An initial budget of NIS 5 million ($1.34 million) was approved this week to begin planning for a new hike-and-bike trail on an Ottoman-era train track that was originally part of the Jaffa-Jerusalem railway. Runs between Jerusalem and Beit Shemesh. ,
Abandoned train stations along the track will be converted into rest areas and observation points according to the plan, which will be carried forward by the Mateh Yehuda Regional Council, an administrative body that governs the towns and areas north and south of the Jerusalem–Tel Aviv highway. serves to.
The plan, filed with the Israel Land Authority, is part of a broader proposal for a tourism and leisure center on the existing railway, which was abandoned years ago, offering bike trails, promenades and other outdoor activities suggested to domestic and international tourists. hopes to draw with. recreational activities.
The proposed route for the hike-and-bike trail is approximately 33 km (20 mi), linking Beit Shemesh and Jerusalem, and will run mostly on land that belongs to the Mateh Yehuda Regional Council. The original track section, currently used informally by mountain bikers, curves through the hills between the two towns and is noted for its spectacular views as well as its steep and winding course.
It is aimed at more casual bikers and hikers with a paved cycle path for a still challenging enough route, which will connect to the National Israel Cycle Trail. The old stations of Bar Giora and Shorak along the route are set to become tourist information centers and rest stops with food and drink trucks.
The overall project is expected to cost NIS 30 million ($8.06 million).
Bar Giora Rail Station on the disused rail route between Jerusalem and Beit Shemesh. (Photo by LDTI, Wikimedia Commons, attribution license https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7904238)
The proposed development of a hike and bike trail would be Israel’s first inter-city bicycle route to be developed along a train track.
Michael Knor Wernick, who led the development of the plan on behalf of the Mateh Yehuda Regional Council, said in a statement: “The idea of turning a rail track into a path for commuters and cyclists was realized in many different places around world, and I am delighted to move forward with a first of its kind project in Israel.
The development of the inner city along the old track was completed years ago.
In Jerusalem, the Urban Train Track Park provides seven kilometers of trails inside the city, also making some use of abandoned Ottoman tracks from the Jaffa–Jerusalem Railway. In recent years the space has been threatened by modern demands for the expansion of Jerusalem’s light rail network.
The old railway terminals in Jaffa and Jerusalem were converted into entertainment centers a decade ago.
Yankee Quint, director general of the Israel Lands Authority, said the project aims to “restore Jerusalem’s historic train route to its former glory, as part of a unique mosaic that merges Jerusalem’s mountains and the region’s history.” ”
Once completed, the proposed park would “welcome family outings and lovers of extreme sports, so that we can all enjoy it while at the same time preserving and protecting the surrounding nature.”
