Tel Aviv Subway
Encyclopedia
The Tel Aviv Metropolitan Area Mass-Transit System is a long planned mass transit system for the Tel Aviv metropolitan area
. The system will include different types of rapid transit
like light rail
(Which will run as subway in some lines), bus
and more.
Work on the Red Line, the first in the project, started on September 21, 2011, following years of preparatory works and numerous delays.
. The plan called for a main line between southern and northeastern Jaffa
, with spurs to the harbor and the eastern orchards. The plan was considered uneconomical and was shelved. A later plan called for a light railway from Jaffa to the nearby settlements of Rishon LeZion, Petah Tikva
and Wilhelma
.
A Decauville
light railway was built in Jaffa and Tel Aviv in World War I
, connecting the port with the Yarkon River. It was used for about a decade after the war, and dismantled at a later date.
A subway system was first planned in the mid-1960s, and in 1967 a station at the Shalom Meir Tower
was inaugurated in the presence of then Prime Minister Levi Eshkol
. However, financial difficulties forced the abandonment of the project, and Shalom Meir remains the only subway station in Tel Aviv, disconnected from other transport links.
In December 2006, the MTS group officially was awarded a BOT
contract for the Red Line of the light rail, by which they are to build and operate the line for its first 32 years. MTS consists of Africa Israel, Siemens
of Germany, the Egged Bus Cooperative
, Chinese infrastructure company CCECC, the Portuguese infrastructure firm Soares da Costa
, and the leading Dutch transportation company HTM
.
After many years of delays due to MTS financing issues, in December 2010 the government revoked MTS' concession and nationalized the project, putting it under the authority of NTA, the government agency which was in charge with overseeing the overall development of the rapid transit system in the Tel Aviv metro area.
A significant portion of the Tel Aviv Light Rail will be underground, so Tel Aviv may be viewed as the fifth city in the Middle East
to boast a subway system. Haifa
was first with the Carmelit
in 1959, while Cairo
's system
opened in 1987 and Tehran Metro
opened in 1999 and Dubai
's metro
was the fourth when it opened in 2009.
and central Tel Aviv, and carry on to Petah Tikva
, through Ramat Gan and Bnei Brak. An interchange is planned for Tel Aviv Central railway station. It has been forecast that by 2020, 100 million people would be using this line annually.
Stations (underground in italics): Nissenbaum, HaAmal, Kaf Tet BeNovember, Yoseftal, Bar Ilan, Balfour, Jabotinsky, Rothschild, HaAztmaut, Machrozet, HaBaashat, Issakov, Erlich, Ben Tzvi, Salame, Elifelet, Allenby, Carlebach, Yehudit, Shaul HaMelech, Arlozorov
, Abba Hillel, Bialik, Ben Gurion, Aharonowitz. From Aharonowitz, one branch continues to Shenkar, Rabin, Beilinson, Dankner, Orlov, Pinsker, Petah Tikva Central Bus Station (Terminal); another continues to Em HaMoshavot and the Kiryat Aryeh Maintenance Depot.
Stations (underground in italics): Carlebach, HaRakevet, Levinsky, Har Tzion, Kibbutz Galuyot, Abu Kabir, Gitit, Tzomet Holon, Kugel, Sokolov. From Sokolov, one branch continues to HaHistadrut, Golda Meir, Barkat, Menachem Begin, Moshe Dayan, Holon Darom, Kenyon HaZahav, Rishon LeZion; another continues to Krause, Serlin, Geulim, Betzalel, HaMelacha, Mifratz Shlomo, HaMerkava, and the Holon Maintenance Depot.
and Kiryat Ono, and will connect Arlozorov
in Tel Aviv to Yehud
and Or Yehuda
through Ramat Gan
line, 24 kilometres (15 mi) in length, connecting Kfar Sava and Tel Aviv via Ra'anana
, Herzliya
and Ramat HaSharon
. A possible extension of this line would run alongside the coastline of Tel Aviv, as an underground system, and connect to the Red Line in the Rothschild Boulevard area.
system and the first line not to pass via Tel Aviv. The line will begin in Rehovot
and continue to HaRishonim Railway Station
in Rishon LeZion via Ness Ziona
and end at the Holon junction.
Gush Dan
The Tel Aviv Metropolitan Area , or Gush Dan , is a metropolitan area including areas from both the Tel Aviv and the Central Districts of Israel. The area is closely linked to the city of Tel Aviv through social, economic, and cultural ties. It is located along the Israeli Mediterranean coastline...
. The system will include different types of rapid transit
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
like 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...
(Which will run as subway in some lines), bus
Bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit is a term applied to a variety of public transportation systems using buses to provide faster, more efficient service than an ordinary bus line. Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling...
and more.
Work on the Red Line, the first in the project, started on September 21, 2011, following years of preparatory works and numerous delays.
