WITH passenger traffic continuing to break monthly records, achieving 1·9 million riders in July, Israel Railways launched a further route modernisation project on August 15. The 11 km Rehovot - Pleshdod - Ashdod line will be closed for around five months, during which the track and signalling will be renewed and two stations rebuilt. Rehovot station is to be enlarged and another platform added as part of the Lod - Rehovot double-tracking now nearing completion.
The latest scheme will enable IR to double its Tel Aviv - Ashdod service, which may be extended to Ashkelon in the future. Recently-appointed Transport Minister Amnon Lipkin-Shahak has asked IR General Manager Amos Uzani to initiate studies for rebuilding and double-tracking the 13 km freight-only Ashdod - Ashkelon line.
Tenders are to be called this month for construction of the 2 km branch into Ben Gurion airport, which is costed at US$75m. To be open by mid-2002, the line will give a 10min journey from Tel Aviv Hashalom to the airport. Detailed design is now under way for a 12 km extension to serve Modi’in. The minister was due to announce by the end of August the preferred option for upgrading or building a new line to Jerusalem.
On July 27 IR inaugurated construction of a new station at Ceasariya-Pardes Hama, between Binyamina and Hadera West on the Tel Aviv - Haifa main line. Costed at US$1·8m, funded 50% by the Kesariya Development Co, the station is to be completed within 10 months. n
