slightly OT: Jerusalem-Tel Aviv train
 

(Yes, I'm in a nostalgic mood, and I know this isn't entirely El-Al related, but anyway... :))

Did anyone here ever use the old Jerusalem-Tel Aviv train? What was it like? Photos? Trip reports?

I read this article which notes that the line near Battir was subject to attack during the first Intifada, and I just found this movie which talks about the effect on Battir of the modern train: can anyone translate the Arabic for those of us who don't understand it?

There's also this and this, two recent films of the train passing by.

What IS relevant is the construction of the new Tel Aviv-Jerusalem line, which runs through LLBG.

I for one, think it will be most excellent.

Yes: what about LY codesharing (and with partners: especially AA, like their agreements with SNCF and DeutscheBahn) on the train to points beyond LLBG, so that one could get FF miles and segments?

Yeah uh no. Israil isn't like SNCF, they charge a heck of a lot less. What I *do* hope they start is having check-in available at Haifa, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem train stations (like HKG). (and 24/7 service...)

I wouldn't bank on it

LLBG?? What is this?

The new train is not going fast enough (see bridge construction by Modiin :mad:)

What they really need is an express line that does Tel Aviv Mercaz, HaShalom, Hagana, and then Jerusalem. And have it run every 15 minutes or so.

HKG allows you to check-in at train stations? Sounds interesting, but I don't see it happening for Israel Rail, for the same reason that I don't see Israel Rail code-sharing with LY to give more miles (though that would be awesome!) Israel Rail is the Israeli equivalent to a say NJ Transit, not Amtrak. It'd be one thing to offer check-in at Penn Station, but not smaller stations around NYC/Long Island/NJ/Connecticut... Maybe offering at Hagana, but Haifa and Jerusalem as well? I just don't see it happening..

Not meaning to be Pedant, I would say this is "Very OT" hardly just "Slightly OT"... ;)

Hmmm... As a reader of, and poster to, the BA board, I would have thought you would understand the allure of off-topic posts made in the section of FT which gains the most traffic and where people would be likely to know the answer. ;)

Don't get me wrong, I had no issue with you posting that here and I wasn’t criticising you for doing so, I was just commenting on the fact that you titled it as just "slightly" of topic when it clearly is more than just slightly, but hey, all said in humour...:)

No offence taken in any case, and unnecessary apology accepted!

I recall taking the train Tel Aviv to Jerusalem maybe 15 years ago.....A slow trip, but one that gave me a better feeling for the land and life outside the cities. I think the train line follows the more natural, historic route from Jaffa to Jerusalem. I have strong memories of a much more meaningful arrival into Jerusalem as the train follows the natural slopes, so that you get a much better impression of Jerusalem as the city on the hills.

The trip is similar nowadays; a very long, somewhat scenic trip.

Did it once in the mid 70s To Haifa and back and the most scenic part was from Baka (Jerusalem main station) to Beit Shemesh, it wasnt till I took the train from Cusco to Machu Pichu 10 yrs ago that I ever have such a nice but very slow ride

there was something to those old trains as well which is lost with the modern ones

The trip to Haifa now is fast, quiet, and decently pretty, but by no means "pretty." (At least it's better than those Egged lines that go there!)

But it's funny; this shabbat I was talking to my sister's brother/sister-in law, and first he was telling me how he took the train a few years ago with his wife to Jerusalem and how it was nice and scenic, but she didn't appreciate it. Subsequently, she filled in the detail: the train originated in Netanya (with a switch in Tel Aviv) and it was Erev Shabbat...and she did not appreciate the long ride, not one bit!

To continue off topic--the Tel Aviv -Jerusalem train route of the 70's is not the route of today. Today you end up not that far from Malcha. It IS still slow and it IS still scenic and one of these days they will actually have a fast Tel Aviv -Jerusalem train route. ( which is how many years overdue?)