Hi,
Finally, the first line of Tel Aviv light train (the red line) is open for public use. Just Jerusalem light train that already running, and Haifa Carmelit. I visited the construction site of it 7 years ago (and you can see how it was built in this post)
Only 24 years (!) After the decision, it is on and running, and this is the good part. A step forward in public transportation in Tel-Aviv and around it (just like Jerusalem Light Train was a step forward). And part of it is underground as the mayor of Tel-Aviv demanded.
But this is a happy day that does not cover all the wrong and bad things in this project:
– Construction started in 2009 and was planned to be done in 2013. But, the government had nationalized the project after the winning company could not get loans.
– The operation date had been pushed 11 times in 13 years (first operation date was set on 2010 to be 2017).
– The next two lines are planned to run only in 2026. It cost 18 billion NIS, instead of 10, that assumed at first.
– This line and the rest of the lines of the light train are designed as public transportation for the number of passengers of two decades ago and are not a change big enough.
– The train will not work during Sabbath, as this is the Status Quo. But as this government ran over all the religious agreements we had on this issue, why not run it also during weekends?
This is why, on the first day of the red line operation protests took place on the stations of the line and on the last train of the day.
Take Care
Gad
Bialik underground station of the red line of Tel Aviv light train, were we started our trip today
Going down the moving stairs to the station
Jannaeus, Atzva, Mindal and Duv on the ticket level of the station
The train level of the station, we were heading towards Tel-Aviv
Tel-Aviv light train staions
The train, crowded with people (today the ride is free)
Sha’ul HaMelekh station. Each station ha a color to distinguish between, this is yellow as you can see
Kaplan Saturday night stage for the protests aagaint the juridical reform, on the way to Sarona.
Yehudit station from outside (like Yehudit bridge, it is named after the street it is in)
Ticketing level in the station with its own colors
The are several Red lines, depending where they starts or end. The timing should be improved during the running.
The protests in the station, Duv could not stand the noise
Still crowded, but fast