The Yitzhak Navon railway station, which connects Jerusalem to Ben-Gurion Airport and soon to all parts of the country, is an architectural gem and gives a sense of leapfrogging in the growth of Jerusalem. The unique, modernly designed station that echoes the stone and rigidity that characterizes Jerusalem at the base, reaches the depth of eighty meters below Jaffa’s road level, and the three-and-a-half-minute walk down the escalator gives you time to reflect and absorb a totally different impression as compared to any other station.
The beginning of my journey to Jerusalem train station dates from 2016, when I went on a journey of Digital Free Hand painting around Kibbutz Motza when I heard that one can see the process of building the high bridge of the future railway. The view was spectacular including the huge yellow cranes. I felt that I was painting an important step in building the country and strengthening Jerusalem.
Three years later I decided have a tour of illustrations at the train station. I rode to the station on the light rail along Jaffa street up to the last station on the spectacular street. The landscape at the end of the street is fascinating. The contrast between the old buildings on Jaffa Street that have not yet been renovated and the ultra-modern train station building is very impressive. I could not help but pull the smartphone out of my pocket and draw both sites on the phone screen. The bluish glass made railway building reflects an image of all surrounding buildings and the light that characterizes them, and it also blends perfectly with the central bus station building style.
The descent down the stairs led me to the station entrance plaza with its very impressive dark stone wall with the name of the station: Yitzhak Navon.
After passing through the ticketing windows I the escalators. Each of the three escalators is very long and the decent duration is surprising long and gives a sense of mystery as if we were in a huge ancient cave .
When I reached the depth of eighty meters, a red train waited. The train tied me back to the normal reality of a red or blue “Rakevet Israel” train.
I hope you enjoy the digital free hand illustrations tour at the fascinating railways station in Jerusalem.
Israel in Color