ISRAELI LINE TO EILAT
Posted on 17 July 2009 by Railways Africa Editor
The likely cost of the proposed railway to Eilat and points east, it is understood, has not been received favourably by Israel’s finance ministry. Israel Railways (IR) has proposed that the Trans-Israel Highway Company take over responsibility for the project and that it be carried out on a build, operate, transfer (BOT) basis by private companies, through a tender process. “Israel Railways would stay in the game as the professional authority responsible for planning and operation, while the winning firm would build the railway and operate it for 20 to 30 years.”
The proposal was made at a recent meeting between IR head Yitzhak Harel and his Trans-Israel counterpart, Yehuda Cohen.
It is hoped that the arrangement will facilitate meeting the schedule the cabinet is expected to set for the new project while at the same time maintaining high operating standards, and also introduce a competitive element.
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