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_-_The_diamond_exchange_complex.jpg/500px-Flickr_-_Government_Press_Office_(GPO)_-_The_diamond_exchange_complex.jpg) Aerial view of Tel Aviv Savidor Central railway station | |
| Company type | State owned |
|---|---|
| Industry | Railways |
| Headquarters | Lod railway station, , |
Area served | Israel |
Key people | Michael Maixner (CEO) |
| Services | Rail transport, Cargo transport |
| Revenue |  ₪940+ million[1] (2015) |
| ₪1 billion[2] (2016) | |
| ₪1.5 billion[3] (2014) | |
| Owner | Government of Israel |
Number of employees | 4,366 (2022) |
| Website | www.rail.co.il |
 | |
 | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Stations called at | 66 |
| Locale |  Israel |
| Dates of operation | 1948–present |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) |
| Electrification | In the process of conversion to electric; 25 kV, 50 Hz overhead wire (60% complete) |
| Length | 1,138 km |
| Other | |
| Website | www.rail.co.il |
Israel Railways Ltd. (Hebrew: רַכֶּבֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל, Rakevet Yisra'el) is the state-owned principal railway company responsible for all inter-city, commuter, and freight rail transport in Israel. Israel Railways network consists of 1,138 kilometers (707 mi) of track. All its lines are standard gauge but some were originally built to other gauges and later regauged. Electrification began in 2018 with the new line to Jerusalem and there are ambitious plans to electrify the entire network at 25 kV 50 Hz supplied via overhead line. The network is centered in Israel's densely populated coastal plain, from which lines radiate out in many directions. In 2018, Israel Railways carried 68 million passengers.
Unlike road vehicles and city trams, Israeli heavy rail trains run on the left hand tracks, matching neighboring Egypt and other Middle Eastern countries, whose formerly connected rail networks were constructed by British engineers. Those lines that formerly crossed Israel's borders were severed during the Israeli War of Independence and there are as of 2024[update] no international train lines or services to or from Israel.
Until 1980, the company's head office was located at Haifa Center HaShmona railway station. Tzvi Tzafriri, the general manager of Israel Railways, decided to move the head office to Tel Aviv Savidor Central Railway Station. In 2017, the company's head office was moved to a new campus built on the grounds of the Lod railway station.
Stations
There are 66 stations on the Israel Railways network, with almost all of the stations being accessible to disabled persons, with public announcement and passenger information systems, vending machines and parking.
Bicycle policy
Bicycles are permitted on trains in designated coaches.
Israel Railways encourages people to use bicycles by building a double-deck parking for bicycles in every railway station and by allowing people to take bicycles with them on trains to minimise the need for private cars.
Smoking
In Israel, smoking is prohibited in public enclosed places and in commercial areas. Although smoking in railway stations is allowed in designated areas, the sale of tobacco from automated vending machines is prohibited.
List of stations
Lines
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Israel Railways currently operates 15 passenger service lines.[8] These can be broadly subdivided into inter-city lines, which connect two or more of Israel's major metropolitan centres (Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, and Beersheba), usually skipping some of the intermediate stations, and commuter lines, centered on one metropolitan area and serving all stations on the line. However, Israel Railways no longer officially uses this classification.
Some services were partially or fully suspended as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and electrification works.
Inter-city lines
Commuter lines
† Fully electrified line
‡ Line electrification in progress
Future
The flagship project of Israel Railways is the construction of an improved rail line from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The line began as an extension of the current railway to Ben Gurion Airport and Modi'in, and terminates in a new underground station beside the Jerusalem Central Bus Station. An additional proposal will connect Modi'in to Jerusalem if built by connecting to the aforementioned line.[9] The project of electrification, starting with the new Jerusalem-Tel Aviv line is ongoing with plans to eventually electrify all or most of the network.
