 The regular passenger service was introduced between Lod and Rehovot in 1990, then extended to Ashdod in 1992, and later to Ashkelon in 2005.Between 1999 and 2001, the line was converted to double track.In 2002–2003, a short 3-km-long branch line was built from Be'er Ya'akov railway station to the newly built Rishon LeZion HaRishonim railway station.