The Tel Aviv light rail system is finally starting operation, two years late. Those who wanted to experience the historic inaugural ride had to get up early.
Tel Aviv's first light rail system has opened. Trains started simultaneously at three stations on Friday morning at 5:40 a.m. local time: Petach Tikva Main Station, Kiryat Aryeh, and Bat Yam-Komemiut.
People from all over the country took advantage of the opportunity to ride the historic train, which was free on the first day. From Saturday evening onward, passengers within Tel Aviv will have to pay the equivalent of approximately €1.34, and for journeys outside the city limits, just under €3.
The light rail's red line stretches for 24 kilometers and has 34 stations. It runs from Bat Yam to Petach Tikva. Two more lines are scheduled to open in 2026 and 2028, bringing the total to 139 stations in 14 cities. Plans for three subway lines are also under discussion, according to the online newspaper "Times of Israel.".
In a small ceremony on Friday, Koti Elasar from Tel Aviv received a certificate: The 70-year-old was honored in Bat Yam as the first passenger of the new railway.
The mayor of Bat Yam, