Jerusalem Light Rail
The Jerusalem Light Rail (
Construction on the Red line began in 2002 and ended in 2010, when the testing phase began. It was built by the CityPass consortium, which has a 30-year concession to operate it. The project required construction of the
After repeated delays due to archaeological discoveries and technical issues, service began, initially free of charge, on August 19, 2011. It became fully operational on December 1, 2011. The line is 13.9 kilometers (8.6 mi) long with 23 stops. Extensions to the red line are currently under construction to the Israeli settlement of Neve Yaakov and to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital to the southwest.[4] When completed in 2024, these will extend the line's length to 22.5 km (14.0 mi).[5]
With a total estimated cost for the Red Line's initial section of
The Green line's plans have been approved by the city of Jerusalem, with right-of-way clearing works underway. Construction tenders, including those for the red line extension, were awarded in August 2019 to TransJerusalem J-Net Ltd., owned by CAF and Shapir Engineering.[9] The approval process on the Blue line has started.[10][11]
History
In ancient times, Jerusalem was a point on the Ridge Route, also known as the
Early plans for an electric tramway were drawn up by a Greek Lebanese engineer, George Franjieh, in 1892, who had been involved in planning the Jaffa–Jerusalem railway. The tram would connect the city with Ein Karem and Bethlehem.[14] In 1910, a tender for a tramway was published by the Ottoman authorities.[15]
In 1918, the British Army built a rail system linking the Jerusalem Railway Station, now referred to as "First Station", with Al-Bireh, on the outskirts of Ramallah, traversing Jerusalem along a winding route. It was built by Rail Builders Company 272 of the British Royal Engineers, commanded by Colonel Jordan Bell, with some 850 Egyptian and local Arab laborers, about half of them women. The railway was used by the British army, and for a few months it supplied Allenby's troops. It was dismantled shortly after the front moved northward in late 1918. Some of the city's streets may have been paved along its route.[16]
In the 1970s, when traffic congestion mounted in the city center, proposals were discussed for widening the main roads.[17] In 1996, the government approved new plans for an integrated network relying on rapid transit, including a light rail system and bus rapid transit.[18][19]
Construction
In the 1990s, a light rail system was proposed as a means of providing faster and less polluting public transit through the heart of the city, and reversing the decline of certain central areas. CityPass, a specially formed consortium, won a 30-year concession to build and operate Line 1 (the "Red Line").[3] CityPass consists of financiers Harel (20%), Polar Investments (17.5%) and the Israel Infrastructure Fund (10%), constructors Ashtrom (27.5%) and engineers Alstom (20%), plus service operators – Connex (5%).[20]
However, the principal agreement with the Dan Bus Company did not materialize. Veolia entered another principal agreement with Egged. Veolia sold its stake in CityPass and its shares in the contract for the maintenance of the light rail to Egged. The contract stipulates that Veolia would provide consultancy services to Egged until the company acquired the necessary expertise.[21] Dan Bus Company has taken Veolia to court for exiting the principal agreement.[22]
Construction of Line 1 began in 2002 by DTC (Dutch tramway company).
Delays
Inauguration of the light rail service was postponed four times. The initial date was January 2009, deferred to August 2010 due to funding problems and lack of staff. When it was announced that signals for the trains were not compatible with Israeli stop light systems, CityPass was given until April 2011, but after the problem persisted and other safety issues were not resolved, an August 2011 date was settled on,
Development along the route
As part of the light rail project, CityPass plans to install blind-friendly traffic lights along the route,
Chords Bridge
The Chords Bridge is a
Integrated transportation plans
Bus and train connection
The
A
Extension plans
The Jerusalem Municipality has plans to build eight bus rapid transit (BRT) and light rail lines across the city.[32] Extensions of the red line are under construction in both directions: to the settlement of Neve Yaakov in the North and to Kiryat Menachem in the South. A further extension to the Ein Kerem campus of Hadassah Medical Center is planned. This extension will include an underground section without stops west of Ora junction.
Red line
Initial extensions to the
Blue line
The Blue Line from the settlement of
Green line
The 19.6 km (12.2 mi) Green Line will link the two campuses of the
North–south BRT line
The first
. Tour buses, Arab buses and mini-buses that run from the Damascus Gate also use the line.The bus stops on this route have been designed to match the light rail stops on the Red Line.[40]
Rolling stock
Initial rolling stock consists of 46 Citadis 302 100% low-floor five-module units manufactured at Alstom's Aytré factory. All axles are driven to handle gradients up to 9%. The first car was delivered via the Port of Ashdod in September 2007.
