According to a framework plan for the development of the Israeli rail system for 2010-2020, by 2020; after having invested over NIS 30 billion, Israel Railways will have about 1,500 kilometers (940 miles) of track, compared to about 700 kilometers at present, and the trains will carry over 110 million passengers annually.
Israel Railways' development plan for the next decade includes new routes additional tracks on existing routes, support systems and systems upgrades.
Among the new routes of the plan are: Karmiel-Rosh Pina; Rosh Pina-Kiryat Shmonah; Afula-Nazareth; Nazareth-Tiberias; Nevatim-Arad ; Dimona-Yeruham; connecting the Modi'in' track to the Jerusalem high-speed track Hadera-Afula and the eastern line from Kfar Saba to Hadera.
The train passenger forecast for 2010 is 65 million, compared to 27 million in 2005, and Israel Railways hopes to be able to accommodate an additional 35 million passengers per year by 2020. Israel Railways' target for increased cargo transport is 13 million tons per year by 2020, from the current 8 million tons.
