As a Tel Avivian for the past 40 years, it's hard not to feel the great skepticism ahead of the opening of the light rail, which stems from the fact that the city and large parts of the surrounding cities have become a construction site. But the fact that more and more Tel Avivians are being exposed to its test drives in the city lowers the level of cynicism and raises the level of excitement.
The Light Rail Performed First Test Drive from Petah Tikva to Bat Yam// NTA
Earlier this week, it was finally confirmed that the red line would start working at the end of the month. This line combines light rail and subway, and will connect Petah Tikva and Bat Yam as it passes through Bnei Brak, Ramat Gan and Tel Aviv. The length of the line is 24 km, and 12 km of the route is underground and passes through a tunnel.
As the Red Line opens, here's a quick guide to everything you need to know.
When will we travel by train?
If the Ministry of Transport does not delay the opening for typical bureaucratic reasons, the Red Line is supposed to open by the end of the month, but it is important to note that all the important permits are already in place.
There is still no exact date, but it is clear to everyone that Miri Regev's battered office will not want to create any more difficulties, preferring to write down a first victory picture.
Running tour of the train. Em Hamoshavot Petah Tikva Station, Photo: Afek Matzliach
True, we were supposed to travel in November 2021, but we are full of disappointments with the Israeli bureaucracy, and two years late will not break us.
As a reminder, light rail in Tel Aviv was already talked about in the mid-70s. Early August - you are already on the train.
Does everything really work and you can travel from place to place without a problem?
In the first phase, about 26 train systems will operate on the line line, operating two different lines, short and long, from 05:40 in the morning until 12 at night.
The short line (R3) will operate only in the underground section between the Kiryat Aryeh station in Petah Tikva and the Elifelet station in Tel Aviv-Jaffa. The long line (R1) will include the entire travel segment of the train, from the central bus station in Petah Tikva to the Komemiyot station in Bat Yam.
The price - like on the bus
As for the frequency of the train, it is expected to arrive every 10 minutes on the (long) upper section, and every 6 minutes on the lower segment. NTA (Urban Transport Routes) promises that by after the holidays, the frequency of the train will increase to 5-4 minutes on the upper section and 3.5 minutes on the lower section.
How much does it cost us?
If you intend to cost the entire red line, the answer is NIS 19 billion, in a project that began at NIS 7 billion at a rough estimate. If this refers to ticket prices, the cost of the trip will be the same as traveling on an intercity bus in Gush Dan (NIS 5.5 for a single trip).
Em Hamoshavot station in Petah Tikva. The price, like a bus ride, photo: Afek succeeds
Payment will be made by Rav-Kav card or payment applications, as can be done today on any trip using public transportation, and will be similar to that on Israel Railways – that is, validation will be carried out in advance at stations and it will not be possible to validate a ticket on the train itself.
Users of payment apps will only be required to validate travel at underground stations, while at street level they will have to buy a virtual ticket in the app, but will only be required to present it in case of an inspector's arrival or disembarkation at an underground station.
Well, will there finally be less traffic jam in Tel Aviv?
You made us laugh. Even if the momentum of the National Outline Plan is taken out of account, the slowly paved bicycle paths and the city's constantly dilapidated infrastructure, the Red Line is planned to extend to the Moshe Dayan interchange in Rishon LeZion.
Allenby Light Rail Station, Photo: Gideon Markowitz
In addition, two additional light rail lines are currently being built, the Green Line and the Purple Line, whose completion is expected towards 2027 with a logical assessment and without further delays.
To all this, of course, we must add the construction of the metro in Gush Dan, which will begin partial operation in 2034 and whose work is expected to be completed only three years later.
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