The maintenance and storage depot is on a 10 acres (40,000 m2) site near
Operation
The French-based company Veolia Transport, which held 5% of CityPass's shares, was originally meant to operate the light rail. However, due to pressure from groups united in the Derail Veolia campaign, operating within the context of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign, in September 2009 Veolia agreed to sell part of its share in the project to the Dan Bus Company for $15–20 million.[41] The sale was however unsuccessful, and Veolia agreed in October 2010 to sell its stake to Egged instead.[22] As of December 2011, the sale to Egged was reported to have been held up by the Israeli state.[42]
Travel over the complete Red line is due to take 42 minutes from Pisgat Ze'ev at one end to Mount Herzl at the other (as of August 2012, the travel time is 46 minutes
Operations were affected by a labor dispute in 2011.[44] In May 2012, security personnel complained of poor working condition and lack of transparency from their employers—allegations which were denied by the security company.[45]
Fares
Standard fares in
Type | Full fare | Discounted fare |
---|---|---|
Single ride | ₪5.90 | ₪3.00 |
10-trip | ₪47.20 | ₪29.50 |
15-trip (students & eligible only) |
- | ₪59.00 |
20-trip | ₪94.40 | ₪59.00 |
Unlimited monthly pass | ₪213.00 | ₪106.50 |
Student pass (semester) | – | ₪582.00 (Semester A) ₪646.00 (Semester B) |
Student pass (yearly) | – | ₪1,410.00 |
Source: CityPass Archived July 29, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, Egged (for the current regional Student pass fares) |
Reduced fares are available for senior citizens (men 65+, women 60+), youth (under 18 or who are studying in class XII to the end of the school year), students owned "Student pass" (of other regions in Israel), the blind and those with approval by the
Ridership
Year | Annual Ridership (million passengers)[2] |
---|---|
2015 | 36.405 |
2016 | 37.633 |
2017 | 42.457 |
Controversy
Budgetary problems and criticism of operator
The financial management of the project was criticized in May 2008 by State Comptroller
In 2002, the government of Israel signed an agreement with the operator, CityPass, regarding the future operation of the light rail. The agreement was made public in 2012, and generated controversy over a clause where the government pledged to remove competition to the light rail from other public transportation.[50] For instance, there would not be two consecutive bus stops on the same line adjacent to the light rail's route. CityPass stated that before the light rail there had not been competition either, with all public transportation being operated by Egged.[19]
Upon buying a ticket, each traveler is required to validate it inside the rail car, and the fine for not doing so (or not buying a ticket) is
In 2012 Haviv Rettig Gur criticized CityPass for automatically expiring single ride tickets at the end of the day they were purchased even if they were never used. CityPass does not provide refunds.[53] Rettig Gur wrote "Though I have no proof, I am convinced the expiration policy is intentional."[53] As of 2015[update] this policy still remains in place. Pinchas M. Orbach identified a technical issue where a customer would not be able to use a legitimate transfer. He wrote "The CityPass Rav Kav system is unable to properly read a '90 minute transfer from Egged' if a new virtual punch card was purchased on the Rav Kav in between the original Egged ride and the Light Rail ride."[54] Therefore, even if a passenger was traveling within the 90 minutes allowed for free transfers an inspector using CityPass equipment to read the Rav Kav would erroneously believe the fare was not paid and issue a fine. CityPass did not respond to the report nor fix the problem.
Air pollution and effects on traffic
The project was also criticized for increasing air pollution in Jerusalem during construction.[55] However, it was credited with reducing air pollution on Jaffa Road by 80% when the latter was converted to an LRT-only way.[56] In October 2010, residents of Jerusalem filed a NIS 1.2 billion class-action lawsuit against CityPass for the effects of the traffic congestion that the project's construction created, but the Jerusalem District Court ruled that the company could only be sued for air and noise pollution.[57] Nir Barkat, mayor of Jerusalem, was also critical of the congestion.[58] In March 2009, he proposed canceling the project after the first two lines were completed and replacing the rest of the planned rail network with buses.[59] The closure of Jaffa Street has diverted the bus traffic to a nearby street causing a rise in traffic accidents there.[60]
Controversy outside Israel
The project was criticized because the Red Line route passes through territories Israel has held under occupation since the
In May 2009 it was reported that the
In a 2009 report, the United Nations Human Rights Council described the Jerusalem Light Rail as infrastructure servicing Israeli settlements.[71] The following year, the Human Rights Council condemned the decision to operate a tramway between west Jerusalem and Pisgat Ze'ev "in violation of international law" and relevant United Nations resolutions. The Council resolution was adopted with 46 votes in favor and 1 against (USA).[72]
In the
July 2014 riots
In July 2014,
Archaeological findings
While tracks for the light rail were being laid in Shuafat, the remains of an ancient Roman–Jewish settlement were discovered. The settlement was described as a "sophisticated community impeccably planned by the Roman authorities, with orderly rows of houses and two fine public bathhouses to the north".[81] The findings are said be the first indication of active Jewish settlement in the Jerusalem area after the city fell in 70 CE.[82]
See also
References
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- ^ Israel Ministry of Transport. 2018. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
- ^ a b c d "Jerusalem Light Rail Project". Railway Technology. Retrieved November 22, 2008.
