The Connecting Israel programme to build a 300 km railway network from Qiryat Shemona in the north to Eilat in the south of Israel was launched on 30th July 2023. The project, which includes new lines for passenger and freight transport as well as high-speed rail (HSR) lines for speeds of up to 250 km/h, is expected to be fully completed by 2035. Funding for project planning has already been provided, and an additional allocation of €620.7 million (ILS 2.5 billion) was approved for this purpose on launch day. The programme is divided into three main sections, which are currently in various stages of planning and implementation. The central section, also known as the Eastern Rail project, is scheduled to open in 2026. The northern and southern sections are still in the planning phase.