A 23.5 kilometres (14.6 mi) line from the city of Acre, on the Mediterranean coast, to Karmiel was completed in March 2017. However, this tract bypasses Acre and does not make a stop there; it is planned to be extended north to the north-eastern town of Qiryat Shemona, with future stations also planned for Jadeidi-Makr and Majd al-Krum, though there is no timetable for construction. This line will be fully electrified.[10][11]
There were plans to build a high-speed railway to Eilat but in 2019 the project was frozen indefinitely.[12]
In 2011 the reconstruction and expansion of the 60 kilometres (37 mi) long, formerly abandoned Jezreel Valley railway line connecting Haifa and Beit Shean (near the Jordanian border) started. This was completed in 2016. There has been talk of further extending the line to Irbid, in Jordan (to allow a direct freight connection from Jordan to the Mediterranean Sea); however, no decision has yet been made on this matter. Another proposed extension under discussion would connect the reconstructed Jezreel Valley railway at Afula to Tiberias.[13]
In May 2017, an extension of the railway from Arad via Kuseife was approved. The line would connect to the existing Beersheba–Dimona rail line at the proposed new station at Nevatim.[14]
Rolling stock
Israel Railways currently owns a total of 193 locomotives, 717 passenger cars, and 110 MU trainsets.
Current
Locomotives
Multiple Units
Carriages
Israel Railways owns a total of 717 passenger cars.
Retired
Locomotives
Steam Locomotives
Diesel Locomotives
Multiple Units
Carriages
Organizational structure
The company is headed by a chief executive officer. It has two subsidiaries: a real estate development company, and a freight rail company. The main organization has five operational departments: freight, infrastructure, rolling stock, passengers and development.[49]
In 2017, Israel Railways founded a Tunnels Unit that is responsible for the daily operation of railway tunnels, including lighting, air circulation, etc. and managing emergencies.[50]
Performance
The passenger number history (in millions) is as follows:
^a In contemporary shekels – not adjusted for inflation
Notable accidents
- On 26 December 1963 two passenger trains on the then single-track main line linking Tel Aviv and Haifa collided head-on at Bet Yehoshua just south of Netanya.[67] The northbound train had passed a red signal and its locomotive rode over and crushed the locomotive of the southbound train.[68] None of the coaches was derailed but a coupler broke in the northbound train detaching the rear three coaches.[69] The continuous train brake should have then automatically stopped the detached coaches but it had not been connected properly so they started to roll back southwards.[69] 55 people were injured but only three seriously enough to be detained in hospital.[69] The two head-end crews survived but their locomotives, EMD G12s 105 and 118, were destroyed.[69]
- HaBonim disaster: On 11 June 1985 a train collided with a bus carrying school children, killing 19 children and 3 adults, near moshav HaBonim.[70]
- On 21 June 2005 an IC3 train crashed into a freight truck near kibbutz Revadim, killing 8 and injuring 198.[71]
- 8 July 2005, a train collided with a truck between Kiryat Gat and Ahuzam, resulting in the death of the train driver and 38 injuries.[72][73] In February 2012 a plea bargain had been set[74] for the Revadim crash.
