Israel - General Information: Difference between revisions

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This page has been transferred to the Enthusiast's Guide to Travelling the Railways of the Rest of the World - see the relevant [https://www.egtrow.info/wiki/Israel EGTROW page].
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==Country Name==
==Country Name==
Israel (officially the State of Israel, Medīnat Yisrā'el: יִשְׂרָאֵל‎,)
Israel (officially the State of Israel, Medīnat Yisrā'el: יִשְׂרָאֵל‎,)
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==Ticketing==
==Ticketing==
See the [http://rail.co.il/EN/Tickets/TicketsType/Pages/Home.aspx Israel Railways website]. A new smart card ticket [http://rail.co.il/EN/Tickets/Rav-Kav/Pages/default.aspx "Rav Kav Card"] has been introduced; a passport must be shown to purchase this card. If buying a weekly ticket it must be loaded on one of these. A photo ID is embedded onto the rear of the card, which can then be loaded at either a booking office or on a ticket machine. There is no need to take a photo; it is taken by a small camera at the ticket window and put directly on the card.
See the [https://www.rail.co.il/en/taarif/pages/default.aspx Israel Railways website]. For most travellers the smart "Rav Kav Card" is the easiest way to purchase tickets; the card can be obtained from ticket offices and other locations and can be personalised (with photo) or anonymous (with no photo). The Card can then be topped up at ticket machines or using the Smartphone App. Local, zonal or full network tickets can be loaded, and these can include most public transport such as trams and buses, as well as trains.
 
On 1 January 2016, the National Public Transport Authority launched the [http://rail.co.il/EN/Documents/booklet-a5_eng_2.pdf Public Transport Tariff Reform] in four metropolitan areas of Tel Aviv, Haifa, Jerusalem and Be’er Sheva, giving improved ticketing options.


==Infrastructure==
==Infrastructure==
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===Electrification===
===Electrification===
25 kV 50Hz AC. At present the only electrified lines in Israel is the High Speed Line between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv HaHagana.  
25 kV 50 Hz ac.


In the spring of 2010, the government agreed the first phase of a programme to electrify 420 km of the system.
In the spring of 2010, the government agreed the first phase of a programme to electrify 420 km of the system. By April 2022, the following routes were being worked by electric trains:
* Hertsliya - Tel Aviv - Ben Gurion Airport - Jerusalem-Yitzhak Navon
* Hertsliya - Rosh Ha'Ayin-North - Tel Aviv - Ashkelon
* Modi'in-Center - Jerusalem-Yitzhak Navon
 
* Rehovot to Hertsliya commenced electrified on 17 September 2022


===Rule of the road===
===Rule of the road===
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===Distances===
===Distances===


Distances are available for some lines
Distances are available, in kilometres, for some lines as listed below.


====Tel Aviv - Jerusalem old main line====
====Tel Aviv - Jerusalem old main line====


{| width="60%,20%"  
{| style="width: 50%"
| Tel Aviv Ha Hagana
| style="width: 70%" | Tel Aviv Ha Hagana
| 3.1
| style="width: 30%" | 3.1
|-
|-
| Kfar Habbad
| Kfar Habbad
Line 113: Line 118:
====Haifa - Lebanese Border====
====Haifa - Lebanese Border====


{| width="60%,20%"  
{| style="width: 50%"
| Haifa Mizrah  
| style="width: 70%" | Haifa Mizrah  
| 0  
| style="width: 30%" | 0  
|-
|-
| Zomet Zvulun  
| Zomet Zvulun  
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====Haifa - Tel Aviv====
====Haifa - Tel Aviv====


{| width="60%,20%"  
{| style="width: 50%"
| Haifa Mizrah  
| style="width: 70%" | Haifa Mizrah  
| 0  
| style="width: 30%" | 0  
|-
|-
| Haifa Merkaz  
| Haifa Merkaz  
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====Lod - Gaza Strip Border====
====Lod - Gaza Strip Border====


{| width="60%,20%"  
{| style="width: 50%"
| Lod  
| style="width: 70%" | Lod  
| 111.0
| style="width: 30%" | 111.0
|-
|-
| Be'er Ya'akov  
| Be'er Ya'akov  
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====Na'an - Har Zin====
====Na'an - Har Zin====


{| width="60%,20%"  
{| style="width: 50%"
| Na'an  
| style="width: 70%" | Na'an  
| 0  
| style="width: 30%" | 0  
|-
|-
| Qiryat Gat  
| Qiryat Gat  
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==Metro==
==Metro==
None.
A metro system is planned for Tel Aviv.


