Gov. Eric Holcomb and regional leaders officially cut the ribbon on the Double Track Northwest Indiana project.
The $650 million project adds almost 18 miles of new track along a 26-mile corridor, adds 14 new trains to its schedule and reduces travel times to and from Chicago. The new schedule is expected to cut travel time from Michigan City to Chicago to 67 minutes.

Highlights of the new service include:

  • Increased origination service out of the new Miller Station and new 11th St. (Michigan City) Station.
  • Increased morning and afternoon rush hour train time options.
  • New limited-stop express train service.
  • High-level platform ADA access at 11th St., Portage/Ogden Dunes, and Miller train stations.
  • Bikes on Trains has been expanded to include all trains, all year long, at existing bike stations. With the completion of Double Track and conclusion of long-term busing substitution, the following stations are now also bike stations: 11th St., Portage/Ogden Dunes, and Miller.

“The final completion of Double Track allows for the addition of 14 weekday trains, revised times, reduced travel times and new, limited-stop express service,” President of South Shore Line Michael Noland said in a release. “In addition to new weekday trains, portions of weekend train times have also been modified to reflect improved travel times.”

Construction on The Franklin at 11th Street project continues on track as the first high-rise mixed-use development TOD in Indiana. The space will include the train station, apartments, retail and commercial space and parking garage.

“It is truly an honor to be here,” said Michigan City Mayor Angie Nelson Deuitch at the recent ground-breaking event. “We took a risk switching gears. We switched gears to have a premier development as it was important to our team to not just have a parking garage.

“I don’t think people realize the risk and hits we took, but we stood strong about what we wanted and that is why this is happening today.”