- On 12 June 2006 a train crashed into a truck near Beit Yehoshua, killing 5 and injuring from 77 to over 80.[75][76]
- On 27 December 2009 a train crashed into a car near Kiryat Gat. The driver proceeded without regard to the train checkpoint on the road. The train struck his car and he was killed.[77]
- On 5 August 2010 a train crashed into a minibus near Kiryat Gat, killing 7 and injuring 6. The minibus was hit at 19:05 GMT+3 on Route 353, apparently as it tried to pass over a level crossing.[78][79]
- On 28 December 2010 a fire started in a train near kibbutz Yakum, probably because of a short circuit, injuring 116.[80]
- On 7 April 2011 two trains collided frontally near Netanya, injuring 59.[81]
- On 4 October 2013, two men walking along railroad tracks in the Emek Hefer valley industrial zone were killed by a train.[82]
- On 18 December 2013, a Beersheba-bound train collided with a group of camels walking along railroad tracks at the Segev Shalom Junction in the Negev, killing 14 camels. The incident caused massive delays in train traffic.[83]
- On 29 December 2013, an Israel Railways worker was run down and killed by a train near Lod.[84]
- On 15 March 2016, an Israel Railways locomotive crashed into freight wagons, injuring 6.[85]
See also
- Rail transport in Israel
- Hejaz Railway (1908-1920), Ottoman line which connected Damascus with Medina; the Jezreel Valley railway was a branch in its network
- Ottoman Palestine railways
- Eastern Railway, Ottoman WWI line, Tulkarm to Hadera and Tulkarm to Lydda; connected to Jezreel Valley, Jaffa–Jerusalem, and Beersheba lines
- Jaffa–Jerusalem railway (inaugurated 1892)
- Jezreel Valley railway (1905-1948), segment of the Haifa–Dera'a Line which connected the Hejaz Railway to the port of Haifa
- Railway to Beersheba or the 'Egyptian Branch', Ottoman WWI line headed towards the Suez Canal; two lines: (Lidda–) Wadi Surar (Nahal Soreq)–Beit Hanoun, and Wadi Surar–Beersheba
- Mandate Palestine & Israel railways
- Palestine Railways, government-owned company and rail monopolist in Mandate Palestine (1920-1948)
- Coastal railway line, main line in Mandate Palestine and Israel
References
- ^ Jeremaya Goldberg: Israel reports 9% passenger increase in International Railway Journal, 2016-03-30, retrieved 4 April 2016
- ^ "Israel Railways – About Israel Railways". Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
- ^ "רכבת ישראל - הודעות דוברות - 2015–2016".
- ^ "2019 Freedom of Information Law Annual Report" (PDF). Israel Railways.
- ^ "2020 Freedom of Information Law Annual Report" (PDF). Israel Railways.
- ^ "2021 Freedom of Information Law Annual Report" (PDF). Israel Railways.
- ^ "2022 Freedom of Information Law Annual Report". Israel Railways.
- ^ Stations and lines. Israel Railways official website. Accessed 5 June 2021.
- ^ "Israel Railways to build Modi'in-Jerusalem rail link". Globes. 6 July 2016. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
- ^ a b c "Israel starts mainline electrification, orders Bombardier electric locomotives". Trains Magazine. 28 August 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
- ^ "Karmiel - Akko railway line completed". Globes. 16 March 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
- ^ "Millions squandered on unrealistic projects". Globes. 28 January 2019.
- ^ Petersburg, Ofer (22 July 2016). "New train from Tiberias to Tel Aviv in 1 hour". Ynetnews. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
- ^ "Arad railway extension approved". Globes. 16 May 2017. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
- ^ Weissman, Shahar (2022). "Annual Report, 2022" (PDF) (in Hebrew). Israel Railways. p. 29. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
- ^ Cotterell, 1984, page 136
- ^ "Gallery". Israel Railways. Archived from the original on 19 June 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
- ^ Cotterell, 1984, page 137
- ^ "Siemens selected for Israel Railways EMU order". Railway Gazette. 28 September 2017. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
- ^ Goldberg, Jeremaya (28 September 2017). "Siemens chosen for $US 1bn Israeli EMU order". International Railway Journal. Archived from the original on 5 October 2017. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
- ^ "ISR orders more double-deckers". Railway Gazette. Archived from the original on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 12 October 2010.
- ^ a b c d e "Tender Israel Railwaays 2013" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 August 2014. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
- ^ "Viaggio". Siemens. Archived from the original on 14 March 2010. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
- ^ "Siemens Israel / Mobility in Israel". Siemens. Archived from the original on 29 July 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2008.
