Saturday evening, Israel Railways announced that the infrastructure works on the Tel Aviv–Herzliya line would be completed by Sunday morning, resulting in all stations opening with regular train service from 5am on Sunday.
The original planned infrastructure work of replacing the train tracks at these stations was set to end on Tuesday the 27th at 5am, but the construction apparently went faster than planned. Despite many sources indicating that the trains would reopen 48 hours earlier, Israel Railways did not confirm such reports when asked on Thursday. It did comment that "the works are being carried out according to plan and that moving up the opening of the interrupted tracks would be welcomed."
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Tel Aviv - Arlozorov tracks on Saturday afternoon (Photo: Itay Blumental)
(צילום: איתי בלומנטל)
Saturday afternoon, the Tel Aviv District Police announced that the train service will return to function as normal at the Herzliya station and Tel Aviv stations of University and Hahagana.
However, Israel Railways announced that the past week's construction will continue on Sunday morning and that the police's announcement was not coordinated with them until later in the day announcing that the police's statement was correct.
The trains were interrupted from September 19 for planned infrastructure improvements to install Israel's first ever electric train that will travel between Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Herzliya. As a result of the closure, significant disruptions occured as Tel Aviv-bound trains from the south have been ending at Hahagana Station and have not been continuing to the aforementioned stations thereafter. The final destination of those travelling from the north has been Herzliya. Moreover, no direct trains have been running between Haifa and Tel Aviv.
To compensate for this, Israel Railways has been organizing shuttle service amongst the affected stations.
First published: 17:05, 09.24.16