Goods trains have begun operating on Israel Railways new valley railway line between Haifa and Beit Shean. A temporary goods terminal at Beit Shean is being used but in the future a larger terminal will be built at Kibbutz Sde Nachum. From the terminal goods will be taken to the nearby Jordanian border.
Speaking at a ceremony to celebrate the official opening of the Valley line, which began operating last month, and attended by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Minister of Transport Yisrael Katz said, In the future the railway would serve as a regional transport corridor for moving goods between Europe and the Middle East and will be a link to the Mediterranean and bridge for peace. The line improves the link between the Mediterranean and Jordan and from there to the Persian Gulf, and will complete a sea transport lane surrounding the Arab peninsula."
Katz said that in its first three weeks of operation 100,000 passengers had already traveled on the five stations of the Valley line - Haifa, Yokneam, Migdal Ha'Emek, Afula and Beit Shean and since the holidays 5,000 passenger per day have been using the trains. Travel is free until the end of the year and fares will be half price for the two years after that.
The line cost NIS 4 billion to build and includes 26 bridges and three tunnels.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on November 8, 2016
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