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- ^ "Jerusalem light rail to expand to 5 lines, 27km of tracks". Ynetnews. January 22, 2018. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
- ^ a b c Melanie Lidman (June 30, 2011). "Capital merchants struggle with endless light rail delays". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
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- ^ Cotterell, Paul (December 1989). "A Tramway Project in Jaffa". HaRakevet (6): 11.
- ^ Hasson, Nir (June 7, 2011). "The Electric Carriage of Mandatory Jerusalem". Haaretz (in Hebrew). Retrieved September 16, 2014.
- ^ Hasson, Nir (June 6, 2011). "Jerusalem light rail to finally get on track after 101 years". Haaretz.
- ^ Daniel and Render (2003), p. 768
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- ^ nrg Maariv. Archived from the originalon January 16, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2012.
- ^ a b Guttman, Lior (June 15, 2010). "Track-Laying Stage in Jerusalem Light Rail Completed". Calcalist (in Hebrew). Retrieved June 16, 2010.
- ^ "The Jerusalem Light Rail Transit (JLRT)". Veolia Transportation. Archived from the original on November 12, 2011. Retrieved August 12, 2011.
- ^ a b Bar-Eli, Avi (November 25, 2010). "Dan Suing as Veolia Rides with Egged". TheMarker. Archived from the original on November 28, 2010. Retrieved August 12, 2011.
- ^ "Settlers condemn and strongly oppose Jerusalem light train project". Entrepreneur.com. May 3, 2007. Retrieved March 6, 2009.
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- ^ "Ticket System Collapsed – Jerusalem Light Rail will Start for Free". TheMarker. August 16, 2011. Archived from the original on September 18, 2011.
- nrg Maarivlocal. Retrieved November 27, 2009.
- ^ Hasson, Nir (September 25, 2009). "There is No Light Rail Yet, but 3,500 Trees Have Already Been Planted Along its Route". Haaretz (in Hebrew). Retrieved September 16, 2014.
- ^ Alman, Roy (March 17, 2011). "Apparently, Trees on Light Rail's Root Will Be Uprooted". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved March 18, 2011.
- ^ Lefkovits, Etgar (June 25, 2008). "Jerusalem Landmark Inaugurated With Gala". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
- ^ a b Cohen-Blankshtain, Galit, "Justifying public transport investments: the case of light rail in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv", School of Public Policy and Department of Geography, the Hebrew University, archived from the original on December 24, 2010, retrieved November 9, 2009
- nrg Maariv. Retrieved March 10, 2009.
- ^ "Extending Light Rail to Hadassa Ein Kerem" (Press release) (in Hebrew). Jerusalem Municipality. July 12, 2012. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
- ^ Friedman, Ron (May 25, 2010). "Jerusalem Presents New Transport Plan". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
- ^ "Instructions to Bidders" (PDF). Jerusalem Transport Master Plan team. Jerusalem Transport Master Plan team. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "'Blue' line for Jerusalem light rail system approved. - Israel National News". Israel National News. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
- ^ "Jerusalem's Light Rail - The Green Line". Jerusalem Construction News. Archived from the original on July 23, 2015. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
- ^ "Tender issued for 2nd Jerusalem light rail line infrastructure - Globes English". Globes. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
- ^ "The Fast Lines" (in Hebrew). Archived from חדשניות the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved May 14, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Check|url=
value (help)
This light road system is an ongoing system, and Israel plans to have it for years to come - ^ Baron, Lior (September 13, 2009). "As Published in Globes: Dan will Operation Light Rail in Jerusalem". Globes (in Hebrew). Retrieved September 16, 2009.
- ^ Avi Bar-Eli (December 9, 2011). "Veolia pulling out of transit, contracting sectors in Israel". The Marker. Retrieved December 27, 2011.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Hazelcorn, Shahar (October 22, 2009). "The Light Rail: Entrance to Donkeys is Prohibited" (in Hebrew). Ynet. Retrieved November 27, 2009.
