(Chesterton, IN) - The South Shore commuter rail line is once again acknowledging delays and blaming it on something rather unexpected: leaves.

 

In a letter to the public on Thursday, South Shore president Mike Noland said that fallen leaves getting squished on railroad tracks cause wheel slippage and maintenance delays. As Noland explained, “[L]eaves fall from trees and land on the rail, getting crushed into a compound that inhibits the coefficient of friction and creates an icy coating. We refer to this time of the year as ‘wheel slip season.’” The slipping results in defects or "flat spots" in the wheels.

 

According to Noland, safety inspectors have recently discovered an unusual amount of wheel damage caused by leaves, necessitating trains being taken out of service for repair. “Over the past several weeks,” he said, “the number of trains with car wheels out of tolerance was like nothing anyone on this railroad had seen or experienced in their entire careers.” The problem has led to overcrowding and up to one-hour delays.

 

By the end of the week, South Shore reported that at least 65% of their trains were back on track, with maintenance efforts continuing around the clock.

 

Making matters worse, Noland also said that a mysterious and reoccurring potential gas leak in the Gary area has disrupted service many times over the past six months. South Shore is working with NIPSCO, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, and Gary city officials to find the source of the gas smell.