Jaffa, Railway station
Long before Jaffa became basically a part of Tel Aviv, it used to be a very important city for Palestine. Next to Akko, only Jaffa had a harbour which got connected to Jerusalem in 1891 by a French company. In 1891 when the station was opened, it was the first train station in the Middle East. At that time, Tel Aviv was a small Jewish colony. Tel Aviv had to wait until 1920 when it got its own train station (Tel Aviv South, which was in use until 1993).
During World War I, the railway was taken over by the Turkish and German armies, which adapted it to serve their needs. While the Jaffa Railway Station served as a military headquarters, the Ottomans did not want to expose the railway itself to British naval bombardment. In early 1915, most of the heavy machinery and equipment was moved to Jerusalem, and later in the same year he Jaffa–Lydda section was completely dismantled. Its rails and sleepers were used in the construction of the Railway to Be'er Sheva. The station was in service during British mandate until 1948. The service moved then to Tel Aviv South.
After being neglected for decades, the station was renovated and reopened as an entertainment centre in 2009.
For further information see:
Jaffa, Railway station
Long before Jaffa became basically a part of Tel Aviv, it used to be a very important city for Palestine. Next to Akko, only Jaffa had a harbour which got connected to Jerusalem in 1891 by a French company. In 1891 when the station was opened, it was the first train station in the Middle East. At that time, Tel Aviv was a small Jewish colony. Tel Aviv had to wait until 1920 when it got its own train station (Tel Aviv South, which was in use until 1993).
During World War I, the railway was taken over by the Turkish and German armies, which adapted it to serve their needs. While the Jaffa Railway Station served as a military headquarters, the Ottomans did not want to expose the railway itself to British naval bombardment. In early 1915, most of the heavy machinery and equipment was moved to Jerusalem, and later in the same year he Jaffa–Lydda section was completely dismantled. Its rails and sleepers were used in the construction of the Railway to Be'er Sheva. The station was in service during British mandate until 1948. The service moved then to Tel Aviv South.
After being neglected for decades, the station was renovated and reopened as an entertainment centre in 2009.
For further information see: