Threats from Syria and Iran prevail in the headlines.
The Iron Dome has been moved to the north.
Civilian air space in northern Israel has been closed.
In the days before aviation,
it was the railway that connected to Jerusalem to the north.
With the advance of air travel and opening of the modern Malha Station,
the historic Jerusalem Railway Station was closed
and for years, at best,
it was a showcase for colorful graffiti on boarded windows.
But this week in Jerusalem, Israel, the old railway station has reopened,
along with Milton’s Way, a walking and biking path
that finally emerged from behind the construction fences.
There is still more work to be done,
but the 8 kilometer trail is coming to completion.
First station is already a new site for wedding photos,
even as it is getting ready to roll.
The new Old Jerusalem Railway Station was lit up last week,
for a grand opening party.
After years
of neglect,
and construction
that seemed endless at times,
at last
the end of the railway and trail renovation is in sight.
Some interiors still have to be renovated,
but the main plaza is looking good
and the bike racks are ready.
It will be some time until walkers have any shade from the sun,
but even at mid-day the trails are already in use.
The Jerusalem Railway Station is to be open on Shabbat
with mostly non-kosher restaurants.
After this major face lift,
First Station is set to be the new major tourist attraction in Jerusalem.
Looks like a beautiful railway station – glad it will be renovated and put to good use. Love the arched doorways.
There are more spots to report on, just need the time to do it all! Wait until you see what they did with Teddy Park!
I’m so happy to see the old station. I once rented an apt. nearby…”memories are made of this”, as the song from many years ago says…
I almost bought across the street a few years ago. I said if I were visiting I would get it now, in tens years this will be THE best location, but now with the construction not a great place to live full time. OH well….
I absolutely love the way historical buildings are renovated with the “old” look. Now I am waiting for a direct line from my house in the North right to the center of Jerusalem.
The direct line is supposed to go from the new are being developed between the Knesset and entrance to Jerusalem. This will be on the other side of town, will see how the transportation grid works, but I will not hold my breathe to see it any time soon.
They should have had the train line or at least the tram line run from Malcha all the way to the train station and even putting it underground and connecting it to the existing tramline at New Gate.
But the Jerusalemites in the South have a lot more political clout than those in the North and all use cars, so the land of the old train line was made into a park.
That the City of Jerusalem use public funding to make an area that catters only to a center segment of the population purposely clearly is insulting for the religious crowd in Jerusalem.
The balance of green space and public needs is serious issue. Once the Safdie housing project was nixed, housing prices were doomed to go up and up with lack of available spaces to build for needs.
It looks wonderful and I am looking forward to visiting it. It was such an eyesore previously.
Thanks for another great post!
The changes are truly amazing, could do a few posts of the same spot changing, but next have to do Teddy Park, another eyesore redone.
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