- ^ Sharon, Jeremy (November 14, 2011). "20 Jerusalem Light Rail Drivers Quit over Pay". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
- ^ Alman, Roi (May 8, 2012). "Security Personnel on Light Railway: We Are Humiliated and Used". Mynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved May 14, 2012.
- ^ a b "Eligible Discounts" (in Hebrew). CityPass. Archived from the original on July 29, 2012. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
- ^ "IDF Soldiers to Ride Jerusalem Light Rail for Free". The Jerusalem Post. January 5, 2012. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
- ^ a b "כרטיסים ומחירים" [Tickets and Fares]. CityPass. Archived from the original on December 12, 2019. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
- ^ Hazelcorn, Shahar (May 20, 2008). "The Comptroller: Significant Deficiencies in the Light Rail Project in Jerusalem" (in Hebrew). Ynet. Retrieved November 27, 2009.
- ^ Hasson, Nir (July 29, 2012). "Government Promised Light Rail Operator: Buses Won't Compete Against You". Haaretz (in Hebrew). Retrieved September 1, 2012.
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- ^ Zrahia, Zvi (June 13, 2012). "An Appeal Committee Will Be Created for Jerusalem Light Rail Fines". TheMarker (in Hebrew). Retrieved September 1, 2012.
- ^ a b Gur, Haviv Rettig (July 10, 2012). "Light rail woes". The Times of Israel. Retrieved December 20, 2015.
- ^ Orbach, Pinchas M. (December 13, 2015). "Ban CityPass from Jerusalem now!". The Times of Israel. Retrieved December 20, 2015.
- ^ Bin Nun, Gil (February 26, 2008). "Jerusalem 2008 Style: Mountain Air Full of Dust". Jerusalem Mid-week edition. Yedioth Ahronoth. p. 4.
- ^ "Dramatic Decrease of 80% in Air Pollution on Jaffa Street" (in Hebrew). Jerusalem Municipality. January 25, 2011. Retrieved January 29, 2011.
- ^ Shon, Mark (May 12, 2011). "Court Removed Most of the Class-Action Lawsuit against Damages of Light Rail in Jerusalem". Calcalist (in Hebrew). Retrieved May 13, 2011.
- ^ Hasson, Nir (January 15, 2009). "New Jerusalem mayor slams light rail project after trudging through capital". Haaretz. Retrieved March 6, 2009.
- ^ Kalman, Matthew (March 29, 2009). "Barkat may stop J'lem light rail project". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved September 15, 2014.
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- ^ Kershner, Isabel (June 5, 2007). "Jerusalem light rail raises questions about the divided city". The New York Times. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
- ^ Rapoport, Meron (December 6, 2006). "Dutch Bank Divests Holdings in J'lem Light Rail, Cites Settlements". Haaretz. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
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- ^ "Hundreds of Arabs riot across Jerusalem after Palestinian teen found murdered". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com.
- ^ a b Ben-Or, Yedidya; Yashar, Ari (July 9, 2014). "Arab Rock Terror Limits Jerusalem Light Rail". Israeli National News. Arutz Sheva. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
- ^ Daniel K. Eisenbud (July 2, 2014). "Hundreds of Arabs riot across Jerusalem after Palestinian teen found murdered". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
rioting ensued in the northern Shuafat and Beit Hanina neighborhoods, with significant damage being reported to three light rail stations, forcing police to [...] suspend train service there north of the Ammunition Hill station.
- ^ Schmil, Daniel (July 7, 2014). "Riot-damaged East Jerusalem light rail station won't see service for months". Haaretz. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
Priority is being given to repairing damage [...] so that trains will again be able to reach [...] Pisgat Ze'ev and Neveh Yaakov.
- ^ "Jerusalem light rail line crippled by Arab rock throwing". JNS.org. October 13, 2014. Archived from the original on November 12, 2014. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
- ^ Newman, Marissa (October 12, 2014). "40% of light rail trains damaged in E. Jerusalem riots". The Times of Israel. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
- ^ Kershner, Isabel (June 5, 2007). "Under a Divided City, Evidence of a Once United One". The New York Times. Retrieved January 23, 2009.
- ^ Amiram Barkat (January 2, 2006). "Shuafat dig reveals first sign of Jewish life after destruction of Second Temple". Haaretz. Retrieved February 1, 2008.
External links
- Cfir Operator's website
- Jerusalem Light Rail on Urbanrail.net
- From Mule Tracks to Light Rail Transit Tracks: Integrating Modern Infrastructure into an Ancient City — Jerusalem, Israel
- Trains at both ends of the route on Google Street View: Google Maps Google Maps