The 9300m2 depot will be used to maintain passenger trains already converted from diesel to electric traction and a fleet of 60 double-deck EMUs totalling 330 cars for which six companies submitted their final bids at the end of September.

The latest date for submission of proposals for construction of the depot is December 29. Israel Railways expects the depot to be built within 20 months of contract being awarded.

A depot for electric locomotives is already under construction at Ashkelon to maintain the 62 Traxx locomotives on order from Bombardier.
Israel is electrifying 420 route-km at 25kV 50Hz ac and the first electric trains are expected to run in 2018.