History
The first proposals for a tramway in the area were made by the Lebanese engineer George Franjieh in November 1892, about nine weeks after the inauguration of the Jaffa–Jerusalem railwayJaffa–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...
. The plan called for a main line between southern and northeastern Jaffa
Jaffa
Jaffa is an ancient port city believed to be one of the oldest in the world. Jaffa was incorporated with Tel Aviv creating the city of Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel. Jaffa is famous for its association with the biblical story of the prophet Jonah.-Etymology:...
, with spurs to the harbor and the eastern orchards. The plan was considered uneconomical and was shelved. A later plan called for a light railway from Jaffa to the nearby settlements of Rishon LeZion, Petah Tikva
Petah Tikva
Petah Tikva known as Em HaMoshavot , is a city in the Center District of Israel, east of Tel Aviv.According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, at the end of 2009, the city's population stood at 209,600. The population density is approximately...
and Wilhelma
Wilhelma, Palestine
Wilhelma was a German Templer colony in Palestine located southwest of al-'Abbasiyyah near Jaffa.Wilhelma-Hamîdije was named in honour of King William II of Württemberg, Emperor Wilhelm II and Sultan Abdul Hamid II, however, only the first half of the name prevailed...
.
A Decauville
Decauville
The Decauville manufacturing company was founded by Paul Decauville , a French pioneer in industrial railways. Decauville's major innovation was the use of ready-made sections of light, narrow gauge track fastened to steel sleepers; this track was portable and could be disassembled and transported...
light railway was built in Jaffa and Tel Aviv in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, connecting the port with the Yarkon River. It was used for about a decade after the war, and dismantled at a later date.
A subway system was first planned in the mid-1960s, and in 1967 a station at the Shalom Meir Tower
Shalom Meir tower
-External links:*...
was inaugurated in the presence of then Prime Minister Levi Eshkol
Levi Eshkol
' served as the third Prime Minister of Israel from 1963 until his death from a heart attack in 1969. He was the first Israeli Prime Minister to die in office.-Biography:...
. However, financial difficulties forced the abandonment of the project, and Shalom Meir remains the only subway station in Tel Aviv, disconnected from other transport links.
Back on track
In 2000, the plan for a subway was changed to one for light rail, and more plausible plans for a mass transit system in Tel Aviv were unveiled. Today, the first 22 kilometres (14 mi) Red Line has already been approved, with excavation due to begin in late 2009. The Red Line was expected to become operational in Q1 2014.In December 2006, the MTS group officially was awarded a BOT
Build-Operate-Transfer
Build-own-operate-transfer or build-operate-transfer is a form of project financing, wherein a private entity receives a concession from the private or public sector to finance, design, construct, and operate a facility stated in the concession contract...
contract for the Red Line of the light rail, by which they are to build and operate the line for its first 32 years. MTS consists of Africa Israel, Siemens
Siemens AG
Siemens AG is a German multinational conglomerate company headquartered in Munich, Germany. It is the largest Europe-based electronics and electrical engineering company....
of Germany, the Egged Bus Cooperative
Egged Bus Cooperative
Egged Israel Transport Cooperative Society Ltd , a cooperative owned by its members is the largest transit bus company in Israel. It provides about 55 % of public transport services throughout the country, employs 6,227 workers and has 2,861 buses for more than 928 service routes and 3,103...
, Chinese infrastructure company CCECC, the Portuguese infrastructure firm Soares da Costa
Soares da Costa
Soares da Costa SGPS, S.A. is a Portuguese company. Its main activities are civil engineering and construction, public works, real estate, housing construction, production of construction materials and other related activities. It also has interests in rendering financial services. The group...
, and the leading Dutch transportation company HTM
HTM Personenvervoer
HTM Personenvervoer NV is a public transport company in the Netherlands operating trams, lightrail and buses in The Hague, Rijswijk, Leidschendam-Voorburg, Delft, Zoetermeer, Wateringen and Nootdorp, the so-called Conurbation Haaglanden...
.
After many years of delays due to MTS financing issues, in December 2010 the government revoked MTS' concession and nationalized the project, putting it under the authority of NTA, the government agency which was in charge with overseeing the overall development of the rapid transit system in the Tel Aviv metro area.
A significant portion of the Tel Aviv Light Rail will be underground, so Tel Aviv may be viewed as the fifth city in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
to boast a subway system. 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...
was first with the Carmelit
Carmelit
The Carmelit is an underground funicular railway in Haifa, Israel. Construction started in 1956 and ended in 1959. The Carmelit was closed in 1986 after showing signs of aging...
in 1959, while Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
's system
Cairo Metro
The Cairo Metro in Egypt is the first of only two full-fledged metro system in Africa, and the Arab World. The system consists of two operational lines, with construction having begun on a third line in 2006....
opened in 1987 and Tehran Metro
Tehran Metro
The Tehran Metro is a rapid transit system serving Tehran, the capital of Iran. The system consists of 4 operational lines, with construction having begun on a further two lines in 2007....
opened in 1999 and Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
's metro
Dubai Metro
The Dubai Metro is a driverless, fully automated metro network in the United Arab Emirates city of Dubai. The Red Line and Green Line are operational, with three further lines are planned. These first two lines run underground in the city centre and on elevated viaducts elsewhere...
was the fourth when it opened in 2009.
