3 replies to this topic

[CNJRoss]

South Bend (IN) Tribune, 1/19/18:
 

Letters: South Shore could use Amtrak station

 

 

Is there something impractical about moving the South Shore back to its old home with the Amtrak station?

 

SNIP

 

Moving the station to the airport was chasing the dream of bringing airplane passengers in by train. This has not turned out to be reasonable or practical. Can people face the fact that the move did not work out and just move back and reap the benefit of the shorter trip time we used to have.

 

More here.

[KevinKorell]

South Shore Line was the original user of this station, and they still own it despite South Shore Line trains having been rerouted to the airport since 1992.  The move of the station to the South Bend Airport was so anticipated to stimulate train travel to the airport that the whole facility had its name changed to Michiana Regional Transportation Center --- the only airport I knew of that did not have the word "airport" in its name.  That name was short-lived, and they went back to having South Bend in the facility's name, as well as what it really is, an airport.

 

The writer has a point.  How many passengers does the South Shore Line really feed to the airport?  It is not good for travel from South Bend itself to the airport, and it does not work for travel between what is now solely the South Bend Amtrak station and the airport, although with a wye type connection this could be possible.

 

If NICTD were to double track the easternmost portion of the line allowing more service between Michigan City and South Bend, perhaps both the current airport terminus as well as the one adjacent to Amtrak could be used by alternating trains.  Or with push-pull equipment and the wye connection I suggested above, both termini could be served.

[CNJRoss]

WBND-TV South Bend, IN 12/13/18:
 

South Bend officials approve request for possible downtown South Shore station

 

 

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- From downtown South Bend to Chicago in less than two hours. A South Shore Line train station in downtown South Bend is one step closer to making that a reality.

 

On Thursday morning, the redevelopment commission approved a request from the city to start the preliminary engineering work for a station downtown.

 

However, it’s not finalized just yet. Some work still needs to be done before the old Union Station location can be a sure thing.

 

Continue here.

[KevinKorell]

South Bend, IN Tribune, 3/21/21:

 

 

    New train station in South Bend: lots of money on studies. No progress. No location settled.   

 

 

In 2018, when former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg threw his support behind a new downtown station for the South Shore Line, the choice thrilled urbanites who believed it could continue a renaissance in the city’s core.

 

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