The Northern Indiana Public Service Company says that it is heightening its efforts to increase the system reliability and transmission capacity of the NIPSCO electric line serving the South Shore Railroad in order to decrease joint pole disruptions by the end of the year.

According to a statement released Monday, NIPSCO is partnering with the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) to improve the electric system which stretches from New Carlisle to Hammond, in a project involving the replacement of hundreds of electric poles and insulators, a dozen electric switches, and nearly 30 miles of wire line.

“The South Shore Railroad plays an important role in the economy of northern Indiana,” NIPSCO President Mark Maassel said. “NIPSCO is making improvements to its transmission system at this time to ensure that the safe delivery of reliable energy to this customer continues—so the railroad can continue to expand and serve the needs of our region.”

Since 2000, the company said, NIPSCO has been working with NICTD to upgrade or replace as necessary the poles which support the company’s electric wires and NICTD’s catenary, which uses electricity supplied by NIPSCO to power the South Shore Railroad.

“Our passengers need reliable transportation,” said NICTD General Manager Gerald Hanas. “These upgrades to NIPSCO’s power transmission system will reduce joint pole line service disruption. NIPSCO’s upgrades, combined with NICTD’s investments in new signal and catenary technology over the next five years will improve overall train service reliability.”

NIPSCO said that full-time work crews and senior staff have been assigned to the project from its own Engineering, Operations, and Construction departments and from NICTD’s Engineering and Passenger divisions.

“The South Shore Railroad is a vital link between Northwest Indiana and Chicago that commuters depend on every day,” Maassel said. “Supporting the reliability and growth of this asset is critical to the growth of our economy and we are pleased to partner with NICTD in this effort.”

Posted 8/31/2004