NICTD President Michael Noland

The South Shore Line's Double Track service had a challenging rollout last week, according to Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) President Mike Noland.

A major investment in commuter rail is now complete. Governor Eric Holcomb joined other state and federal officials Monday to cut the ribbon on the South Shore Line's Double Track project.

The South Shore Line plans to move its Hammond station this summer, as the West Lake Corridor branch continues to take shape. The current station at Hohman Avenue will be replaced by a new Gateway Station three blocks west.

The South Shore Line's Double Track service is expected to open in the next few weeks. The project will add a second track between Gary and Michigan City.

It's been a challenging winter for the South Shore Line and its riders. Trains have been replaced by buses between Dune Park and Gary Metro Center, as construction crews finish the Double Track project.

The South Shore Line is gearing up for its first major service change in decades.

Construction on the South Shore Line's Double Track project is almost 95-percent complete. Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) President Mike Noland says the section between Michigan City and Dune Park has been open for about a month, while the remaining part between Dune Park and Gary is nearly done.

The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) may be looking at a new fare structure in the coming years. The nearby Metra system is looking at condensing its 10-zone fare system down to four zones, and NICTD President Mike Noland says the South Shore Line needs to look at updates to its own 11-zone system.

The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) board has agreed to issue up to $200 million in bonds to ease a potential bottleneck in Chicago. NICTD is partnering with Metra to convert a storage track into a fourth mainline track between 11th Street and Millennium Station, with new station platforms at Millennium and Van Buren. That would help make way for the 26 additional trains NICTD plans to run, once the Double Track and West Lake Corridor projects are complete.

The first section of the South Shore Line's Double Track project could open in the coming weeks. The railroad has been closed between Gary and Michigan City, requiring trains to be replaced by buses, as crews build a second track.