HaRakevet ISSN 0964-8763 Series 26 No.1 Issue No. 96 March 2012 ,cfrv A Quarterly Journal on the Railways of the Middle East Edited and Published by Rabbi Dr. Walter Rothschild PhD Passauer Strasse 4, D-10789 Berlin, Germany e.mail:[email protected] :96:01 Abir Sultan; (source: Elgrabli Communication) 96:01a Moshe Dyan Station - photo Sybil Ehrlich 96:02. Minister Katz said, that as part of his new job, Mr. Shamir will be the head of the management promoting the EDITORIAL. construction of the planned fast rail link to Eilat (on the Red Sea), to be used for A lot has happened in the three-to-four months since the last issue. The Middle carrying both passengers and freight East remains filled with conflict and potential conflict. One can safely say that the interest between the Red & the Mediterranean in tourism to Syria has plummeted to a new low, with the city of Homs besieged and sections almost destroyed, thousands of civilians and opponents of the Government seas. killed and more thousands injured.... Somehow in such circumstances no-one wants The decision for the appointment to check out the latest events on the Hedjaz system there. Unrest continues in Egypt, is Mr. Shamir‘s rich experience in managing in Libya a faction wishes to split off and effectively re-form the former Cyrenaica in the large projects and initiatives, which will no eastern part of the country; There has been more talk of sanctions and even attacks on doubt help him in leading the transportation Iran (though I presume German locos are still being merrily delivered there....) In Israel the internal tumult (as opposed to foreign policy threat) has been less, revolution promoted by the ministry from although as this issue goes to press the rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip have reached Eilat in the south to Kiryat-Shmona in the a new intensity. In terms of railways many schemes seem to be approaching fruition or north near the Lebanese border. being seriously started at the same time. These should include a missile-free station for Mr. Shamir, married and with Sderot, though one is unsure how this will be achieved. three children, has an of M.S. in Electrical At a personal level, the Editor lost his father in February after some four stressful months of fighting pancreatic cancer.... This has also meant many trips to England and & Electronic Engineering from the helps explain why this issue is slightly delayed. Better news is that Chen Melling and his Technion (Haifa high technical institute). wife Galit now have a baby son. Mazal Tov! Chen will no doubt soon learn the truth of the He is a member of the directorates of the saying “A father is a man who has photos in his wallet where the money used to be.” Technion and the Ben-Gurion University So, as always, this issue is a bit of a mixture. Personal issues mean less history (Beer-Sheva), as well as the Chairman of and more reliance on current news. Enjoy! The Editor. Shalem Centre for Education. He served for 5 years in the Air Force, both as a pilot and electrical & electronic engineer, as well as commander of various units there; he reached the rank of colonel and was responsible for development and manufacture of ground and airborne communication and control systems. His civilian jobs, apart from the last one at IAI, were Vice President of Scitex consortium in Israel, General Manager of Elite Sweet Products, Vice President of the investment company Etgar (challenge), the Chairman of the national airline El-Al Directorate who managed its privatization, and the Chairman of Shamir Optical Industries. (b). NEW HEAD FOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS BODY: From a press release of 1.1.011 by the Transport & Roads‘ Safety Ministry: The Ministry has appointed Colonel in Reserves Jacob Blitstein as the head of the „Israel Ways“ ambitious projects‘ management. The almost $1 billion 96:03. Holon Junction Station project is for building a dense network of roads and railway lines all over Israel, and 96:04. is considered to be the biggest investment ever in transportation infrastructures. Mr. Blitstein is married, with three NEWS FROM THE LINE: children, and has served the army for 5 years in a variety of commandment and (a). NEW HEAD OF ROADS MINISTRY. headquarter jobs; he was later active in From a press release of 05.12.2011 by the Transport & Roads‘ Safety Ministry: managing technological projects for the Transport & Roads‘ Safety Minister Mr. Yisrael Katz, has appointed Mr. Yair Army and the Defence Ministry, as well as Shamir (the son of once Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir), formerly and until recently, the consulting and management