Search
Updates from the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem New Fast Train Line | April 2013

Last month (April 2013), Who Profits Research Team has conducted a tour to the construction site of the new Tel Aviv-Jerusalem fast train line (A1). The new train route crosses into the occupied Palestinian territory in two areas (For further information, see Who Profits full report on the A1 train). During the tour we have documented Israeli and international companies renowned for their long lasting involvement in the project, such as Impresa Pizzarotti & C. and Shapir Civil and Marine engineering.  Moreover, we were able to identify new international companies operating on the ground.

Who Profits Research Team's tour took place in sections B and C of the new train route in the occupied Latrun enclave (within the oPt), in the pre-1967 no-man's land and within Israel.  We have visited the exit of Tunnel No. 1, Tunnel No. 2, Bridge No. 8 and the entrance to Tunnel No 3. We have also toured the logistic base and industrial complex in the no-man's zone in the Latrun Enclave.

We have learned that two TBM machines manufactured by Herrenknecht are currently digging Tunnel No. 3 and have already tunneled 2 kilometers into the mountain.

Veteran companies:

Impresa Pizzarotti & C. and Shapir Civil and Marine engineering, the contractors building section C, were highly prominent in the Train's construction site in Mevo Horon. Both companies' logos presence was very dominant in the construction site. The logos were seen at the entrance to Tunnel No. 3, on cranes in the industrial complex, on construction machinery, on emergency recovery vehicles and on the site's signposts and entrance gate.

Construction machinery of JCB was spotted before on the A1 train route. This time we also documented Manitou machinery and a CNH (Fiat Kobelco) excavator, both companies operate regularly in the oPt.

New companies:

Several European companies specialized in tunneling and underground construction machinery supply products and services to the A1 train. The emergency recovery vehicles documented at the entrance to tunnel No. 3 were manufactured by Maschinen- und Stahlbau Dresden (MSD), a German company and a fully owned subsidiary of Herrenknecht. The locomotive at the head of the emergency recovery system was supplied by the Swedish industrial group - Atlas Copco. The DHD 35 diesel locomotive was manufactured by GIA Industri AB, a part of the underground rock excavation division within Atlas Copco.

H+E Logistk signs were documented on two containers at the entrance to tunnel No. 3. The company, headquartered in Germany, provides conveyor belt systems for the transportation of excavated material during tunnel construction. Additional container that drew our attention was carrying a banner with the logo of Lorenzetto Loris SRL, an Italian company specialized in planning and construction of foundation, micro-piles, tie beams and ground consolidation equipment.

In the field of construction machinery many new companies were spotted on the site:

A P&H crane, carrying Shapir's logo was seen near bridge No. 8. P&H Mining is a subsidiary of the American - Joy Global Inc., which designs and builds a line of drilling machinery.

A 510 Aerial work platform (boom lift), designed by the American JLG Industries, was also operating on the site. The exclusive distributor of JLG equipment in the Israeli market is Rom Aerial work platforms, which supplied the platform seen on the train construction site.

During the tour we witnessed two massive yellow cranes, one near the industrial complex producing concrete segments for tunnel lining and the other at the entrance to tunnel no. 3. Both of the cranes were provided by A. Henefeld Metal Works, an Israeli crane building company privately owned and managed by the Henefeld Family. One of the cranes was equipped with SWF hoisting system, manufactured by the German - SWF Krantechnik.

In the Energy field, we were able to identify two additional companies: Sonol Israel, whose fuel container was located near the parking lot of the construction machinery and the Italian PIUSI spa, whose fuel pump was connected to the abovementioned Sonol container.

Relatively small Israeli companies also supplied prefabs and services to the A1 Train. Moked Jaffa - Security and Cleaning provided security services, Smart - Portable Building provided prefabs and Outdoor Solutions for Outdoor Events placed temporary fencing around the site.

All of these new companies will be added to Who Profits Data base in the next few weeks.