Jerusalem Railway Station
Encyclopedia
The Jerusalem Railway Station is a former railway station located in the area between Hebron Road and Bethlehem Road, near the German Colony of Jerusalem, Israel
. It was part of the Jaffa–Jerusalem railway
until its closure in 1998. The station today is also known as the Khan station for the old caravanserai
building located across the road from its site (now The Jerusalem khan Theater).
The station was opened in 1892 as a terminus of the Jaffa–Jerusalem line, at the 86.6 kilometer mark, at an elevation of 747 meters. In 1998 the railway line to Jerusalem was closed and the station has been decaying since. It was not included in the restoration of the Tel Aviv – Jerusalem line, completed in 2005. Plans exist to renovate it as an entertainment venue, similarly to the Jaffa Railway Station
.
, Moses Montefiore
and others. The franchise for laying the railway was obtained from the Ottoman
government by Joseph Navon
, but due to financial difficulties, he had to sell the franchise to a French company which was set up to build the line – Société du Chemin de Fer Ottoman de Jaffa à Jérusalem et Prolongements.
In 1892, construction of the line from Jaffa to Jerusalem was finally completed: "paved route of the trail donkeys", an ancient way of rising to Jerusalem passes through Nahal Sorek and Ghost Valley. The station was inaugurated on 26 September 1892 in the presence of the city's dignitaries, Jews and Arabs. Among those present at the ceremony was Eliezer Ben Yehuda, the reviver of the Hebrew language, which gave the train the literal name of – horse of the steel in Hebrew as the word Rakevet had not yet been created.
The station operated almost continuously until 1948, when traffic stopped on the Jaffa–Jerusalem line due to the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. At the end of the war a section of the track near Beit Safafa
, an Arab neighborhood in southeastern Jerusalem, remained under the control of the Jordanian Arab Legion
. Following the Rhodes armistice agreement, it was agreed that Jordan will hand the control of this section of the track to Israel, in order to enable Israel Railways
to restart the service to Jerusalem.
As a result, between 1948 to 1967 the Beit Safafa
neighborhood was divided; the area south of the railway line was part of the Jordanian controlled West Bank
and the railway line itself and small area to the North part of the Israeli controlled section of Jerusalem. The service on the line resumed on August 7, 1949.
In 1959 the railway tracks to Jerusalem underwent extensive renovations, but over time, the number of passengers using the line decreased. For the majority of the years until the line was finally closed, there was only once or twice daily service to Tel Aviv South Railway Station
(now also closed) and / or Haifa Central Railway Station. During the 1990s, due to the poor level of railway tracks maintenance, there were many minor derailments
; therefore it was decided to close the section of the Jaffa–Jerusalem railway
line from Beit Shemesh Railway Station
along Nahal Sorek to Jerusalem.
On 14 August 1998 the last train service left the station, and on 15 August 1998 the station was officially closed.
The station building is a symmetrical structure containing the station offices, ticket hall and a Concourse
. The original building (before later modifications) was identical to the Ramla Railway Station
and Jaffa Railway Station
buildings, which were all built at the same time.
The triangular arches on the roof of the first floor, on both sides of the ticket hall, were built in early 1920s by the British-run Palestine Railway, who managed the railway during the British Mandate of Palestine. The building underwent many renovations over the years, but its basic shape has not changed since 1920.
potential. One of the plans of the Jerusalem Development Authority is to build a new neighborhood on the land surrounding the station. The plan also includes moving the station building about 20 meters to make room for a new road, however conservation officials have expressed concern that moving the station would cause the destruction of the entire structure, this despite being one of 110 buildings selected for preservation in Jerusalem.
In recent years the area around the station has been used during cultural events; such as: the Jerusalem Film Festival
, Jerusalem Jazz Festival and Israel Festival
.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. It was part of the Jaffa–Jerusalem railway
Jaffa–Jerusalem railway
The Jaffa–Jerusalem railway is a railroad that connected Jaffa and Jerusalem. The line was built in Ottoman Palestine by the French company Société du Chemin de Fer Ottoman de Jaffa à Jérusalem et Prolongements and inaugurated in 1892, after previous attempts by the Jewish philanthropist Moses...
until its closure in 1998. The station today is also known as the Khan station for the old caravanserai
Caravanserai
A caravanserai, or khan, also known as caravansary, caravansera, or caravansara in English was a roadside inn where travelers could rest and recover from the day's journey...
building located across the road from its site (now The Jerusalem khan Theater).
