The South Shore Line is offering free rides Sept. 6 through Sept. 11 on all trains to NIPSCO workers, firefighters, law enforcement, doctors, nurses, EMTs paramedics and other personnel.
Adding NIPSCO workers is a way to thank them for their efforts to restore power throughout the region in the wake of recent severe storms, including service critical to South Shore Line operations.
To ride free, eligible personnel must present a valid work ID to train personnel showing they are employed by NIPSCO or at a hospital, doctor’s office, medical facility, fire department, police station, prison, public safety answering point or related agency. Law enforcement encompasses police officers, correctional officers, TSA agents and other security personnel.
“The South Shore Line is honored to recognize the men and women who serve our communities every day,” Manager of Customer Service and Communication Amber Kettring said in a news release. “Following the recent storms, we are especially grateful to the NIPSCO crews who have worked tirelessly to restore power throughout Northwest Indiana, including along our rail line. Offering complimentary rides is one small way we can show our appreciation to them, as well as the medical professionals, first responders and law enforcement personnel who do so much for our communities every day.”
The South Shore Line offers free transportation on designated days to various groups. From Sept. 13 to Sept. 19, grandparents can ride free when accompanied by their grandchildren.
Up to three children age 13 and under may ride free on weekend, holiday and off-peak trains when accompanied by a parent or guardian. Additional children will be charged half the normal rate.
Later this year, the railroad is planning to offer free rides to military personnel, including active duty, reserves and veterans, in honor of Veterans Day.
Seniors, active-duty military personnel, commuting students, infants, and passengers with disabilities can ride for half price on all trains year-round.
President David Dech sent a letter to riders, employees and community partners Thursday in a summer newsletter, acknowledging “some of the more difficult operational challenges we have experienced in years.”
Just as the railroad was recovering from a freight train derailment that damaged the catenary system on the Grand Calumet River Bridge, the derecho hit.
“One of the challenges that may not be obvious to our passengers is just how dependent a railroad is on electricity,” Dech wrote. “Our overhead catenary system, which provides power to our trains, fared relatively well through the storm. But electricity also powers the signal system that allows us to safely move trains, our highway-rail grade crossing warning systems and other critical infrastructure throughout the railroad. Losing commercial power across such a large portion of our service territory created challenges well beyond simply keeping the trains powered.”
Employees and contractors essentially built a temporary power network across the railroad using more than 150 generators, Dech said. “It has been a massive undertaking, much of it taking place behind the scenes while our passengers continued to see trains operating.”
Dech thanked employees who worked countless hours over the past several weeks as well as a host of others, including NIPSCO employees,
For their restoration effort after the derailment, he also recognized Ironworkers Local 395, Superior Construction and DLZ Consulting.
He praised passengers for enduring bus bridges, extended delays, crowded conditions, missed connections and reduced service during the two disasters.
In the newsletter, the railroad also announced a free shuttle service from South Bend International Airport, the end of the line for the railroad, to the University of Notre Dame campus for home football games. That applies only to passengers on select trains. In addition, there will be an extra train for passengers attending night games with kickoffs at 6 p.m. Central.
Doug Ross is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
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