The line would continue via a tunnel that would skirt the Old City and end near the Western Wall.
The line extension would relieve pressure on the main Jerusalem station and make it easier for tourists, students and others to reach the Western Wall directly from the center of the country.
For years reaching the Kotel has been an unmitigated hassle due to insufficient parking space and frequent closures to private cars. Unless one arrives by taxi or on (usually crowded) buses, there is a half mile trek from the nearest parking lot.
Katz also spoke about the rapidly developing fast lane to Jerusalem, which is the largest project headed by Israel Railways. The $1.8 billion project will enable traveling from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in only 28 minutes by traveling at the speed of 100 miles per hour. When fully operational, the trains will depart every 15 minutes in each direction, carrying up to 1,000 passengers. The train will begin operations by Passover 2018.
Katz also discussed plans to extend the existing Jerusalem light rail north to Neve Ya’akov and south to Hadassah Hospital in Ein Kerem. A separate line will link the two campuses of Hebrew University on Mount Scopus and Givat Ram.
