The initial cost of the project is estimated at NIS 6.6 billion.
Sources inform "Globes" that the Eilat railway project has been approved as a national infrastructure project. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and the ministers of finance and internal affairs gave the go-ahead for fast track approval by the national infrastructures committee. The initial cost of the project is estimated at NIS 6.6 billion.
The project involves a 286-kilometer railway from Beersheva to Eilat Port, by way of Dimona and Har Zin. The project has two sections. The first includes upgrading and doubling the existing 91 kilometers of railway track between Beersheva and Har Zin. The second consists of laying 165 kilometers of track from the phosphates area near Har Zin through the Arava to Eilat Port. Railway stations are planned in Dimona, Merkaz Sapir, Zofar, Paran, Hevan, Ya’alon, Lotan, Yotvata, and Tamar. Travel time from Tel Aviv to Eilat will be three hours. The line may be electrified at a later stage.
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on September 28, 2005