Israel Railways inaugurated the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem and Tel Aviv-Ashkelon lines

Israel Railways started last Saturday night the operation of two new railway lines. The first is the rebuilt Tel Aviv-Jerusalem line through the city of Beit Shemesh, and the new Tel Aviv-Ashkelon line.
 
In a press release at the end of last week the Minister of Transport Mr. Meir Sheetrit said the new Tel Aviv-Ashkelon line would reach the city of Shderot in 2007, and a year later would reach Beersheva through Netivot and Ofakim.
 
Sheetrit added that the Ministry of Transport put the development of the railway system on its top priority list and was investing over NIS 1 billion in building railway infrastructure in the south and the Negev.
 
A spokesman for Israel Railways said that travel time from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem on the rebuilt line will be 73 minutes. Tickets will cost NIS 19. 30, trains will operate daily.
 
He added that travel time between Ashkelon and Tel Aviv will be 45 minutes, the service would initially be one train per hour in each direction, however, when the double track between Ashdod and Ashkelon is completed in September, two trains per hour will run in each direction.
 
The Tel Aviv-Ashkelon line runs through Ashdod and Lod, however, when the West Rishon LeZion station is complete, travel time to Ashkelon will be cut to 35 minutes. The line cost NIS 235 million to build. Tickets will cost NIS 22.50.