services for Chairman of the IAI- Israeli Aerospace Industries Ltd., as the Chairman of the National Israeli firms active in South America. He Roads‘ Company Directorate; he will succeed Mr. Micha Goldman (in the past a member has a B.A. in Justice, Economy, and State of the parliament) who will end his job at the end of January 01. Science, and an M.A. in Law and Business Management. ,cfrv Page (c). BIG PLANS AT LEV HAMIFRATZ: Sheva, Dimona, and Jerusalem, there governments. The Yefe-Nof company of Haifa will be no services on Saturday night, - The second alternative is to build with will soon start building near the bridge 8.01.01 between Tel-Aviv, Jerusalem, partnership with the private sector. near Haifa and under it will construct a Beer-Sheva, and between Beer-Sheva - The third alternative is to finance the metropolitan Public Transport Centre and Dimona on both directions; traffic will entire project through the State. to serve all the incoming traffic from the resume on Sunday morning, 9.01.01. Minister Katz will bring the project for the north and east of Haifa, including: the Consequently, trains between Nahariya government approval within six months.“ Haifa - Nahariyya railway line, the Valley and Beer-Sheva, and between Haifa and (ii). From a press release of Railway line (i.e. revival of the Hedjaz line) Beer-Sheva, will start/terminate at Tel-Aviv 09.01.01 by the Transport & Roads‘ currently under construction, the Metronit Hahagana station.“ Safety Ministry: „Further to the press (BRT), bus lines, taxis, a future cable car release of 05.01.01 regarding the line to Due to works on the Haifa - to/from Carmel mountain, and Park & Ride Eilat, Minister Katz is now pressing to end Nahariyya line, traffic was to cease from facilities. the statutory planning within three months; Friday 16.0.01 in both directions As part of the plan a new railway Minister Katz, who visited China recently, between Haifa Central - The Eight and bridge is to be built nearby to link the Lev- has agreed on cooperation with his Chinese Nahariyya, resuming on the Saturday night Hamifratz station with the Valley Line; it colleague regarding transportation projects 4.0 from Haifa as far as Kiryat Motzkin will run over the nearby Haifa - Acre main including the mentioned line.“ and from Thursday 9.0 onwards to Akko road No. 4 thus making this station into and Nahariyya. (iii). On 06.0.01 it was a junction. The work is expected to last reported that the Cabinet had approved about years. (g). EILAT LINE PLANS. - SEVERAL construction of the line. ITEMS. (d). SPECIAL TRAINS OVER (i). From a press release of (iv). A letter in the ‚Jerusalem Post‘ CHANUKAH: 04.01.01 by the Transport & Roads‘ in February by Jac Friedgut of Jerusalem The railways operated additional Safety Ministry: noted: „Immediately after the Six Day War trains during the Chanukah holidays „The Transport & Roads‘ Safety Minister I was engaged by the Israel Ports Authority between 1.1.011 & .1.011 and Mr. Yisrael Katz presented today to the to come from New York and analyze the between 5.1.011 & 8.1.011. government the grandiose plan for the economic feasibility of a transportation The additional trains were: rail link to Eilat on the Red Sea. The new link between the Mediterranean and Eilat Southbound: points about the plan, not published so far in view of the closure of the Suez Canal. No. 99 starting at Netanya at 08:54 and are: Two levels of passenger services; the My study demonstrated the importance terminating at Ashkelon at 10:6. fastest service will call only at Beer-Sheva; of various elements: that the cargo link to No. 5 starting at Haifa Central the 8 at the semi-fast service will call also at eight Eilat be essentially from the Port of Ashdod; 10:18 and terminating at Modi‘in Central new stations to be built. that cargo other than new automobiles be at 1:07. The line will consist of four main planned containerized for efficient transshipment; No. 57 starting at Binyamina at 11:58 sections: and that an Ashdod - Eilat link could and terminating at Ashkelon at 1:7. - The first section between Tel-Aviv and attract Mediterranean - Asian cargo, even No. 65 starting at Binyamina at 1:58 Beer-Sheva; the existing line is being in competition with the canal. That study and terminating at Ashkelon at 15:7. double-tracked and upgraded. was undertaken 45 years ago. better late Northbound: - The second section comprises 5 km than never.“ No. 54 starting at Modi‘in Central at 10:0 of existing line between Beer-Sheva and and terminating at Haifa Central the 8 at Dimona; This requires upgrading and (v). From ‚Asian Times‘. A dragon 11:51. double-tracking. dance in the Negev.