Trains halted between Sderot and Ashkelon ahead of Gaza cease-fire expiration
Defense Ministry orders passenger train travel near Gaza border halted after a security evaluation; bus operations in area to be increased.
By YAAKOV LAPPIN, SHARON UDASINIsrael train(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
The Defense Ministry halted train services between Sderot and Ashkelon on Sunday night following a security evaluation.The train line in question runs close to the border with the Gaza Strip.The move came as a five-day cease-fire between Israel and armed Gaza factions was set to expire on Monday at midnight.Due to the suspension of train lines, the Transportation Ministry said that bus operations between the two cities would be increased in the meantime.In addition, special shuttles will be operating to transport the hundreds of Sapir College students to their studies in Sderot, the ministry said. The train line to Sderot was open intermittently throughout Operation Protective Edge. During ceasefires the line was opened briefly but was closed during active portions of the offensive.
