South Shore Line train service will remain partially suspended until Friday following a freight train derailment and power loss Wednesday night near East Chicago and Gary, Ind., officials said.
Partial service was restored to the Monon Corridor Thursday afternoon, though delays were still expected, officials said. In place of Monon shuttle train service, four Extra Monon Corridor trains were being run.
Both corridors will reopen Friday using a holiday schedule, including busing between Miller and Hegewisch stations, according to a Thursday afternoon service alert. Bikes will not be allowed on the buses, though they will make all station stops.
The South Shore Line is a commuter rail line operating between Millennium station in Chicago and the South Bend International Airport in Indiana. Passengers had been encouraged to find alternate transportation methods to commute to and from Chicago after the Monon and Lakeshore South service was suspended Wednesday night.
Nicole Barker, a spokesperson for the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTC), which operates the South Shore Line, said crews were working to fix the issue, but a time frame for repairs had not yet been determined.
“We don’t have a timeline for the Lakeshore Corridor yet but we are working as hard as we can to restore service,” Barker said.
NICTD is evaluating the damage caused by the freight derailment, which includes catenary damage, signal damage, and “a variety of different things we have to deal with, including getting those derailed cars that are leaning off of the tracks,” Barker added.
While a bus shuttle has not been put in place, passengers trying to get to Chicago can drive to Hegewisch Station, where Metra is operating and continuing to honor South Shore Line tickets, Barker said.
Updates on when service will resume will be provided as they become available. Riders are also urged to check South Shore Line’s website or the South Shore mobile app for service updates.
Delays may still occur after service is restored, according to the alert.