South Shore Line's Monon Corridor service to open March 31

The South Shore Line this week announced the completion of the 8-mile West Lake Corridor project line extension and the long-awaited opening of electrified commuter-rail service on the Monon Corridor in Indiana.

Passenger service is slated to begin March 31 on the extension, which runs from north Hammond, Indiana, south to a final stop at the border of Munster and Dyer, Indiana. The new route provides additional service options to the rapidly growing areas of Lake County, Indiana, South Shore officials said in a press release.

As part of the new service, South Shore Line will implement a new train schedule that includes nearly 30 new weekday and weekend train options. South Shore Line is operated by the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District.

The Monon Corridor is South Shore’s first branch line. Construction on the extension began in 2020. As a result of the project, the train service will be referred to as two corridors: the Lakeshore, running from South Bend, Indiana, to Chicago; and the Monon, running from Munster/Dyer to Chicago.

The extension features four new stations: Hammond Gateway, South Hammond (173rd Street), Munster Ridge and Munster/Dyer.

The Monon Corridor is named after the historic Monon Railroad, whose former right-of-way is used for the line, South Shore officials said.