The station was opened in 1892 as a terminus of the Jaffa–Jerusalem line, at the 86.6 kilometer mark, at an elevation of 747 meters. In 1998 the railway line to Jerusalem was closed and the station has been decaying since. It was not included in the restoration of the Tel Aviv – Jerusalem line, completed in 2005. Plans exist to renovate it as an entertainment venue, similarly to the Jaffa Railway Station
Jaffa Railway Station
Jaffa Railway Station was a railroad station in Jaffa, the first railway station in the Middle East, that served as the terminus for the Jaffa–Jerusalem railway...
.
History
The idea to build a railway linking the coast with the Jerusalem was first raised in the middle of the 19th century by Dr. Conrad SchickConrad Schick
Conrad Schick was a German architect, archaeologist and Protestant missionary who settled in Jerusalem in the mid-nineteenth century.-Biography:...
, Moses Montefiore
Moses Montefiore
Sir Moses Haim Montefiore, 1st Baronet, Kt was one of the most famous British Jews of the 19th century. Montefiore was a financier, banker, philanthropist and Sheriff of London...
and others. The franchise for laying the railway was obtained from the Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
government by Joseph Navon
Joseph Navon
Joseph Navon was a Jerusalem businessman and the man principally responsible for the construction of the Jaffa–Jerusalem railway. For his effort, Navon was awarded the Légion d'honneur from the French government, and the Medjidie from the Turkish government, where he was also promoted to the title...
, but due to financial difficulties, he had to sell the franchise to a French company which was set up to build the line – Société du Chemin de Fer Ottoman de Jaffa à Jérusalem et Prolongements.
In 1892, construction of the line from Jaffa to Jerusalem was finally completed: "paved route of the trail donkeys", an ancient way of rising to Jerusalem passes through Nahal Sorek and Ghost Valley. The station was inaugurated on 26 September 1892 in the presence of the city's dignitaries, Jews and Arabs. Among those present at the ceremony was Eliezer Ben Yehuda, the reviver of the Hebrew language, which gave the train the literal name of – horse of the steel in Hebrew as the word Rakevet had not yet been created.
The station operated almost continuously until 1948, when traffic stopped on the Jaffa–Jerusalem line due to the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. At the end of the war a section of the track near Beit Safafa
Beit Safafa
Beit Safafa is an Arab neighborhood in south Jerusalem midway between the Jerusalem neighborhoods of Patt and Gilo, on the outskirts of Bethlehem. Beit Safafa had a population of 5,463 in 2000. It covers an area of 1,577 dunams.-History:...
, an Arab neighborhood in southeastern Jerusalem, remained under the control of the Jordanian Arab Legion
Arab Legion
The Arab Legion was the regular army of Transjordan and then Jordan in the early part of the 20th century.-Creation:...
. Following the Rhodes armistice agreement, it was agreed that Jordan will hand the control of this section of the track to Israel, in order to enable Israel Railways
Israel Railways
Israel Railways is the principal passenger railway operating company in Israel, and is responsible for all inter-city and suburban rail way passenger and freight traffic in the country. All its lines are standard gauge. The network is centered in Israel's densely populated coastal plain, from...
to restart the service to Jerusalem.
As a result, between 1948 to 1967 the Beit Safafa
Beit Safafa
Beit Safafa is an Arab neighborhood in south Jerusalem midway between the Jerusalem neighborhoods of Patt and Gilo, on the outskirts of Bethlehem. Beit Safafa had a population of 5,463 in 2000. It covers an area of 1,577 dunams.-History:...
neighborhood was divided; the area south of the railway line was part of the Jordanian controlled West Bank
Rule of the West Bank and East Jerusalem by Jordan
The West Bank and East Jerusalem were occupied by Jordan for a period of nearly two decades starting from the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. In 1950, the British extended formal recognition to the union between the Hashemite Kingdom and of that part of Palestine under Jordanian occupation and control -...
and the railway line itself and small area to the North part of the Israeli controlled section of Jerusalem. The service on the line resumed on August 7, 1949.
