The Ottoman Tunnel (Bal’a Breakthrough)

The Ottoman Tunnel (Bal’a Breakthrough)

It is located to the east of the town of Bal'a, and it passes through Mount Rasheen. It dates back to the era of the Ottoman Empire during the reign of Sultan Abdul Hamid II, who ruled during the period (1876-1909). He ordered the construction of the railways due to its countless benefits, such as facilitating the movement of passengers coming from Palestine and al-Hejaz (in Saudi Arabia for Hajj purposes) heading to Makkah. 

The project was delayed due to lack of funds. Still, within popular initiatives, the project was completed, as the station and railway buildings were implemented in a unified architectural style. 

The stations consisted of two floors; the first floor was used for services, security, and fueling of trains. The second, was a residence for the station manager. These stations were built at close distances, 10-15 km apart, depending on the station's importance.

The vast majority of the Hejaz line was accomplished by thousands of workers who participated in building the railway, whether they were forced labor or local civilians, and barrages were constructed to overcome the harsh landforms. In a rare case, the same as the Ottmanic tunnel, it was made to overcome the difficulty of passing through the mountain. The railway was built with two openings into the mountain, walls, and a roof of limestone, in addition to constructing some escapes and lofts to take shelter in the event of passing trains.