On June 14, Israel Railways will launch a completely new timetable, which will include 49 extra trains and 500 new stops each day. This is an increase of 12.2% in the number of trains in operation, and brings the total to 451 trains.
Israel Railways says the new timetable takes into account the rail lines that will be added in the coming years, with the opening of new stations and rail lines: the Negev line (Ashkelon-Beersheva), the Karmiel line, the Emek Line, the express train to Jerusalem, and the Kfar Saba-Ra’anana-Herzliya line (531).
Following are the main changes in the new timetable:
-Improving service in the Haifa metro area - train frequency will be increased in the northern metro area, and on routes between Haifa and Nahariya, via Akko and the Krayot. Increasing the frequency has become possible since the completion of the double-track project in 2013. The new trains will provide all-day service between Nahariya and Haifa Hof Hacarmel stations.
For instance, in Nahariya, there will be three trains every hour during peak hours, and in off-peak hours, there will be two (one additional train per hour); In Akko, there will be four trains during peak hours, and three during off-peak hours (two additional trains per hour); in Kiryat Motzkin, there will be five trains an hour during peak hours and three during off-peak hours (one additional train per hour); in Haifa, there will be six trains each hour from Haifa Merkaz, and Hod Hacarmel, and four trains each hour during off-peak hours (one additional train each hour).
-Increasing frequency from the Netanya and Beit Yehoshua stations - on the new timetable there will be four trains an hour, in each direction, during peak hours, and two trains each hour during off-peak hours. The extra trains and the timetable changes are intended to respond to the high demand at these stations, and to help to reduce crowding on the suburban line from Binyamina, via Pardes Hana-Caesarea and Hadera (two of the peak-hour trains will leave from Netanya).
-Increasing the frequency of trains from Lod station - one extra train per hour throughout the day (peak and off-peak): six trains each hour during peak hours, and five during off-peak hours.
-Increasing the frequency of trains from Rehovot - one additional train during off-peak hours (two trains each hour). In addition, all passenger trains will start IN Rehovot, in order to provide Rehovot residents with better service, and more available seats.
-Increasing frequency from the Ashdod and Ashkelon stations - on the new timetable, fours trains will operate each hour, between 6:00 am and 10:00 am, including a once-an-hour express train that will run from Ashkelon to Tel Aviv in just 43 minutes.
-Operating a new train during peak morning hours - a number of stations around Israel will operate addition trains during the peak morning hours, in order to meet demand. There will be an extra train from the following stations: Beersheva Merkaz, Beersheva North, Lehavim, Kiryat Gat, Ramla, and Beit Shemesh.
-Beersheva-Tel Aviv: train frequency will be increased and Friday service will be improved - on Fridays, two trains will run every hour, during all hours of operation. These trains will provide service for the many soldiers and students going home for the weekend, and will stop at Beersheva North (University), Lehavim-Rahat, Kiryat Gat, and Ben Gurion International Airport.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on May 28, 2014
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