Railway to Karmiel
Encyclopedia
The Railway to Karmiel is a proposed railway linking Acre
(Akko) and Karmiel
in northern Israel
. According to Israel Railways
' plan, a new double track standard gauge
railroad would stretch for about 23 km from just south of Akko to Karmiel. It would branch eastwards from the Coastal Railway
between the Kiryat Motzkin Railway Station and the Acre Railway Station
(at a point nearby where the Coastal Railway passes over the Na'aman River
) and would include an approximately 5 km long tunnel (composed of two parallel single-track tunnels) in the mountainous region near the eastern end of the line. Most of the route will be in the vicinity of Highway 85
. Two stations are planned, one in Ahihud
and one in the entrance to Karmiel. From Karmiel, a conceptual design exists to eventually extend the railway to Korazim
(near Safed
) and from there to Kiryat Shmona
at the very northern tip of Israel.
due to financial reasons. An alternative plan to instead create a light rail
line from Haifa
to Karmiel was rejected. The Knesset
's Research and Information Center criticized the relevant authorities for not doing enough research on the advantages and disadvantages of light vs. heavy rail in the projcet. The light rail plan was supported by Ministry of Finance
and Haifa
's development company Yefe Nof, while the heavy rail plan was supported by Israel Railways
and the Karmiel municipality. The light rail to Karmiel would have been part of a larger project that would include Nazareth
and Acre
. The Nazareth section was eventually also rejected in favor of a heavy rail line.
In 2009, a number of northern municipalities turned to the Negev and Galilee Development minister Silvan Shalom
in an effort to promote the plan for the railway. They argued that it was necessary for the construction of viable institutions of higher education in the region. On November 26, 2009, Transportation Minister
Yisrael Katz
gave his seal of approval for the plans, however, this did not immediate translate into financial approval.
Eventually, on February 24, 2010, the Israeli government voted to appropriate funds to construct the line as part of a larger national infrastructure spending package. A budget of NIS 2.8 billion (about US $750 million) was approved for the project, not including the cost of electrifying
the line, which was approved as part of a separate NIS 2.2 billion appropriation which also includes the cost of rolling stock for the Karmiel and some other new lines.
with a length of 23 kilometres (14.3 mi) per track, from the Coastal Railway to the entrance to Karmiel
. The majority of the route will follow the east–west Highway 85
. The railway's top traveling speed will be 160 kilometres per hour (99.4 mph) and it will accommodate two trains per direction per hour. It expected to be the first electrified railway line in Israel (not including light rail).
The railway will include two stations, Ahihud
and Karmiel, with the possibility of additional stations adjacent to Jadeidi-Makr and Majd al-Krum. It has been declared a national project under National Infrastructure Plan 12/2. In the future, it will be extended to Kiryat Shmona
, the northernmost city in Israel.
, which is coordinating the project, will publish a total of six design-build
tenders for the railway, including four infrastructure tenders and a tender for each of the two stations on the line. The following sections are included in the infrastructure tenders:
Na'aman Junction – Yasif Junction
Yasif Junction – Bar Lev Industrial Zone (Ahihud)
Gilon Tunnels
Acre, Israel
Acre , is a city in the Western Galilee region of northern Israel at the northern extremity of Haifa Bay. Acre is one of the oldest continuously inhabited sites in the country....
(Akko) and Karmiel
Karmiel
Karmiel is a city in northern Israel. Established in 1964 as a development town, Karmiel is located in the Beit HaKerem Valley which divides upper and lower Galilee. The city is located south of the Acre-Safed road, from Safed and from Acre...
in northern Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. According to 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...
' plan, a new double track standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
railroad would stretch for about 23 km from just south of Akko to Karmiel. It would branch eastwards from the Coastal Railway
Coastal railway line, Israel
The Coastal railway line is a mainline railway in Israel, which begins just south of the Lebanon-Israel border on the Mediterranean coast, near the town of Nahariya in Northern Israel and currently ends in Tel Aviv; by 2013 it will be linked to the existing Ashdod Railway Station south of Tel Aviv,...
between the Kiryat Motzkin Railway Station and the Acre Railway Station
Acre Railway Station
Acre Railway Station is an Israel Railways passenger station serving the city of Acre and the surrounding towns and villages.- Location :The station is situated on the North-South coastal line...
(at a point nearby where the Coastal Railway passes over the Na'aman River
Belus River
Belus or Belos is a small river in north-western Israel, where according to legend, mentioned by Isidore of Seville in his glass-making was invented.This river is identified with what is now called the Na'aman River , near Acre.Pliny the Elder Belus or Belos is a small river in north-western...
