THE MUNICIPALITY of Jerusalem has unveiled plans for a 47 km four-line light rail network, to be built over the next five to 10 years at a cost of around US$800m. The government is reviewing the proposals, and the city hopes to receive approval in time to start construction at the beginning of 1998. The Finance and Transport ministries have been asked to review possible management structures ranging from a state-owned company to a municipal authority or a private company.
The population of Jerusalem is expected to grow from 550000 to 900000 by 2010, and much of the growth will be concentrated in residential suburbs well-placed for high-density rail links. With car ownership well below levels found elsewhere in Israel, public transport already handles 450000 passenger trips per day. The city has been looking at metro and light rail options over the past two years, and the current package has been developed by LeMayer International and Hamburg Consult following an earlier study by Parsons Brinckerhoff.
The four-line network would serve 72 stations, with short tunnels totalling 6·5 km. One route would be tunnelled under the city centre, whilst the other would run on-street through the main shopping district. Radial routes would serve the residential satellites at Ramot in the northwest, Neve Ya’akov in the northeast, Pisgot Ze’ev in the north, and Gilo in the south. One line would follow the existing Israel Railways alignment, where an intermediate service using lightweight diesel railcars is envisaged.
Trains would run at 5min intervals, each comprising two 30m cars with 70% low-floors, carrying 50 seated and 200 standing passengers per car. A fleet of around 100 cars would be required, to be maintained at a depot near French Hill.
