Prime Minister Ariel Sharon spoke today at the inauguration of the railroad line to Ashkelon. Sharon called the new line part of a greater infrastructure that will leverage economic development in Israel's southern region.
"Several years ago, during my first tenure as Prime Minister, I said that in light of our many investments in railroads, in my second tenure there would be inaugurations of railroad lines in all parts of the country. And indeed, during this tenure I have already had the pleasure of attending quite a few inauguration ceremonies for new railroad lines and new train stations.
"Undoubtedly, what we have achieved here in the past years, is a true revolution, the 'Train Revolution,' and I thank you, all of you, for this great effort. The train will reach more and more places, and more and more people will discover it and start using it.
"The greatest emphasis in the Israel Railways five-year plan -- which aims for investments of approximately 20 billion NIS in 2004-2008, and 60 million passengers per year -- is targeted towards the development of infrastructures in the Negev and the Galilee.
"The amount which is planned for investment in railroad infrastructures in the Negev is unprecedented. It will constitute a springboard for economic development in the entire southern region of the country.
"The station here at Ashkelon, which we inaugurate today, is only one landmark in the 'Train Revolution'. Ashkelon will not be the last station. In fact, it is a stepping stone for the future. From Ashkelon the railway will continue to Sderot, (I suggest that the Mayor of Sderot prepares for this), Netivot and Offakim in which further stations will be constructed and they will eventually be connected to Beer Sheva.
"We decided to announce the Ashkelon-Beer Sheva line as a national project, due to its enormous importance to the development of the South. The railway which will reach these towns in the coming years, will drastically change the economic and employment reality in which they operate.
"The city of Ashkelon, in which we today inaugurate the new line, could serve as a good example of that: for an immigrants town which rose from the maabarot [immigrant camps], it turned into a prospering city with a proclaimed international port for shipping and tourism, a city with an oil port and a power station, a city with a developing center for advanced technologies, an academic college and excellent manpower which includes many immigrant academics.
"Such a city, which is less than an hour's drive from Tel Aviv, is neither provincial nor peripheral -- it is an inseparable part of Israeli society.
"A year and a half ago, when I inaugurated the train station in Ashdod, I said that I look forward to inaugurating the station at Ashkelon.
"It is my wish for the city of Ashkelon and its residents that the train station we inaugurated here today, will contribute to the development and prosperity of the city. And my wish for Israel Railways, is that we will meet again soon at the inauguration of the station at Sderot.
"Thank you very much for all your activities and for all you have done and continue to do.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on Monday, April 18, 2005