The National Council for Planning and Construction, headed by
Mr. Amram Kalegi, approved a detailed master plan for the
route for the high-speed train to Jerusalem and recommended
government approval.
One section of the tracks included in the plan begins from
the train station at Ben-Gurion International Airport, runs
via the Lod junction to the area of the Daniel junction and
from there runs alongside Highway 1. Near Park Canada the
tracks enter a series of tunnels and bridges until the
station at Binyanei Ha'Uma in Jerusalem. The tunnels total 17
km (10 miles) and the bridges total 6 km (over three
miles).
The plan was granted Council approval after the Subcommittee
for Fundamental Planning heard and deliberated comments and
criticism from the district committees and the public in a
series of four meetings devoted to the issue. The plan was
accompanied by a survey of environmental effects and was
designed to prevent environmental damage as much as possible,
providing environmental solutions for sensitive areas,
agricultural passages, rehabilitation of agricultural
infrastructures in agricultural areas and was designed in
coordination with the plan underway for Park Ayalon.
In the execution stage, a special body will be responsible
for approving the detailed planning for all of the project
elements that have an impact on the environment or the
landscape--bridges and viaducts, tunnel openings, large-
scale excavation and handling of excess dirt, acoustic
shields, etc. Based on the proposed route, the train ride
from Ben Gurion Airport to Jerusalem would take 20 minutes
and the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem run would take 28 minutes.
Upon receiving approval, track-laying work will begin on the
section from Ben Gurion Airport to connect to the track
currently laid from Modi'in, making that city just a 17-
minute train ride away from Tel Aviv.