) and would include an approximately 5 km long tunnel (composed of two parallel single-track tunnels) in the mountainous region near the eastern end of the line. Most of the route will be in the vicinity of Highway 85
Highway 85 (Israel)
Highway 85 is an east-west highway in Northern Israel. It is one of the most important roads through the Galilee, connecting the western Galilee with the Eastern Galilee...
. Two stations are planned, one in Ahihud
Ahihud
Ahihud - brother of union. A son of Bela, the sonof Benjamin . Name different in Hebrew, meaning father of Judah. Chief Slaveof the tribe of Asher; one of those appointed by Moses to...
and one in the entrance to Karmiel. From Karmiel, a conceptual design exists to eventually extend the railway to Korazim
Korazim
Korazim is a communal settlement in northern Israel. It belongs to the Mevo'ot HaHermon Regional Council.It was founded in 1983 as a moshav, but after it merged with Ma'of it became a communal settlement. It is found just north of Lake Kinneret...
(near Safed
Safed
Safed , is a city in the Northern District of Israel. Located at an elevation of , Safed is the highest city in the Galilee and of Israel. Due to its high elevation, Safed experiences warm summers and cold, often snowy, winters...
) and from there to Kiryat Shmona
Kiryat Shmona
Kiryat Shmona is a city located in the North District of Israel on the western slopes of the Hula Valley on the Lebanese border. The city was named for the eight people, including Joseph Trumpeldor, who died in 1920 defending Tel Hai....
at the very northern tip of Israel.
Planning and financing
The railway was first proposed in the early 2000s but the plans were put on hold in the Sharon governmentThirtieth government of Israel
The thirtieth government of Israel was formed by Ariel Sharon on 28 February 2003, following Likud's comprehensive victory in the January elections. His coalition initially included Shinui and the National Union, holding 60 of the 120 seats in the Knesset, whilst the two-seat Yisrael BaAliyah...
due to financial reasons. An alternative plan to instead create a light rail
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
line from Haifa
Haifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
to Karmiel was rejected. The Knesset
Knesset
The Knesset is the unicameral legislature of Israel, located in Givat Ram, Jerusalem.-Role in Israeli Government :The legislative branch of the Israeli government, the Knesset passes all laws, elects the President and Prime Minister , approves the cabinet, and supervises the work of the government...
's Research and Information Center criticized the relevant authorities for not doing enough research on the advantages and disadvantages of light vs. heavy rail in the projcet. The light rail plan was supported by Ministry of Finance
Ministry of Finance (Israel)
The Israeli Ministry of Finance is a part of the Israeli political system. It is responsible for planning and implementing the Government of Israel’s overall economic policy....
and Haifa
Haifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
's development company Yefe Nof, while the heavy rail plan was supported by 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...
and the Karmiel municipality. The light rail to Karmiel would have been part of a larger project that would include Nazareth
Nazareth
Nazareth is the largest city in the North District of Israel. Known as "the Arab capital of Israel," the population is made up predominantly of Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel...
and Acre
Acre, Israel
Acre , is a city in the Western Galilee region of northern Israel at the northern extremity of Haifa Bay. Acre is one of the oldest continuously inhabited sites in the country....
. The Nazareth section was eventually also rejected in favor of a heavy rail line.
In 2009, a number of northern municipalities turned to the Negev and Galilee Development minister Silvan Shalom
Silvan Shalom
' , born 4 October 1958) is an Israeli politician, member of the Knesset for Likud and the country's Vice Prime Minister and Minister for Regional Development. He previously served as the country's Foreign Minister and Finance Minister.-Biography:...
in an effort to promote the plan for the railway. They argued that it was necessary for the construction of viable institutions of higher education in the region. On November 26, 2009, Transportation Minister
Ministry of Transport and Road Safety
The Ministry of Transport and Road Safety is a government agency that handles transportation and road safety issues in Israel. The ministry headquarters are in Givat Ram, Jerusalem.-Minister of Transport and Road Safety:...
Yisrael Katz
Yisrael Katz (politician born 1955)
Yisrael Katz is an Israeli politician who currently serves as a member of the Knesset for Likud and as the country's Minister of Transportation.-Biography:Born in Ashkelon, Katz earned a BA and an MA at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem....
gave his seal of approval for the plans, however, this did not immediate translate into financial approval.
Eventually, on February 24, 2010, the Israeli government voted to appropriate funds to construct the line as part of a larger national infrastructure spending package. A budget of NIS 2.8 billion (about US $750 million) was approved for the project, not including the cost of electrifying
Railway electrification system
A railway electrification system supplies electrical energy to railway locomotives and multiple units as well as trams so that they can operate without having an on-board prime mover. There are several different electrification systems in use throughout the world...
the line, which was approved as part of a separate NIS 2.2 billion appropriation which also includes the cost of rolling stock for the Karmiel and some other new lines.