- ^ a b c HaRakevet: Rothschild PhD, Rabbi Walter (juni 2009), Siemens Coach number. Series 22:1 issue 84
- ^ HaRakevet: Rothschild PhD, Rabbi Walter (September 2009), XXI Siemens Coaches in operation. Inititial impressions. Series 22:3 issue 86
- ^ HaRakevet: Rothschild PhD, Rabbi Walter (juni 2009), Siemens stock into service. Series 22:2 issue 85
- ^ "Israel Railways orders second batch of Siemens coaches". railwaygazette.com. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
- ^ "ISR orders more double-deckers". Railway Gazette. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
- ^ HaRakevet: Rothschild PhD, Rabbi Walter (September 1992), WD/USA 0-6-0Ts in Palestina, 1942–46. Issue 18
- ^ a b c "Israel Railways Modern Passenger Trains – English". Angelfire.
- ^ HaRakevet: Rothschild PhD, Rabbi Walter (June 1992), The Esslingen shunters. Issue 17
- ^ Cotterell, Paul (1984). The Railways of Palestine and Israel. Abingdon: Tourret Publishing. p. 103. ISBN 0-905878-04-3.
- ^ HaRakevet: Rothschild PhD, Rabbi Walter (July 1990). Issue 9
- ^ HaRakevet: Rothschild, Rabbi Walter (12-2007), A Quarterly Journal of the Railways of the Middle East
- ^ "SJK Postvagnen". postvagnen.com.
- ^ a b HaRakevet: Rothschild PhD, Rabbi Walter (December 2007), The mysterious Fiat railcars. Series 20:4 issue 79
- ^ a b c d "Israel". railfaneurope.net. Archived from the original on 29 September 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
- ^ HaRakevet: Rothschild PhD, Rabbi Walter (juni 2009), Rolling stock news: IC3 set condemned. Series 19:4 issue 75
- ^ HaRakevet: Rothschild PhD, Rabbi Walter (December 2009), 3rd. Class Passenger Coaches for the Israeli State Railways. Series 22:4 issue 87
- ^ "Israel Railways Passenger Trains – Details on Short Iron Carriage Types" (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on 9 October 2007. Retrieved 15 February 2008.
- ^ "General Information – Types of Rolling Stock in Use" (in Hebrew). Israel Railways. Archived from the original on 28 October 2007. Retrieved 15 February 2008.
- ^ HaRakevet: Rothschild PhD, Rabbi Walter (September 2009), News. Series 22:3 issue 86
- ^ Cotterell, Paul (2011). Bahnt den Weg. Ein historisches Album der Eisenbahn in Israel. Berlin: Hentrich & Hentrich. ISBN 9783942271202.
- ^ HaRakevet: Rothschild PhD, Rabbi Walter (juni 2009), Rolling stock news: End of French coaches. Series 19:4 issue 75
- ^ Mk11s in Israel The Railway Magazine issue 917 September 1977 page 435
- ^ "Picture Gallery". railfaneurope.net.
- ^ רובינשטיין, רועי (24 August 2022). "רכבת ישראל מציעה למכירה: קרונות משומשים, יד 1". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 21 May 2023.
- ^ "רכבת ישראל – מבנה ארגוני (בפוטל)" [Israel Railways – Organizational Structure (in practice)] (in Hebrew). Israel Railways. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
- ^ Rabad, Ahia (15 January 2018). לא רק לצה"ל: הכירו את יחידת המנהרות של הרכבת [Not Only in the IDF: Meet the New Railway Tunnel Unit]. Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 18 January 2018.
- ^ HaRakevet: Rothschild PhD, Rabbi Walter (April 1992), A Record Year. Issue 16
- ^ "רכבת ישראל - נתונים סטטיסטיים". Archived from the original on 15 March 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
- ^ "Press Release". Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
- ^ "More Israelis travelling by train – Globes English". 9 February 2014.
- ^ "Israel Railways passenger traffic up 7.5% in 2014 – Globes English". February 2015.
