A new 200 mile railway stretching from the Red Sea port of Eilat to Tel Aviv has been approved by the Israeli government.
As well as passenger services the new line will carry freight traffic and can act as a land bridge alternative to using the Suez Canal.
Says Israeli premier, Benjamin Netanyahu, ‘The Tel Aviv-Eilat railway line, which will shorten travel time to two hours, will change the face of the country. For 63 years, there has been talk about linking up the periphery to the centre, but nothing has been done.’
The port of Eilat is a popular tourist destination. It is Israel’s southernmost city.