==Trams==
==Trams==
Jerusalem (Light Rail). A network is under construction in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area.
*Jerusalem: one route operating with extensions under construction. A further two routes are under construction or planned.
*Tel Aviv: under construction.


==Recent and future changes==
==Recent and future changes==
On 17 Feb 2020 the Israeli transport ministry announced that a new route had been approved for a 3km extension in tunnel of the Jerusalem high-speed line. This will run from the present station to one underneath the heart of the Old City, near the Western Wall. This is controversial. It has been criticised by Jordan, which has special responsibility for overseeing the Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem. Israel regards Jerusalem as its eternal and undivided capital, whilst the Palestinians claim East Jerusalem - occupied by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war - as the capital of a future state.
Construction work is underway in 2022 on the following new routes:
*from the Jerusalem high speed line to Rishon-LeTsiyon Rishonim and eventually on to Rishon-LeTsiyon Moshe Dayan.
*from Rosh Ha'Ayin northwards to Hadera, mostly along the alignment of the railway that closed in the late 1960s, plus refurbishment of the existing freight-only line between Lod and Rosh Ha'Ayin.
 
Direct services started running between Modi'in-Center and Jerusalem-Yitzhak Navon on 31 March 2022, via a new curve off the Jerusalem high speed line.
 
Services over the old route between Bet Shemesh and Jerusalem-Malha ceased in early 2020 with the onset of restrictions due to Covid-19 and are believed to be unlikely to ever restart. The sparse passenger service between Be'er Sheva and Dimona ceased at about the same time. Services between Lod and Rishon-LeTsiyon Rishonim also ceased, to allow for construction work on the new line from Jerusalem.
 
On 29 November 2022 the Israeli National Committee for Planning and Construction voted to commence planning for a 3km extension in tunnel of the Jerusalem high-speed line to be completed by 2030. This will run from the present station to one underneath the heart of the Old City, near the Western Wall. This is controversial. It has been criticised by Jordan, which has special responsibility for overseeing the Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem. Israel regards Jerusalem as its eternal and undivided capital, whilst the Palestinians claim East Jerusalem - occupied by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war - as the capital of a future state.


Services on the A1 Jerusalem High Speed Line were extended to Tel Aviv HaHagana on 21 December 2019, following completion of the electrification between the airport and Tel Aviv. The line, which opened on 25 September 2018, connects Jerusalem to Tel Aviv (57 km) by means of a new line branching off the Ben Gurion Airport-Modi‘in line to an underground terminal in central Jerusalem. As at September 2018 only one of the two tracks was in use and electrified: a shuttle service operated to the airport, with passengers required to change to or from diesel services there. The existing line to Jerusalem has not closed but retains a local service. It may at some point be converted to a tram-train at the Jerusalem end, linking into the existing Light Rail system.
Services on the A1 Jerusalem High Speed Line were extended to Tel Aviv HaHagana on 21 December 2019, following completion of the electrification between the airport and Tel Aviv. The line, which opened on 25 September 2018, connects Jerusalem to Tel Aviv (57 km) by means of a new line branching off the Ben Gurion Airport-Modi‘in line to an underground terminal in central Jerusalem. As at September 2018 only one of the two tracks was in use and electrified: a shuttle service operated to the airport, with passengers required to change to or from diesel services there. The existing line to Jerusalem did not close at this time but retained a local service.


