The new $750 million Tel Aviv-Jerusalem high speed line will include nine tunnels with a total length of 14 km. Construction in three stages, beginning with the section between Tel Aviv and Ben Gurion Airport, which will be followed by a line from the airport to Modi'in, and then finally up the hills to Jerusalem. First stage under construction, with a tunnel beneath the Shapirim interchange to the new terminal at the airport. Second stage expected to be in service by November, 2005. Visit www.israrail.org.il 13/02.Invitation to prequalify, deadline 5th May, 2005 for the first stage of the construction of the A1 railway line to Jerusalem, section C. The project includes two one-track tunnels, 11.6 km each, a bridge and option for an approach tunnel. Contact Israel Railways, Procurement & Contracting Division, Tel Aviv Central Train Station Savidor (Arlozorov), Tel Aviv, Israel. Tel. +972 36937552 or 36937564. Visit www.israrail.org.il/english/index.html or www.israports.org.il/israports/doa_iis.dll/Serve/item/English/1.4.7.16.html 13/05.Seven consortia have prequalified for section C of the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem high speed link, including two one-track tunnels, 11.6 km each. They are Danya Cebus (Israel) and China Railway Construction Corporation; A. Arenson (Israel), Porr and Zschokke Locher; Minrav Holdings (Israel) and China Railway First Group; Ashtrom Group (Israel) and Open Joint-Stock (Russia); Solel Boneh (Israel), Zueblin and E. Pihl & Son; Shapir Civil and Marine Engineering (Israel) and Alpine Mayreder Bau; and Roichman Bros. Shomron Infrastructures (Israel) and Pizzarotti. 11/06.Five consortia have successfully passed the preliminary selection stage for section C of the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem high speed line, including two single-track tunnels, 11.6 km each. They are: A. Arenson (Israel) and Porr (Austria); Danya Cebus (Israel) and China Railway Construction Corporation; Solel Boneh Building & Infrastructure (Israel) and Zueblin (Germany); Shapir Civil & Marine Engineering (Israel) and Alpine Mayreder (Austria); and Minrav Holdings (Israel) and China Railways First Group. The two consortia led by Ashtrom and Roichman Brothers Shomron Infrastructures have been eliminated. Financial offers will be submitted in August 2006. 29/06.Section B of the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem high speed line includes tunnel #1 (3.5 km) named Akad, north of Latroun. Six candidates are competing for the final contract. The bidders are Shapir Civil & Marine Engineering and Alpine Mayreder; Solel Boneh Building & Infrastructure and Zueblin; Minrav and China Railway Third Group Corporation; Danya Cebus and China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC); A. Arenson and Zschokke (Implenia); and Ashtrom and Bamtonnelstroy of Russia. The contract is due to be awarded in the third quarter of 2008. The anticipated method of construction may be TBM, NATM with excavators in soft materials under umbrella vaults or in harder rock using drill and blast. Read E-News Weekly 29/2005. 50-51/07.Shapir Civil & Marine Engineering and Alpine Mayreder are in the process of signing a NIS1.5 billion contract to build section C of the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem high speed line, including two twin bored tunnels. The first tunnel on section C (tunnel #2) is named Hachoresh tunnel and is 2 x 1.2 km long. It was originally part of section B but has been integrated into section C further to project changes. The second tunnel (tunnel #3) is named Hachamisa and is 2 x 11.5 km long. The contract is expected to be signed in the first quarter of 2008 for work to commence in April. The short tunnel #2 will be built in softer ground than tunnel #3. About 300 metres in the west part on each bore of tunnel #2 will be built using the cut-and-cover method. The long tunnel will be driven from west to east probably by a double shield hard rock TBM (3/4 of the length) and from east to west by drill and blast (1/4 of the length). Geology is hard rock, mainly dolomites. The closer to Jerusalem, the harder the rock. The tunnels will be 9.2 m in diameter. From order to proceed to completion, construction will take 44 months. Read E-News Weekly 29/2005. Visit www.shapir.co.il and www.alpine.at 50-51/07.