Planned lines
The blueprint includes seven lines: two in planning stages, one under approval, one under construction, and three more are planned for the future. The first four lines will cover 100 km (62 mi) around the Tel Aviv metropolitan area, with future plans to BRT lines and feeders in addition.| Line | Length | Status | Open Date | Primary Cities |
Terminals | No. Stations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Line | 22 km (14 mi) | Under Construction | 2016-2017 est. | Petah Tikva, Bnei Brak, Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv-Jaffa, Bat Yam | Petah Tikva Bus Terminal ● Kiryat Aryeh Depot (Petah Tikva) Nisenboim (Bat Yam) |
33 (10 underground) |
| Green Line | 24 km (15 mi) | Approval | Unknown | Herzliya, Tel Aviv, Holon, Rishon LeZion | Herzliya Pituah ● Tel Aviv University Holon Depot ● Moshe Dayan (Rishon LeZion) |
24 |
| Purple Line | 36 km (22 mi) | Early Plans | Unknown | Yehud, Or Yehuda, Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv, Kiryat Ono, Giv'at Shmuel, Petah Tikva | Mohaliver (Yehud) ● Sgula (Petah Tikva) Arlozorov (Tel Aviv) |
56 |
| Blue Line | Unknown | Early Plans | Unknown | Rehovot, Nes Ziona, Rishon LeZion | Rishon LeZion Center ● Mikve Israel Holon Junction ● Bilu Junction |
Unknown |
| Yellow Line | 18 km (11 mi) | Early Plans | Unknown | Ra'anana, Kfar Sava, Hod HaSharon, Herzliya, Ramat HaSharon, Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv, Holon | Tshernihovsky (Kfar Sava) ● Raoul Wallenberg (Tel Aviv) Sokolov (Herzliya) ● Hod HaSharon |
Unknown |
| Brown Line | Unknown | Early Plans | Unknown | Ramle - Rishon LeZion | Ramle ● Rishon Lezion Center | Unknown |
| Pink Line | Unknown | Early Plans | Unknown | Kfar Sava, Ra'anana, Herzliya | Ra'anana South ● Herzliya | Unknown |
Red Line
About 10 kilometres (6 mi) of the 22 kilometres (14 mi) Red Line is to be built underground, with the remaining overground segment constructed in as a light rail/tram. It is to have 33 stops, 10 of which would be underground, with an average distance of 500 metres between them. The average distance between the overground stops would be 1 km. The line would run from Bat Yam in the southwest, through JaffaJaffa
Jaffa is an ancient port city believed to be one of the oldest in the world. Jaffa was incorporated with Tel Aviv creating the city of Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel. Jaffa is famous for its association with the biblical story of the prophet Jonah.-Etymology:...
and central Tel Aviv, and carry on to Petah Tikva
Petah Tikva
Petah Tikva known as Em HaMoshavot , is a city in the Center District of Israel, east of Tel Aviv.According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, at the end of 2009, the city's population stood at 209,600. The population density is approximately...
, through Ramat Gan and Bnei Brak. An interchange is planned for Tel Aviv Central railway station. It has been forecast that by 2020, 100 million people would be using this line annually.
Stations (underground in italics): Nissenbaum, HaAmal, Kaf Tet BeNovember, Yoseftal, Bar Ilan, Balfour, Jabotinsky, Rothschild, HaAztmaut, Machrozet, HaBaashat, Issakov, Erlich, Ben Tzvi, Salame, Elifelet, Allenby, Carlebach, Yehudit, Shaul HaMelech, Arlozorov
Tel Aviv 2000 Terminal
2000 Terminal, more commonly known as Arlozorov Terminal, is a bus terminal in Tel Aviv, Israel. It is located near the border of Tel Aviv and Ramat Gan, next to Ayalon Highway and the junction of several traffic arteries - Jabotinsky Road that leads to Ramat Gan, Bnei Brak and Petah Tikva, Begin...
, Abba Hillel, Bialik, Ben Gurion, Aharonowitz. From Aharonowitz, one branch continues to Shenkar, Rabin, Beilinson, Dankner, Orlov, Pinsker, Petah Tikva Central Bus Station (Terminal); another continues to Em HaMoshavot and the Kiryat Aryeh Maintenance Depot.
