(The Associated Press circulated the following article on September 2.)
THE PINES, Ind. — A South Shore commuter train on its way to Chicago collided with a freight train and derailed Saturday near The Pines in eastern Porter County.
No injuries were reported, but one woman was shaken up and taken to the hospital as a precaution and train service was suspended, said John Parsons, spokesman for the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District, which owns and operates the South Shore Line.
The passenger train was on a passing track next to the main track, Parsons said. It hit the freight train while waiting for the freight to pass, Parsons said.
Nine passengers and three crew members were on the train, which was traveling west to Chicago from Michigan City.
Officials were working to restore service Saturday. The Transportation District said passengers could use the Metra Electric service as an alternative and Metra said it would honor South Shore tickets.
The South Bend-to-Chicago commuter line carried 3.8 million passengers in 2005.