Extra train spells relief for packed Northwest Indiana commuters

South Shore commuter trains are packed.

But some relief is in store at least today and Friday.

With the start this week of major construction on Chicago's Dan Ryan Expressway and ongoing work elsewhere, South Shore ridership was 24 percent above normal Monday and 31 percent above normal Tuesday, South Shore marketing director John Parsons said.

One Tuesday morning train ran at 136 percent of its seating capacity, one afternoon train was at 149 percent.

Then came Wednesday morning's nonpeak Train No. 14, scheduled to arrive at Chicago's Millennium/Randolph Street Station at 10:25 a.m. It was full by the time it reached Dune Park station in Chesterton, Parsons said.

Passengers at the Gary Metro station reportedly were unable to board the train because of the crowding.

Parsons said Train 14 has been full all this week even though it's classified as off-peak, perhaps because schools in LaPorte and St. Joseph counties are on spring break. The railway's family fare allows up to two children younger than 14 to ride free with a parent or grandparent paying full fare on nonpeak trains.

The train had 500 passengers on four cars when it left South Bend, Parsons said. Four more cars were added in Michigan City and quickly filled up, he said.

South Shore trains could safely carry the standing-room-only numbers of passengers, Parsons said.

To address the crowding, today and Friday an additional six-car train will start westbound from Gary Metro at 9:29 a.m. and follow the schedule for Train 14, allowing passengers to the west the chance for a seat.

"They will wonder where all the people are," Parsons said.

The real Train 14, which has been running late this week because of the crowding, will follow after the added train.

The added train also is expected to help baseball fans heading to Friday afternoon's home opener for the Chicago Cubs. The South Shore is recommending Lake County fans take Train 14 or Train 214, which originates at Gary Metro at 10:12 a.m. and arrives downtown at 11:10 a.m. On Friday, the latter train will be expanded to four cars from its normal two.

For the longer run, the railroad still is assessing ridership patterns in the wake of the road construction and will explore moving equipment to needed areas in the coming weeks, Parsons said.