Track project was awarded after the second round of bidding.

Final contracts in place for South Shore's Double Track project

11th St closed February 28th (with swarms of admirers cataloging the final days of trains in the street) only rare positioning moves are being made between Carroll Ave and Sheridan with passenger service bused from Carroll Ave to Dune Park. Single level trains west of Dune Park ... gallery cars east of Michigan City.

A couple of shots in Michigan City - Platforms for the new 11th St station: And the new double track at the Lafayette St curve: Plenty of other changes as all active crossings have been double tracked between Dune Park and Michigan City. NICTD is continuing to work on adding the 2nd track between the crossings and the major work in Michigan City.

South Shore busing passengers for the full length of the construction zone (Michigan City to Gary) effective August 6th through March 2023.

Nearing completion of first stretch of double-track: NWITimes

South Shore Line preparing to open first leg of Double Track route

PORTER — The South Shore Line is preparing to resume running trains between its Michigan City and Dune Park stations later this month, after more than one year of bussing passengers between the stations.

The South Shore is targeting the week of Oct. 16 to begin running trains between Michigan City and Dune Park, railroad President and General Manager Michael Noland told its Board of Trustees Monday.

"We have successfully completed out test runs — commissioning and testing the segment between Michigan City and Dune Park," Noland said. "Everything's been tested, everything worked out very well."
...

And here's the big boner of the project: evidently not much was done to make things go smoother at the Amtrak diamond in Michigan City, where it's not uncommon to wait 20 minutes for a Detroit train. In theory both roads have equal control but somehow Amtrak dispatchers seem to grab the diamond when one of their trains are far off and hold it. This really wrecks any time advantages of the double track system when you have random 20 minute delays.

Tadman wrote: ↑Sun Dec 17, 2023 10:33 am And here's the big boner of the project: evidently not much was done to make things go smoother at the Amtrak diamond in Michigan City, where it's not uncommon to wait 20 minutes for a Detroit train. In theory both roads have equal control but somehow Amtrak dispatchers seem to grab the diamond when one of their trains are far off and hold it. This really wrecks any time advantages of the double track system when you have random 20 minute delays.

That does not sound correct. Is this crossing an automatic priority or is it otherwise?

Amtrak owns and ultimately controls the diamond. When the diamond is in Amtrak mode NICTD cannot clear a train across the diamond. When the diamond is in NICTD mode the South Shore trains can move. To avoid delays on their own line, Amtrak has the habit of putting the diamond in Amtrak mode and clearing a route long before their train will pass. 15-20 minute delays are common. The conflict does not happen ever day, but it does happen.

There is still plenty of value in the double track project. They are eliminating conflicts between their own trains on the NICTD line and will be able to add 14 more trains to the schedule starting in May 2024.

justalurker66: That certainly is not what is posted about most automatic RR grade crossing. Whoever hits an approach circuit get the proceed signal. If what you posted is true very unusual that way. For further clarification what are the normal track speeds across this Diamond for each line?

Now if this is a manual interlocking with a tower then that way would be possible.

Is this CP 10th street?

It is not an automatic ... at last report it is a shared control with Amtrak deciding when NICTD can control the crossing.
(If you have current information please update. This is CP 10th St on the Amtrak Line, now two NICTD tracks on diamonds with the old diamond at the edge of pavement for 10th St removed.)

Oh, I spotted the train on Sunday. Several trips to and fro along the section currently closed to passengers. Testing both tracks in both directions and then using the crossovers in both directions. I expect testing to continue but what I saw was promising ... full speed trains (MAS).

March 2024 Update at Doubletrack NWI Home

As of March 25, construction is largely complete. Final testing and commissioning of the line is now occurring. The team anticipates resumption of currently-scheduled train service, including the elimination of the bus bridges needed during construction, on April 9, 2024.

NICTD expects to add the new Double Track service, which includes a schedule that adds 14 new trains every weekday, in May 2024. A Ribbon Cutting ceremony is being planned in conjunction with the Governor’s Office in May 2024.

That's about a train per hour, nearly doubling the number of train runs.