In 1959 the railway tracks to Jerusalem underwent extensive renovations, but over time, the number of passengers using the line decreased. For the majority of the years until the line was finally closed, there was only once or twice daily service to Tel Aviv South Railway Station
Tel Aviv South Railway Station
Tel Aviv South Railway Station is a former railway station in Tel Aviv, Israel, that was situated in two different locations. It opened in its first location in 1920, then relocated in 1970 and finally closed to passengers in 1993.-Original location:...
(now also closed) and / or Haifa Central Railway Station. During the 1990s, due to the poor level of railway tracks maintenance, there were many minor derailments
Derailment
A derailment is an accident on a railway or tramway in which a rail vehicle, or part or all of a train, leaves the tracks on which it is travelling, with consequent damage and in many cases injury and/or death....
; therefore it was decided to close the section of the Jaffa–Jerusalem railway
Jaffa–Jerusalem railway
The Jaffa–Jerusalem railway is a railroad that connected Jaffa and Jerusalem. The line was built in Ottoman Palestine by the French company Société du Chemin de Fer Ottoman de Jaffa à Jérusalem et Prolongements and inaugurated in 1892, after previous attempts by the Jewish philanthropist Moses...
line from Beit Shemesh Railway Station
Beit Shemesh Railway Station
Beit Shemesh Railway Station is an Israel Railways station in Beit Shemesh, Israel on the Tel Aviv – Jerusalem line. The station is located near the northern industrial zone of Beit Shemesh.-History:...
along Nahal Sorek to Jerusalem.
On 14 August 1998 the last train service left the station, and on 15 August 1998 the station was officially closed.
The station building
Concourse
A concourse is a place where pathways or roads meet, such as in a hotel, a convention center, a railway station, an airport terminal, a hall, or other space.-Examples:Examples of concourses include:* Meeting halls* Universities* Railway stations...
. The original building (before later modifications) was identical to the Ramla Railway Station
Ramla Railway Station
Ramla Railway Station is a railway station in Ramla, Israel, on the Tel Aviv – Jerusalem line. The station is located in the east of Ramla. The station is also on a section shared with the Be'er Sheva - Tel Aviv line, which branches out in a southerly direction about 3 km east of...
and Jaffa Railway Station
Jaffa Railway Station
Jaffa Railway Station was a railroad station in Jaffa, the first railway station in the Middle East, that served as the terminus for the Jaffa–Jerusalem railway...
buildings, which were all built at the same time.
The triangular arches on the roof of the first floor, on both sides of the ticket hall, were built in early 1920s by the British-run Palestine Railway, who managed the railway during the British Mandate of Palestine. The building underwent many renovations over the years, but its basic shape has not changed since 1920.
The station today
Today, the station is abandoned and suffering from neglect and vandalism. The area where the station is located is of prime real estateReal estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
potential. One of the plans of the Jerusalem Development Authority is to build a new neighborhood on the land surrounding the station. The plan also includes moving the station building about 20 meters to make room for a new road, however conservation officials have expressed concern that moving the station would cause the destruction of the entire structure, this despite being one of 110 buildings selected for preservation in Jerusalem.
In recent years the area around the station has been used during cultural events; such as: the Jerusalem Film Festival
Jerusalem Film Festival
The Jerusalem Film Festival is an international film festival held annually in Jerusalem, Israel. The festival was the brainchild of Lia van Leer, who inaugurated it on May 17, 1984...
, Jerusalem Jazz Festival and Israel Festival
Israel Festival
The Israel Festival is a multidisciplinary arts festival held every spring in Israel. Its center is Jerusalem.The Israel Festival started in 1961 as a summer festival for classical music in the ancient Roman theater in Caesarea...
.