| Ashkelon–Beersheba railway מסילת אשקלון - באר שבע | |
| Type: | Commuter Rail |
| End: | Be'er Sheva North railway station |
| Stations: | 3 |
| Owner: | Israel Railways |
| Operator: | Israel Railways |
| Linelength: | 70km (40miles) |
| Gauge: | 1435 mm |
The Ashkelon–Beersheba railway is a railway line linking Ashkelon and Beersheba operated by Israel Railways.[1] It spans approximately 60 km of double track in the northern Negev region of southern Israel and provides rail service to the cities of Sderot, Netivot and Ofakim. The line links Beersheba, Sderot, Netivot, and Ofakim to Ashkelon and Tel Aviv.
The line is composed of three sections:
The line includes three new road bridges, 18 rail bridges, four grade separations and 11 bridge or tunnel passages for farming equipment.
The line was constructed in stages with the Sderot station opening first, followed by the Netivot station. Construction of the railway to Beersheba was completed in August 2015, except for the Ofakim station. Service to Beersheba started on September 17, 2015 after a dedication ceremony by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.[2] [3] [4] The Ofakim station was opened on December 31, 2015.[5]
Works to electrify the line using 25kV 50Hz AC overhead line are expected to begin in 2023.
The railway serves a new intercity line between Beersheba and Tel Aviv through the communities of the northern Negev, as well as stopping in existing railway stations in Ashkelon, Ashdod, Yavne, and Rishon LeZion.
The railway is also expected to serve freight trains, supplementing the current freight service via the railway to Beersheba and the Heletz railway.