Haifa Center HaShmona railway station is an Israel Railwayspassenger station situated on the coastal railway main line and serves the City of Haifa. Although it is called Haifa's Central Station the title is largely historical. Nowadays it is far from being central both by passenger numbers and location-wise.
Location
The station is situated on the North-South coastal line and is located on Plumer Square along Independence Road in Haifa's downtown. The station is one of three railway stations serving the city of Haifa directly and also one of six railway stations within Haifa's municipal borders.
History
Haifa Center railway station was built by the British during their Mandate for Palestine and was opened in 1937. The station was built on territory reclaimed from the Mediterranean Sea during the constriction of Haifa Port in the 1930s. The station building was built in the Bauhaus style and was aligned with the buildings that stood on HaAtzmaut Road, thus it is not parallel to the rail tracks and platforms at the station. At first the station was constructed with two side platforms, but over time a third rail track was added along the far-side platform, thus making it an island platform. Several years later a second story was added to the station building to increase its office capacity. During the 1950s and 1960s Plumer Square housed one of Haifa's Central Bus Stations, until it was relocated to Haifa Bat Galim Central Bus Station in the 1970s. Until 1980 the head office of Israel Railways was located at Haifa Central Station. Tzvi Tzafriry, the general manager of Israel Railways, decided to move the head office to Tel Aviv Savidor Station. In the years 2003-2004 the station underwent extensive upgrading and renovation. The station has been made accessible for the disabled. The low bridge connecting the two platforms was replaced by a tunnel with elevators. During the upgrade both the interior and exterior of the station were renovated and updated to the present passenger station standard of Israel Railways. During the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict train service to the station was suspended after a HezbollahKatyusha rocket hit a nearby train depot on July 16, 2006, killing eight Israel Railways workers. It was restored 29 days later, on August 14, two days after the ceasefire went into effect. On July 16, 2007, one year after the incident, the station was renamed "Haifa Merkaz Hashemona" to commemorate the eight victims.
*On Saturdays and holidays the station is served by 6 southbound and 5 northbound trains. The first train arrives at 22:23 and the first train departs 21:03.
Suburban Service:
*On weekdays the station is served by 32 southbound and 35 northbound suburban trains traveling from Haifa to Akko or Nahariya.
