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iandhr

(6,852 posts) Sun Feb 5, 2012, 06:12 PM Feb 2012

Israeli cabinet approves construction of high-speed train line between Tel Aviv and Eilat

New rail line aims to link Israel's periphery to the center; length of trip between Tel Aviv and Eilat would be reduced to two and a half hours.

Israel's cabinet on Sunday morning approved construction of a new high-speed train line between Tel Aviv and the southern port city of Eilat.

The electrified rail line will reach top speeds of 186 miles (300 km) per hour, allowing it to complete the trip in two and a half hours. The 220-mile long (350 km) route will include 63 bridges and five tunnels

"For 63 years, there has been talk about linking up the periphery to the center, but nothing has been done," said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, adding that the new rail line would "change the face of the country."

Netanyahu emphasized the line's advantages as an overland route for passenger and cargo traffic. "We have the ability to create an alternative transportation route that bypasses the Suez Canal – this is an insurance policy," he said.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/israeli-cabinet-approves-construction-of-high-speed-train-line-between-tel-aviv-and-eilat-1.411212

The Europeans get it. The Japanese get it, The Israelis get it. WHY DO WE GET HIGH SPEED RAIL IS A GOOD THIS?

8 replies

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Israeli cabinet approves construction of high-speed train line between Tel Aviv and Eilat (Original Post) iandhr Feb 2012 OP

I think every country in the world except us has figured this out tularetom Feb 2012 #1

Israel is a tiny country with little prospect of linking it's highspeed rail to it's neighbors for Kurska Feb 2012 #8

Nice. Shadowflash Feb 2012 #2

Soon to be known by the popular nickname "Target". DavidDvorkin Feb 2012 #3

we give them billions a year, so why not. yet we cant get billions for our own hi speed rail n msongs Feb 2012 #4

+1 progressoid Feb 2012 #6

OH we get it the problem is so do the oil companies and they then bribe the varies cstanleytech Feb 2012 #5

Built by the Chinese. progressoid Feb 2012 #7

tularetom

(23,664 posts)

1. I think every country in the world except us has figured this out

Reply to iandhr (Original post)

Sun Feb 5, 2012, 06:22 PM

Feb 2012

But this doesn't seem very "high speed" to me. A 220 mile trip in 2.5 hours is an average speed of 88 miles per hour. I believe the EU uses a minimum average speed of 200 kilometers per hour (about 125 mph). In the US the DOT also lists 125 mph as the minimum for designation as high speed.

Kurska

(5,739 posts)

8. Israel is a tiny country with little prospect of linking it's highspeed rail to it's neighbors for

Reply to tularetom (Reply #1)

Mon Feb 6, 2012, 02:22 AM

Feb 2012

obvious reason. They probably settled for less speed in exchange for a drastically reduced cost.

Shadowflash

(1,536 posts)

2. Nice.

Reply to iandhr (Original post)

Sun Feb 5, 2012, 06:24 PM

Feb 2012

Even third world counties are putting in high speed rail. While backwards conservative legislatures in the U.S. are putting laws in place to ban it from their states before it's even through congress.

I think we have officially started the back slide to third world status.

DavidDvorkin

(19,485 posts)

3. Soon to be known by the popular nickname "Target".

Reply to iandhr (Original post)

Sun Feb 5, 2012, 06:28 PM

Feb 2012

msongs

(67,438 posts)

4. we give them billions a year, so why not. yet we cant get billions for our own hi speed rail n

Reply to iandhr (Original post)

Sun Feb 5, 2012, 08:20 PM

Feb 2012

progressoid

(49,996 posts)

6. +1

Reply to msongs (Reply #4)

Mon Feb 6, 2012, 01:48 AM

Feb 2012

cstanleytech

(26,318 posts)

5. OH we get it the problem is so do the oil companies and they then bribe the varies

Reply to iandhr (Original post)

Sun Feb 5, 2012, 10:13 PM

Feb 2012

politicians to say no to any such thing and to defund any attempt at implementing a real working rail system because if we had such a massive system in place the need for oil wouldnt be as high in this country because people would commute via rail if given a chance to if it was fast enough.

progressoid

(49,996 posts)

7. Built by the Chinese.

Reply to iandhr (Original post)

Mon Feb 6, 2012, 01:52 AM

Feb 2012

Transportation Minister Yaakov Katz, who submitted the proposal to the cabinet, said he had reached an agreement with his Chinese counterpart to pursue cooperation between the two countries on transportation projects, including the new train line to Eilat.

Finance Ministry officials, however, objected to Katz's proposal that the project be carried out by China, saying it would not be possible to advance such a project without issuing a tender.

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