- ^ Kevin Smith: “Cultural changes” spark turnaround at Israel Railways in: International Railway Journal, 2016-03-14, retrieved 4 April 2016.
- ^ Gutman, Lior (1 April 2017). "רכבת ישראל: עלייה של 13% במספר הנוסעים ב-2016" [Israel Railways: 13% Increase in Passenger Numbers in 2016]. Calcalist. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
- ^ Weissman, Shahar. "Annual Report, 2017" (PDF) (in Hebrew). Israel Railways. p. 22. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
- ^ Goldberg, Jeremaya (27 March 2019). "International Railway Journal". IRJ. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
- ^ Weissman, Shahar. "Annual Report, 2019" (PDF) (in Hebrew). Israel Railways. p. 16. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
- ^ Weissman, Shahar. "Annual Report, 2020" (PDF) (in Hebrew). Israel Railways. p. 18. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
- ^ "Annual Report, 2021" (PDF) (in Hebrew).
- ^ Weissman, Shahar (2022). "Annual Report, 2022" (PDF) (in Hebrew). Israel Railways. p. 18. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
- ^ "CBS, STATISTICAL ABSTRACT OF ISRAEL 2013 ISRAEL RAILWAY SERVICES" (PDF). cbs.gov.il.
- ^ "Railway Services (2011 Classification)" (PDF). Statistical Abstract of Israel 67. Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. 1 September 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
- ^ "Table 19.3 – Railway Services" (PDF). Statistical Abstract of Israel 72. Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. 21 July 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
- ^ Cotterell, 1984, page 101
- ^ Cotterell, 1984, pages 101–102
- ^ a b c d Cotterell, 1984, page 102
- ^ "The Pittsburgh Press – Google News Archive Search".
- ^ Tova Dadon (25 June 2005). "Israeli train crash". Ynetnews. Archived from the original on 5 January 2011. Retrieved 3 October 2007.
- ^ Tomer Zarchin (19 March 2009), "Israel Railways, executives charged in fatal crashes", haaretz.com
- ^ Tova Dadon (19 March 2009), "Train, truck collide in south", ynet.co.il
- ^ "הסדר טיעון: רכבת ישראל הורשעה בגרימת מוות ברשלנות בשל התאונה ברבדים".
- ^ Ra'anan Ben-Tzur, Oren Rice (12 June 2006). "Train accident in the Sharon region – 5 dead, dozens wounded" (in Hebrew). Ynet. Retrieved 3 October 2007.
- ^ Roni Singer-Heruti (22 March 2007). "Police: Try Israel Railways head for negligence over fatal crash". Haaretz. Retrieved 3 October 2007.
- ^ Sagi Bashan (27 December 2009). "One killed in crash between train and car; Trains traffic disruptions in southern Israel" (in Hebrew). Reshet. Archived from the original on 23 February 2012.
- ^ "Seven die in southern Israel as train hits minibus". BBC. 4 August 2010.
- ^ Tova Dadon (5 August 2010). "7 killed in crash between train and minibus in southern Israel" (in Hebrew). Ynet.
- ^ Raanan Ben Zur and Aviel Magensi (28 December 2010). "Fire started in a train from Haifa to Tel Aviv, 116 injured" (in Hebrew). Ynet.
- ^ Raanan Ben Zur and Aviel Magensi (7 April 2011). "59 wounded in a frontal collision between two trains near Netanya" (in Hebrew). Ynet.
- ^ "2 killed by passenger train in central Israel". Ynetnews. 10 April 2013.
- ^ Mati Siver (18 December 2013). "14 camels killed by train in Negev". Ynetnews.
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- ^ Channel 10 (Israel) (15 March 2016). "6 injuring by train in Negev". Nana10.
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Bibliography
- Cotterell, Paul (1986). The Railways of Palestine and Israel. Tourret Publishing. ISBN 0-905878-04-3.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Israel Railways.
- Official website
- Official website (in Hebrew)
- Official website (in Arabic)