(Michigan City, IN) - The South Shore commuter line is preparing to resume running trains between its Michigan City and Dune Park stations later this month.

 

For over a year now, passengers have been bused between the two locations due to the construction of a double track assured to be "practically done" per former Indiana State Senator and current member of the board overseeing the work, Jim Arnold of LaPorte

 

He said trial runs of trains on that stretch of new double track have been ongoing, with October 16th as the target date for service to resume between Michigan City and Dune Park.

 

“They are still conducting and finishing up the testing, and everything seems to be right on time,” he said.

 

Arnold said double track construction is still ongoing between Dune Park and Gary, but that leg should be finished before the end of the year, with trains potentially running on the double track from Michigan City to Gary in May.

 

The double track is projected to reduce the time of a one-way trip from Michigan City to Chicago by more than 30 minutes.

 

Experts believe quicker travel by rail will entice more people from the Chicago area to visit and live in Michigan City, a major incentive for high rises that will soon start being constructed near the lakefront.