Steps continue in preparation for opening of Monon Corridor
A two-car southbound test train accelerates away from Munster’s Ridge Road station on Feb. 5, 2026. Wooden barriers prevent access to the platform until revenue service begins. The route parallels a paved bike path that gained fencing, new bridges, and other upgrades as part of the Monon Corridor project. Bob Johnston
MUNSTER, Ind. — One aspect of the Federal Railroad Administration’s certification process for any new passenger route before revenue service begins is to supervise simulated scheduled operations. These replicate actual service except for a lack of passengers.
Wednesday and today (Feb. 4-5), Northern Indiana Commuter Transit District personnel began those tests along the 8-mile Monon Corridor branch tentatively set to open in mid-March. south of Hammond that it plans to tentatively launch in the middle of March. Engineers and conductors have been qualified as part of extensive, ongoing preparations on the line between Hammond and Dyer, Ind. [see “South Shore stages dynamic tests …,” Trains Pro, Jan. 3, 2026].
The project has been known as the West Lake Corridor during construction, but it will be known as the Monon Corridor going forward.
On Feb. 4, a southbound test train navigates the viaduct over 45th Street and CSX in Munster. There are no at-grade crossings of other railroads. James L. BurdA six-car South Shore trainset set is ready to depart the Munster-Dyer, Ind., terminal on Feb. 5 as an hour-late, Chicago-bound Cardinal passes on CSX rails. Amtrak’s Dyer station is less than a mile south of NICTD’s new construction. North of Maynard Junction, where the Cardinal switches to ex-Grand Trunk trackage, the electrified commuter route moves over to the former Monon right-of-way that CSX abandoned in 1989. Bob Johnston
One thought on “News photos: South Shore runs simulated schedule tests on new branch”
So, Amtrak’s Dyer station and the South Shore terminal are something approaching a mile apart from each other? Too bad they aren’t closer, facilitating connection between the two.
So, Amtrak’s Dyer station and the South Shore terminal are something approaching a mile apart from each other? Too bad they aren’t closer, facilitating connection between the two.