Jerusalem, 14 April, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Ministry of Transportation and the Israel Cross-Country Company are promoting another phase in the national “Southern Railway” project – a national project to strengthen the connection between the Negev and the center of Israel, improve public transportation and drive regional growth. Today (Tuesday), a discussion was held at the Planning Administration on the proposals submitted for the plan, as another step towards its approval by the government.
The plan to strengthen the connection between the Negev and the center was approved for submission by the National Planning and Building Council last September, and is currently being advanced in March towards the start of implementation.
The Goral Railway will branch off from the Tel Aviv-Beer Sheva Railway in the Goral Junction area (Highways 40 and 406), and will pass near the Shoket Darom interchange on Highway 6. It is approximately 13 kilometers long, and includes a double tunnel approximately 4.5 kilometers long that will be dug under the Goral Hills – an advanced engineering solution that combines large-scale infrastructure development alongside environmental protection.
The project is expected to yield a series of significant transportation, economic and regional benefits.
In addition, the Goral Railway will enable the diversion of freight trains and hazardous materials outside the city of Beer Sheva, thus contributing to safety, reducing risks, and improving the quality of life in the city and its surroundings.
The track will be connected to the Ashkelon – Beer Sheva track and will significantly improve cargo transportation to the Port of Ashdod, as part of strengthening the national transportation and logistics system and increasing the efficiency of the rail network in Israel.