The long, long, long awaited fast train line linking Jerusalem to Tel Aviv is scheduled to begin operations on Saturday night after the end of Shabbat. The line was officially inaugurated Wednesday morning in a ceremony attended by Transportation Minister Bezalel Smotrich and his predecessor at the Transportation Ministry Israel Katz.
Smotrich and Katz hopped aboard for a ride to Tel Aviv, the first time a full-length train has traveled the entire length of the distance.
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Until now, the fast train from Jerusalem has operated only as far as the airport, where passengers were forced to change trains on route to Tel Aviv or other destinations. Starting on Saturday night, the switch will be a thing of the past.
The first trains to and from Jerusalem on Saturday are scheduled to leave Hahagana and Navon stations at 9:56 p.m. The journey takes 32-34 minutes. Each train stops at the airport. For now, there will be two trains an hour between 6:20 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday. On Saturday nights, one train per hour will run between the hours of 9:56 p.m. and midnight.
Katz, who served as transportation minister until last year and oversaw much of the work on the new line, said that "After years of struggles and hard work, Jerusalem is linked to Tel Aviv. This is a historic trip on the King David tracks, which join the City of David to Tel Aviv and the rest of the country," he said Wednesday.
"This is of tremendous importance in strengthening the capital of Israel. My message is clear: This is how you build a country and make it stronger. The work was done without problems or accidents, and the line is safe," Katz added.
