New Carlisle station (South Shore Line)

New Carlisle
General information
LocationArch Street and Zigler Street, New Carlisle, Indiana 46552
Coordinates41°42′30″N 86°30′29″W / 41.70833°N 86.50806°W / 41.70833; -86.50806
Owned byNICTD
Platforms1 island platform, 1 side platform
Tracks2
Other information
Fare zone10
History
Openedc. 1908
ClosedJuly 5, 1994
Electrified1,500 V DC
Services
Preceding station NICTD Following station
Hudson Lake
toward Millennium Station
 South Shore Line South Bend Airport
Terminus
South Bend
Closed 1992
Terminus
Preceding station Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad Following station
Hudson Lake
toward Randolph Street
 South Shore Line Lydick
toward South Bend
Location
Map

New Carlisle was a South Shore Line flag stop located at the corner of Arch and Zigler Streets in New Carlisle, Indiana. The station opened c. 1908[1] and was built by the Chicago, South Bend and Northern Indiana Railway whose line was immediately north of the South Shore Line. Both lines used the station[2] until the Northern Indiana Railway abandoned its South Bend–Michigan City line leaving the South Shore as the sole occupant. The station remained in service on the South Shore Line until July 5, 1994, when it was closed as part of an NICTD service revision which also saw the closure of Ambridge, Kemil Road, Willard Avenue, LaLumiere, and Rolling Prairie.[3]

Future

In 2018, a study was commissioned by the St. Joseph County Redevelopment Commission to look at the possibility of constructing a new station in New Carlisle.[4][5][6] The study was conducted by the South Bend engineering firm Antero Group. The study's $100,000 cost was shared by St. Joseph County and NICTD.[5][7][8] At the time the study was commissioned, two possible locations were being considered, one on the eastern edge of New Carlisle's "downtown", and another in Olive Township to the east of town.[5]

By January 2019, St. Joseph County began eying land occupied by a mobile home park as a potential station location. The land is located on Michigan Street in the eastern side of New Carlisle, near the city's American Legion post and on the northern side of the South Shore Line tracks.[7][9] A 2–1 vote by the St. Joseph County Board of approved $8,300 in contracts for the two parcels occupied by the mobile home park to be appraised by firms.[7] By January 2020, it was announced that St. Joseph County was purchasing the 2.67 acre pair of parcels occupied by the now-vacant mobile home park for more than $400,000, with the stated prospect of locating a future South Shore Line station there.[9][10] By July 2020, the county began leveling the structures on the site.[10] There is a possibility, however, that the land might be used for a purpose other than housing a South Shore Line station.[11]

A station in New Carlisle would likely supplant the existing Hudson Lake station.[5][10]

The plans to build a station in New Carlisle are related to a proposed industrial complex that would be situated to the east of New Carlisle, and which has attracted controversy.[10] The plans for a new station are also intended to attract businesses to the area.[5]

The representative of the NICTD board stated in July 2020 that a new station in New Carlisle could take five or more years to materialize, if ultimately pursued at all.[10]

In 2024, NICTD president Michael Noland shared that construction of a station in the area was again being examined. He shared that a study years earlier had concluded at the time that a new station would not attract sufficient ridership, but that in light of new factories and data centers being built in New Carlisle (expected to employ many who will commute from out-of-town), a new station was once again being explored. However, he opined that the most likely site for a new station would be near the existing Hudson Lake flag stop, rather than in New Carlisle itself. Noland expected two years of studies and preliminary work would be required before construction could begin.[12]

References

  1. ^ Electric Railways of Indiana. Chicago, Illinois: Central Electric Railfans' Association. 1960. p. I-63.
  2. ^ Ogorek, Cynthia (2012). Along the Chicago South Shore & South Bend Rail Line. Arcadia Publishing. p. 61. ISBN 978-0738594194.
  3. ^ Dodson, Paul (June 17, 1994). "South Shore Railroad Will Close 7 Flagstops". South Bend Tribune. Soutb Bend, IN. p. B2 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  4. ^ Kather, Esther (July 31, 2018). "New Carlisle looking into building South Shore train station". ABC57. WBND-LD. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d e "$100,000 study underway to consider launching New Carlisle train station". South Bend Tribune. November 2, 2018. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
  6. ^ "Officials consider train station along South Shore Line in New Carlisle". WSBT. November 2, 2018. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  7. ^ a b c Booker, Ted (January 20, 2020). "St. Joseph County eyes spot for New Carlisle train station. Mobiles homes are in the way". South Bend Tribune. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  8. ^ Peterson, Mark (August 7, 2020). "New Carlisle eyed for new South Shore station". WNDU. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  9. ^ a b Bauer, Caleb (January 22, 2020). "A future South Shore station in New Carlisle?". South Bend Tribune. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  10. ^ a b c d e Spalding, Mary Beth (July 24, 2020). "Options open for New Carlisle site as county clears old trailers". South Bend Tribune. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  11. ^ Finke, Erica (July 24, 2020). "Abandoned mobile home park in New Carlisle could soon be repurposed". WSBT. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  12. ^ Mazurek, Marek. "South Shore Line reexamines New Carlisle station". Inside INdiana Business. Retrieved November 26, 2024.


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