Hi,
Jerusalem Herzlia new railway – was finally completed 🙂
Its more interesting part of it, Jerusalem – Tel Aviv railway, was only finished lately. In big late, shorten a bit for Coronavirus that allowed heavy works in the railway system.
This railway is important for two reasons:
Once – this is the first electric line of Israeli railways, in its big plan to electrode the entire Israeli railway system. And as this was the first new railway to be built after the decision it was built for electric trains from the start.
Second, it is the railway to Jerusalem! Yes we had railway to Jerusalem before. It was the first railway to be built in Israel on 1892 (Exactly 128 years ago!) between Jaffa and Jerusalem, and managed to work until 1998, when the Jerusalem old train station was closed.
From 1998 to 2005 the line was renovated, and opened on April 2005 but only till new Malha station. The station was far, inaccessible and the ride was longer compared to private car or vehicle.
The new line has finally connected the capital city of Israel to Tel-Aviv, Ben Gurion airport and the rest of Israel railway. The new station located at the entrance to the city, near the central bus station and Jerusalem light railway station so it is highly accessible. The riding time is also very short and quicker than private car (especially at morning rush hour) or bus on it on lane.
From construction point of view it one of the most interesting project in Israel 😏: 4 tunnels and 10 bridges: among the are a 1.2 km long bridge, a 11.2km long tunnel (the longest in Israel), a 1km long and 86.5 high bridge, and completed bridge over Yitle stream. And a new station 80m deep.
I promised my childhood friends that once this line will be opened I will join their weekly meeting in downtown Jerusalem. And we finally have easy Public transportation to Jerusalem, it is Coronavirus time…
Take Care
Gad
From Jerusalem to Tel Aviv cab view
from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem full time cab view
Bridge 10 – a 1km long and 86.5 high bridge (Source: a 1km long and 86.5 high bridge)
One of the many openings of the railway. This time, when it got to Savidor station on 29/06/2020, with new Minister of Transportation, Miri Regev, where I catch my trains
The original train on, before the line was accomplished, Engineer Achila Grigez archive