Green Line
The second or Green Line, in the approval phase, is a 24 kilometres (15 mi) line that would run from the west of Rishon LeZion northwards through Holon to central Tel Aviv. Only its Tel Aviv segment would be underground. Expected annual passenger forecast is 50 million by 2020. A proposed extension of the line would run underground through central Tel Aviv's Ibn Gabirol Street to the northern neighbourhoods and the Yarkon River.Stations (underground in italics): Carlebach, HaRakevet, Levinsky, Har Tzion, Kibbutz Galuyot, Abu Kabir, Gitit, Tzomet Holon, Kugel, Sokolov. From Sokolov, one branch continues to HaHistadrut, Golda Meir, Barkat, Menachem Begin, Moshe Dayan, Holon Darom, Kenyon HaZahav, Rishon LeZion; another continues to Krause, Serlin, Geulim, Betzalel, HaMelacha, Mifratz Shlomo, HaMerkava, and the Holon Maintenance Depot.
Purple Line
The third, or Purple Line, also in the planning phase, is envisaged as a 36 kilometres (22 mi) line with 56 stops and will connect Petah Tikva Sgula to Sheba Hospital through Giv'at ShmuelGiv'at Shmuel
Giv'at Shmuel is a city in the Center District of Israel. It is located in the eastern part of the Gush Dan Metropolitan Area and is surrounded by the larger cities Ramat Gan and Bnei Brak to the West, Kiryat Ono to the South and Petah Tikva to the East and North...
and Kiryat Ono, and will connect Arlozorov
Tel Aviv 2000 Terminal
2000 Terminal, more commonly known as Arlozorov Terminal, is a bus terminal in Tel Aviv, Israel. It is located near the border of Tel Aviv and Ramat Gan, next to Ayalon Highway and the junction of several traffic arteries - Jabotinsky Road that leads to Ramat Gan, Bnei Brak and Petah Tikva, Begin...
in Tel Aviv to Yehud
Yehud
Yehud is a city in the Center District in Israel that is part of the joint municipality of Yehud-Monosson. In 2007, Yehud's population was approximately 25,600 .- History :...
and Or Yehuda
Or Yehuda
Or Yehuda is a city in the Tel Aviv District in Israel. According to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics , the city had a population of 32,200 at the end of 2007.-History:Or Yehuda is located where the biblical city of Kefar Ono used to stand....
through Ramat Gan
Yellow Line
The fourth, or Yellow Line is in the planning phases. It would be a mostly overground tramTram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
line, 24 kilometres (15 mi) in length, connecting Kfar Sava and Tel Aviv via Ra'anana
Ra'anana
Ra'anana is a city in the heart of the southern Sharon Plain of the Central District of Israel with a population of 68,300, . Ra'anana is bordered by Kfar Sava on the east and Herzliya on the southwest...
, Herzliya
Herzliya
Herzliya is a city in the central coast of Israel, at the western part of the Tel Aviv District. It has a population of 87,000 residents. Named after Theodor Herzl, the founder of modern Zionism, Herzliya covers an area of 26 km²...
and Ramat HaSharon
Ramat Hasharon
Ramat HaSharon is a city located on Israel's central coastal strip in the south of the Sharon region, bordering Tel Aviv to the south and Herzliya and Kibbutz Glil Yam to the north. It is part of the Tel Aviv District, within Gush Dan metropolitan area...
. A possible extension of this line would run alongside the coastline of Tel Aviv, as an underground system, and connect to the Red Line in the Rothschild Boulevard area.
Blue Line
The fifth, or Blue Line, is the first line of the BRTBus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit is a term applied to a variety of public transportation systems using buses to provide faster, more efficient service than an ordinary bus line. Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling...
system and the first line not to pass via Tel Aviv. The line will begin in Rehovot
Rehovot
Rehovot is a city in the Center District of Israel, about south of Tel Aviv. According to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics , at the end of 2009 the city had a total population of 112,700. Rehovot's official website estimates the population at 114,000.Rehovot was built on the site of Doron,...
and continue to HaRishonim Railway Station
Rishon LeZion HaRishonim Railway Station
Rishon LeZion - HaRishonim Railway Station is a station of Israel Railways in Rishon LeZion, part of the Kfar Sava – Rishon LeZion line. The station is located in the southern area of the city, in the middle of HaRishonim Interchange, at the intersection of the new Highway 431 and Route 412...
in Rishon LeZion via Ness Ziona
Ness Ziona
Ness Ziona is a city in central Israel founded in 1883. At the end of 2009 the city had a total population of 38,100, and its jurisdiction was 15,579 dunams.-Nahalat Reuben:...
and end at the Holon junction.
External links
- NTA (in Hebrew) - Tel Aviv Subway developer, builder and operator.
- NTA (in English)
- Map of all lines on the NTA website
