A freight train derailment on the Grand Calumet River Bridge on June 24 caused more than a headache for South Shore Line commuters.

The commuter train line has been operating on a weekend/holiday schedule with a bus bridge between East Chicago and Hammond Gateway since then. Repairs have been “especially complex,” according to a letter to riders from Dave Dech, president of the South Shore Line and Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District.

The pause in full-time service will end at 3 a.m. July 17, with regular Monday through Friday service along the Lakeshore and Monon Corridors resuming. Eastbound Train 401 will be the first to run on a normal schedule.

“We thank the South Shore Line crews, Iron Workers Local 395, Operators Local 150, DLZ and Superior Construction teams that worked incredibly hard to make these repairs in a safe and timely manner,” said Dech in a press release. “We also thank our passengers for their patience during this challenging time.” 

The empty freight train with 13 cars derailed without injury, but caused significant damage to structures that support overhead wires. Equipment and materials began arriving July 6 to fix the damage. Damaged structures had already been removed.

Dech said the service disruption was necessary to keep passengers and employees safe. It also allowed workers to move more quickly.

Find updates about train service here.