Jerusalem to get Old City train station named after Trump

Transportation Ministry says new stop will be extension of high-speed line from Tel Aviv to the capital, taking passengers almost directly to the Western Wall; project also involves construction of 1.8 mile-long tunnel under center of Jerusalem
i24NEWS|
Israel is moving ahead with a rail project that will include a new station in the heart of the Old City of Jerusalem, transporting tourists to the Western Wall directly from Ben-Gurion Airport.
  • Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter
  • The station will apparently be named for U.S. President Donald Trump.
    2 View gallery
    Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, May 2017
    Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, May 2017
    Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, May 2017
    (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg)
    The plan means a new terminal for the current express line that links Jerusalem and Tel Aviv in 32 minutes.
    The project will involve the construction of two new stations and a new 1.8 mile-long tunnel under downtown Jerusalem and the Old City.
    The route, which has not been announced publicly, has been approved by the Knesset's Planning and Construction Commission.
    2 View gallery
    נסיעה ישירה ברכבת מתל אביב לירושלים
    נסיעה ישירה ברכבת מתל אביב לירושלים
    Passengers on the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem high speed train
    (Photo: Roi Rubenstein)
    The Transportation Ministry said in a statement that the project was initiated in 2017 by Foreign Minister Israel Katz, who was at the time the transportation minister.
    Katz was the one to confirm that the station will be named for the president in April 2019.
    Current minister Bezalel Smotrich has hailed the plan as an "historic" development.
    He called it "very good news for Israeli residents and the millions of tourists who come to Jerusalem."
    A budget of $700 million was suggested when the initial plan was presented.
    The new line between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv was inaugurated in December 2019, 11 years after it was due to open and at more than twice the original cost.
    Comments
    The commenter agrees to the privacy policy of Ynet News and agrees not to submit comments that violate the terms of use, including incitement, libel and expressions that exceed the accepted norms of freedom of speech.
    ""