Uri Lupoliansky asks Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to save the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem high-speed train.
The Jerusalem municipality is intervening in the dispute between the Ministries of Transport and Finance over the budget for Israel Railways. Sources inform ''Globes'' that Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupoliansky recently met Minister of Finance Ronnie Bar-On to express his strong opposition to the cancellation of the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem high-speed train. Lupoliansky has also asked Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to intervene in the issue.
Further work on the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem high-speed rail link is uncertain after the Ministry of Finance halted the flow of money to Israel Railways because of cost overruns. Ten days ago, Budget Director Ram Belnikov suspended the transfers because Israel Railways' development budget is NIS 4 billion in arrears. The suspension will last until Israel Railways decides which projects to cancel.
Ministry of Transport director general Gideon Siterman and Israel Railways' management slammed the Ministry of Finance's decision. The decision will affect projects such as the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem railway, and the Acre-Carmiel line.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on May 27, 2008
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2008