New lines, new trains for Israel network
ELECTRIC trains connecting Modi’in Center with Jerusalem via the new 57km Tel AvivJerusalem Yitzhak Navon ‘A1’ line began operation on March 31.
The new town of Modi’in has been built since the 1990s, inside Israel close to the border with the part Palestinian run West Bank. The town’s first station opened in 2007 with services initially to Tel Aviv and the Mediterranean coastal line.
The new services, which use a triangular junction with the A1 line, are operated by new Siemens-made Desiro HC (High Capacity) part double deck EMUs, built in Europe. These are based on similar trains in use in Germany, although they are equipped with better air conditioning to cope with more extreme heat.
Initially 24 Desiro HC trains (18x6car and 6x4 car) have been ordered, most of which are now delivered, although the contract envisages further orders for 60 in total.
A brand-new depot to maintain the new trains has been built at Ashkelon, around 13km from the border with the Gaza Strip. The depot design is based on the Siemens Desiro HC depot at Dortmund Eving in Germany (which itself is based on the Thameslink depot in Three Bridges, also run by Siemens).
Israeli Railways is undertaking electrification of all its passenger network at 25kV
AC, with the aim of removing diesel loco haulage and DMU use. ETCS Level 2 signalling is also being installed on most main lines. A fleet of 62 Traxx AC electric locos was ordered from Bombardier (now Alstom) in 2015 and were built in Kassel, Germany.
The Desiro HC trains are being used for most services on the new A1 line and have already replaced the 3000 Class Traxx locos that were being used previously between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv (see RM April 2019 p 103).