The 23km Akko (Acre) to Karmi’el line opened on 20 September 2017. Design work is underway on the next phase from Karmiel to Kiryat Shmona in the far north of the country.
The 23km Akko (Acre) to Karmi’el line opened on 20 September 2017. Design work is underway on the next phase from Karmiel to Kiryat Shmona in the far north of the country.
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The 60 km Valley Line from Haifa to Beit Shee'an (close to the Jordanian border), on the course of a Hedjaz railway branch closed in 1951, opened on 4 November 2016. It might one day be extended across the River Jordan to connect to a possible new line from Irbil.
The 60 km Valley Line from Haifa to Beit Shee'an (close to the Jordanian border), on the course of a Hedjaz railway branch closed in 1951, opened on 4 November 2016. It might one day be extended across the River Jordan to connect to a possible new line from Irbil.


The first section of the 60 km long Ashkelon – Goral Jn (– Be`er Sheva) line, from Ashkelon to Sderot, was opened on 25 December 2013. Shderot to Netivot opened in February 2015, with the final stretch via Ofakim to Goral opened on 19 September 2015, with a grade-separated junction to the main line. Ofakim station opened on 2 January 2016. The link  provides a second route from Be'er Sheva to Tel Aviv for both passenger and freight trains.  
The first section of the 60 km long Ashkelon – Goral Jn (– Be'er Sheva) line, from Ashkelon to Sderot, was opened on 25 December 2013. Shderot to Netivot opened in February 2015, with the final stretch via Ofakim to Goral opened on 19 September 2015, with a grade-separated junction to the main line. Ofakim station opened on 2 January 2016. The link  provides a second route from Be'er Sheva to Tel Aviv for both passenger and freight trains.  


A 19 km double track line from Rishon LeTsiyyon West to Bne Darom Junction, connecting with the Ashdod – Ashkelon Line, was opened in two stages: to Yavne West on 25 February 2012 and on to Bne Darom Junction on 4 August 2013.
A 19 km double track line from Rishon LeTsiyon West to Bne Darom Junction, connecting with the Ashdod – Ashkelon Line, was opened in two stages: to Yavne West on 25 February 2012 and on to Bne Darom Junction on 4 August 2013.
The doubling of Motzkin – Nahariyya was completed in 2013, and of Tel Aviv - Kefar Sava and Lod – Na‘an – Be`er Sheva in 2012. The new Tel Aviv-HaHagana - Rishon LeTsiyyon West line opened on 25 September 2011.
The doubling of Motzkin – Nahariya was completed in 2013, and of Tel Aviv - Kefar Sava and Lod – Na'an – Be'er Sheva in 2012. The new Tel Aviv-HaHagana - Rishon LeTsiyon West line opened on 25 September 2011.


In May 2012 the cabinet approved construction of a line from Tel Aviv to Eilat to enable freight to bypass the Suez Canal. The 350km line will be for passengers and freight and is due to shorten travel time to two hours. The route is close to being finalized, will take five years to build and be funded by the Chinese. A new port will be built near Eilat, with a double track line to Ashdod on the Mediterranean coast. The main drive for this comes from increased fears of instability in Egypt.
In May 2012 the cabinet approved construction of a line from Tel Aviv to Eilat to enable freight to bypass the Suez Canal. The 350km line will be for passengers and freight and is due to shorten travel time to two hours. The route is close to being finalized, will take five years to build and be funded by the Chinese. A new port will be built near Eilat, with a double track line to Ashdod on the Mediterranean coast. The main drive for this comes from increased fears of instability in Egypt. However, information received in 2022 is that this project appears to have stalled.


==Special Notes==
==Special Notes==
Airport-style luggage security checks using X-ray machines take place at the entrance to all railway stations. Further access to the platforms is only via ticket gates.


None
==See also==
{{Navbox Israel}}
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[[Category:Non-European Countries]]

Latest revision as of 21:11, 17 February 2024

This page has been transferred to the Enthusiast's Guide to Travelling the Railways of the Rest of the World - see the relevant EGTROW page.