Israel Railways will tomorrow publish a tender to upgrade the Beer Sheva railway station, as part of the plan to convert the Tel Aviv-Beer Sheva-Dimona railroad into a passenger line. Minister of Transport Ephraim Sneh said the upgrade of the station and railway line would cost an estimated NIS 52 million
The Beer Sheva-Dimona railway is 37 km. long, and currently only freight trains - mostly quarry and chemical carriers - use the tracks. Passenger traffic on the line was discontinued 20 years ago, due to the outdated infrastructure, and the low speed enabled by the tracks.
Sneh said the tender to upgrade the Beer Sheva-Dimona railway, at a cost of NIS 25 million, will be published in a few weeks. Several sections of the freight line need upgrading. In addition, an operational station will be established between Dimona and Nevatim, at a cost of NIS 10 million.
Sneh said the upgrade of the Beer Sheva-Dimona railway can be completed within 18 months. He added that the Ministry of Transport would invest over NIS 1 billion next year in railway infrastructure development throughout Israel, 20% more than in 2001. "Railway development in the south of the country will significantly reduce the time needed to reach the center of the country, and enable residents of the area to quickly reach metropolitan Tel Aviv," he said.
Published by Israel's Business Arena on 14 November 2001