Route and technical specifications
The railway will include a double trackDouble track
A double track railway usually involves running one track in each direction, compared to a single track railway where trains in both directions share the same track.- Overview :...
with a length of 23 kilometres (14.3 mi) per track, from the Coastal Railway to the entrance to Karmiel
Karmiel
Karmiel is a city in northern Israel. Established in 1964 as a development town, Karmiel is located in the Beit HaKerem Valley which divides upper and lower Galilee. The city is located south of the Acre-Safed road, from Safed and from Acre...
. The majority of the route will follow the east–west Highway 85
Highway 85 (Israel)
Highway 85 is an east-west highway in Northern Israel. It is one of the most important roads through the Galilee, connecting the western Galilee with the Eastern Galilee...
. The railway's top traveling speed will be 160 kilometres per hour (99.4 mph) and it will accommodate two trains per direction per hour. It expected to be the first electrified railway line in Israel (not including light rail).
The railway will include two stations, Ahihud
Ahihud
Ahihud - brother of union. A son of Bela, the sonof Benjamin . Name different in Hebrew, meaning father of Judah. Chief Slaveof the tribe of Asher; one of those appointed by Moses to...
and Karmiel, with the possibility of additional stations adjacent to Jadeidi-Makr and Majd al-Krum. It has been declared a national project under National Infrastructure Plan 12/2. In the future, it will be extended to Kiryat Shmona
Kiryat Shmona
Kiryat Shmona is a city located in the North District of Israel on the western slopes of the Hula Valley on the Lebanese border. The city was named for the eight people, including Joseph Trumpeldor, who died in 1920 defending Tel Hai....
, the northernmost city in Israel.
Construction
Upon the approval of the line, construction was expected to last between 2011 and 2015. The National Roads CompanyNational Roads Company of Israel
The National Roads Company of Israel , also called National Roads Authority, is a government-owned corporation, in charge of planning, construction and maintenance of most road infrastructure in Israel, including roads, bridges and interchanges....
, which is coordinating the project, will publish a total of six design-build
Design-Build
Design-build is a project delivery system used in the construction industry. It is a method to deliver a project in which the design and construction services are contracted by a single entity known as the design–builder or design–build contractor...
tenders for the railway, including four infrastructure tenders and a tender for each of the two stations on the line. The following sections are included in the infrastructure tenders:
Na'aman Junction – Yasif Junction
- A 6.5 km (4 mi) section, including bridges over the Na'amanBelus RiverBelus or Belos is a small river in north-western Israel, where according to legend, mentioned by Isidore of Seville in his glass-making was invented.This river is identified with what is now called the Na'aman River , near Acre.Pliny the Elder Belus or Belos is a small river in north-western...
and Hilazon streams, a 900 metres (984.3 yd) diversion of Hilazon Stream, and converting 1.2 km (1,312.3 yd) of Highway 4Highway 4 (Israel)Highway 4 is an Israeli highway that runs along Israel's entire coastal plain of the Mediterranean Sea, its route in the north runs from the Rosh HaNikra border crossing with Lebanon until the Erez Border Crossing with the Gaza Strip...
to a bridge over the railway. The tender was published on March 17, 2011 and the winner, Terre Armee, was chosen in late June 2011. Work on the section itself is expected to start in early 2012 and end in late 2013.
Yasif Junction – Bar Lev Industrial Zone (Ahihud)
- The tender for this section will be published in early 2012.
Gilon Tunnels
- A pair of 4.6 to 5 km (2.9 to 3.1 mi) tunnels, as well as 18 connection and escape tunnels, under Mount Gilon between AhihudAhihudAhihud - brother of union. A son of Bela, the sonof Benjamin . Name different in Hebrew, meaning father of Judah. Chief Slaveof the tribe of Asher; one of those appointed by Moses to...
and Karmiel. Construction is estimated to last 39 months and end in 2014. The estimated cost of this section is NIS 1 billion, including NIS 600 million for the construction and 400 million for right-of-way acquisitions. In August 2011, Danya Cebus and the Chinese company CCECCChina Civil Engineering ConstructionChina Civil Engineering Construction Corporation was established in 1979 according to the approval of the State Council of the People's Republic of China....
won the tender, beating Hofrei HaSharon and Max Bögl, Minrav and Moscow Metrostroy, Eyal Sela and Roltsur Tunnels, and Shafir Engineering and Impresa Pizzarotti. Planning is expected to take 8 months, while construction will take an approximate 32 months.