Background The line incorporates two small sections of existing infrastructure which were previously disjointed spur lines. The single-track '''
Be'er Ya'akov–Rishon LeZion railway
, which branched off the British-period Lod–Ashkelon railway and terminated at Rishon LeZion HaRishonim, opened in 2003. The double-track Anava–Modi'in railway''', a branch of the
Tel Aviv–Jerusalem railway (which was only completed up to Ben Gurion Airport at the time), opened in segments between 2007 and 2008, terminating at
Modi'in Center. In 2005, works began on the construction of
Route 431, a limited-access freeway connecting Rishon LeZion with Modi'in. Traffic lanes were built on either side of both the Be'er Ya'akov–Rishon LeZion and Anava–Modi'in railways, incorporating the existing rail tracks into the new highway median, in a manner similar to
Ayalon freeway-railway in central
Tel Aviv. The highway was additionally designed to accommodate a dual-track railroad in its median for much of its length, guaranteeing
right-of-way to extend and connect these two sections and thus creating the potential for a new contiguous Rishon LeZion–Modi'in corridor. Additionally, the
Rishon LeZion Moshe Dayan–
Yavne West section of the
Tel Aviv–Bnei Darom railway, which opened in 2012, was also designed with provisions for a tunnel branching eastwards, to connect to the western end of the future Rishon LeZion–Modi'in line.
Planning In 2010, plans for the construction of the Rishon LeZion–Modi'in railway were submitted to the
Center District planning committee. Objections were submitted by 2012. In 2014, it was decided to re-route the western section of the railway, between Moshe Dayan and HaRishonim, which had been planned to run through the built-up area of Rishon LeZion along Rabin Avenue. Rishon LeZion municipality and residents were opposed to the construction of a train station close to residential neighbourhoods, prompting the rail line to be diverted outside the city. Instead, the revised plan called for the line to run on a viaduct on the south side of Route 431, and the station which had been planned to service western Rishon LeZion and
COMAS college was relocated to Me'uyan Sorek Business Park. As such, the majority of the route east of HaRishonim was approved in 2014,
Construction In December 2018, first tenders for the construction of the line were issued.
Shikun & Binui, and
Danya Cebus all throughout 2020. Apart from laying approximately of new double tracks, the project also involves doubling the single-track section east of Rishon LeZion HaRishonim. Twelve bridges at a total length of are being constructed for this line, including a single viaduct, which will be Israel's longest railway bridge upon completion. The project also includes of tunneling, with the longest tunnel at in length. Two new railway stations are being built as part of the project,
Rishon LeZion Tashach and
Ramla South. In addition, works are being carried out in Rishon LeZion HaRishonim to extend the station platforms. Works will be carried out to electrify the full length of the line at , to comply with the
Tel Aviv–Ashkelon and
Tel Aviv–Jerusalem railways. ==Stations==