Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Health approved the operation of the train starting this Sunday - without limiting the number of passengers • Hours later, the office's CEO canceled the outline
With the approval of the Ministry of Health - the restriction on the number of passengers in wagons will be removed
Photo:
Oren Ben Hakun
Version War: The National Transportation Authority announced Wednesday (Wednesday) that the Ministry of Health has approved a return to Israel Railways activity without limiting the number of passengers in cars starting this Sunday. However, MoH CEO Moshe Bar Good sent a letter to Holly train director Michael Meeksner stating: "I would like to make it clear that the Ministry of Health has not given its approval to resume train traffic on Sunday." Tomorrow the parties are expected to convene for further discussion on the matter.
As a result of the confusion, the Director General of the Ministry of Health apologized to the Minister of Transport Bezalel Smutrich and the public's passengers for the misunderstanding that the office was in the process of approving the train journey.
The Health Ministry said in response: "We are aware of the need to allow public transport, but unfortunately we are not yet at a stage where such large and crowded crowds can be approved. We hope the improvement in morbidity data will continue and allow the train to operate. We will come up with this in an orderly manner with the Ministry of Transport. "
In the letter, Bar Seaman emphasized that "the approval is given to the operating model, but not in a timely manner. The special character of the train as a unique means of mass transit, which includes several carriages with many ports and entrances, which passes through a number of intermediate stations does not allow control of passengers and their congestion on trains and docks."
The Director General of the Ministry of Health added: "One Corona patient traveling on a train can cause the infection of many people and bring the State of Israel back weeks in the fight against the spread of the virus. Therefore, the resumption of rail traffic should be awaited and adhered to the original schedule set by the government. "
On the other hand, Transport Minister Bezalel Smutrich announced that he had approached Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with a request to intervene in the matter. In addition, Minister Smutrich defined the chain of events this evening as "the conduct of the Banana Republic. We conduct ego battles on the backs of the passengers. And the conditions. The contradictory letter from the Director General of the Ministry of Health to train over the head of the office is an unbearable conduct that cannot be accepted. "
A Health Ministry official explained that “Grotto made a decision and the CEO canceled it. Apparently the ego is more important. "
Decide which health ministry to believe. To that of Professor Grotto or of Bar Good Sign. And seriously, there is a limit to the contempt and seriousness with which to manage such an event. We carried out a professional and orderly process with Professor Grotto, at the end of which we received written permission to operate the train. Then we get a letter from Barcy sent over our head directly to the train >>> pic.twitter.com/R0DyhwYy08
- Bezalel Smutrich (@bezalelsm) May 13, 2020
As reported a few days ago, the train will operate differently than usual until the end of the month, with only major lines, and only in early June will the activity be expanded after further consultation with the Ministry of Health.
Last weekend, it was announced that citizens would undergo a heat test at the station entrance and be called to maintain social remoteness on docks and carriages. However, train officials noted that the directive to keep a distance in the trailer was unenforceable.
It was further stipulated that passengers with heat or cold should not be allowed to enter the train. Passengers are also required not to touch surfaces, to avoid placing equipment on a public surface or to contact with handrails and turnstiles posted on exits from train stations. In addition, train passengers will be asked to wash their hands whenever possible. They also require that Israel Railways not eat and drink while traveling and avoid using their cell phones.
Railway lines activity until the end of May 2020: According to the plan, in the first phase, from May 17 to May 29, the trains will be operated Sunday to Thursday from 22:00 to 05:00. Passenger trains will not be operated on the weekends (Friday and Saturday), like the other public transport in Israel, until a new announcement.
The lines that will be operated unchanged: Jerusalem Yitzhak Navon - Tel Aviv Hagana, Lod - Rishon LeZion Rishonim, Carmiel - Haifa, Beit She'an - Atlit.
Changes in the lines of activity: The trains from Nahariya will reach Netanya station, and the section between Tel Aviv University and Netanya stations will be closed in both directions. Trains on the Beit Shemesh line will be operated until the Tel Aviv Defense Station, the line will not operate between Tel Aviv Defense and Netanya.
The suburban trains between Binyamina and Rehovot or Ashkelon: North - No trains from Binyamina to Tel Aviv Savidor will be operated (including stops at the interim stations). The service up to Netanya will be provided through the trains originating in Nahariya; From the south - passenger trains will be operated from Rehovot to Tel Aviv Savidor Station (including stops at the interim stations) These trains will not provide service to Yavne East, Ashdod and Ashkelon stations.
The trains on the Be'er Sheva - Ra'anana line (western line) will be operated in a split format, between the Be'er Sheva Center and Ashkelon stations, and between the Tel Aviv Defense and the Northern Heads (without a stop at Bnei Brak station), in both directions. In addition, no trains will be operated between Ashkelon and Ashdod and Tel Aviv.
The lines that will not be operated: Beit Shemesh - Jerusalem Malcha, Be'er Sheva North - Dimona, the night trains between Nahariya stations - Ben Gurion Airport, the night trains between Beersheba Central Station - Tel Aviv Hagana (Ben Gurion Airport).
Stations that will remain closed at this time: Ashdod to Halom, Jerusalem - Zoo, Beit Yehoshua, Jerusalem - Malcha, Bnei Brak, Kfar Saba Nordau, Bat Yam - Yoseftal, Ben Gurion Airport, Bat Yam - Commams, Netanya - Sapir, Dimona, Hod Hasharon Sokolov, Holon Junction and Holon - Wolfson, Herzliya, Rishon Lezion - Moshe Dayan, Yavne West, Raanana South and West and Yavne East.
Currently, free shuttle services will be operated as follows: from Tel Aviv Savidor Center to Netanya Station - every half hour from 06:15 to 23:15. From Netanya Station to Tel Aviv Savidor Central Station - every half hour from 06:00 until 23:30