South Bend regains “Quiet Zone” status for trains

Silence is returning to South Bend residents, and that’s a good thing.

The Federal Railroad Administration has reinstated South Bend’s quiet zones at certain crossings. Residents and commuters in the River Park area have been blasted with train horns along the Norfolk Southern and Grand Trunk Western railways because the city of South Bend lost its quiet zone status.

City crews spent the last few weeks making the necessary repairs and upgrades to silence the trains once again.

“Today’s notification comes as a major relief for residents who have been dealing with this major quality of life issue since the train horns began sounding,” said Mayor Pete Buttigieg. “The City is asking that the railroad companies update their practices as quickly as possible, and will continue to investigate ways to extend quiet zones to more areas of the community in the future.”

The city has reached out to the railroads, which have 21 days to comply with the order to silence their train horns in South Bend.

The quiet zone will affect the following crossings:

Greenlawn Ave.
Ironwood Dr.
26th St.
30th St.
35th St.
Logan St.
Robinson St.
Caroline St.
Twyckenham Dr.
Vernon St.
Leer St.