The first four cars of the light rail's Purple Line arrived in Israel tonight via the Port of Haifa, in a unique logistical operation that marks a significant milestone on the way to operating the line in 2028. The cars will be transferred to the pilot depot in the coming days for reception, testing, and preparation for test runs.
Complex logistics operation at Haifa Port
The wagons were manufactured at the Kaf Global Company's factories in Spain and the UK, and arrived in Israel on the Neptune ship represented by Mano Shipping. The dedicated sea transport included coordination between the various port agencies and advanced operations for unloading the cargo and transporting it to its destination.
Haifa Port Company prepared for the arrival of the cargo through early planning, coordination with all parties involved, and implementation of tailored operational solutions, with the aim of ensuring safe and efficient reception of the wagons. The remaining wagons, a total of 94 wagons, are expected to arrive in the coming months, which KAF manufactured for NTA in its factories around the world.
The transition from the construction phase to the operational readiness phase
The arrival of the cars marks the transition from the infrastructure and systems work phase to the operational preparation phase of the project and test runs. In the coming days, the cars will be transferred to the Pilots' Depot complex, the Purple Line's operations and maintenance center, which covers an area of approximately 150 dunams.
The depot will serve as the line's operations, maintenance and control center, where routine maintenance, safety tests and storage of the fleet of cars will be carried out.
Purple Line – 46 stations in 10 local authorities
The Purple Line of the light rail will extend for approximately 29 kilometers and include 46 stations in 10 local authorities: Tel Aviv-Yafo, Givatayim, Ramat Gan, Givat Shmuel, Kiryat Ono, Savyon, Or Yehuda, Yehud-Monosun, Petah Tikva and the Modi'in region. The line is expected to serve approximately 260 passengers per day and approximately 77 million passengers per year, and connect residential, employment, commercial, educational, health and leisure centers throughout the metropolis. So far, all Infra 1 work has been completed along the route, and work is ongoing on laying the tracks, constructing the stations and installing the electrification, signaling and control systems.
Senior government and industry officials: "Historic moment"
Director General of the Ministry of Transport and Road Safety, Moshe Ben Zaken, He said: "The Purple Line is taking another step forward today towards operation. The arrival of the cars is an exciting and important event. Very soon we will all see the cars moving on the tracks from Yehud, Or Yehuda, Ramat Gan to Tel Aviv, on the way to operating a historic light rail network in the Dan Bloc."
Chairman of the Board of Directors of NTA, Yodfat Afek Arazi, noted that "the arrival of the first cars of the Purple Line is an important and significant milestone," and added that "NTA will continue to act with all its might, professionally and responsibly, to promote all mass transportation projects."
NTA CEO, Itamar Ben Meir, He said, "The arrival of the first cars in Israel is another significant milestone in the construction of the Purple Line and on the way to its opening to the public in 2028. This is a moment that illustrates how the project is gradually moving from the construction phase to the preparation phase for operation."
Moshe Mano, Chairman and Owner of Mano Shipping Group, said that this is "an important logistical milestone in the Purple Line project, and a unique cargo that combines dedicated maritime transport, port coordination and complex operations that has been successfully completed."
Acting Director General of Haifa Port, David Cohen, emphasized that "Haifa Port Company is at the disposal of the Israeli economy in routine and emergency situations, and we are happy to take part in a significant national project that will contribute to improving public transportation in Israel."