Jeremaya Goldberg

ISRAEL’s transport minister has revived plans to build a new line from Rosh-Ha-Ayin via Petakh-Tikva in the center of Israel east to Ariel, but rather than constructing it as a heavy-rail line it will now be built as a tram-train.

ISRAEL’s transport minister Mr Israel Katz announced on May 18 that the 57km A1 Link between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem will now open on September 23.

SEVEN of the eight groups prequalified by Israel’s Finance Ministry for the Jerusalem Green Line light rail project have been invited to bid for the tender.

ISRAEL Railways (IR) recorded a sharp decline in operating profti from Shekels 73m ($US 20.7m) in 2016 to Shekels 15m last year, with a net profit of Shekels 13m. This was due to a pay increase for its employees, the recruitment of 297 additional staff, and increased expenses.

ISRAEL’s Committee for National Infrastructure has approved a plan by Israel Railways to quadruple the 85km Tel Aviv - Haifa main line and increase the maximum speed to 250km/h.

ISRAEL’s transport minister Mr Israel Katz announced on January 9 that the 57km A1 Link will begin operating on March 30, the eve of Passover.

ISRAEL Railways (IR) has conducted its first test run with an electric locomotive when a Bombardier Traxx locomotive reached a speed of 160km/h along the first 12km electrified section of the A1 between Anava junction and Latrun Monastery.

THE first 10km section of main line in Israel has been electrified and is ready to be energised. This is part of the 35km section of the new A1 link between Jerusalem Navon (formerly Hauma) station and Anava Junction.

TEL AVIV NTA’s tenders committee announced on October 1 that it has selected Alstom as preferred bidder for a Shekels 390m ($US 110m) contract to supply signalling and train control systems for the light rail Red Line.

ISRAEL Railways (IR) has named Siemens as preferred bidder for a $US 1bn contract to supply and maintain a fleet of 60 double-deck EMUs comprising 330 cars. There is an option, which is valid for 10 years, to purchase another 10 trains.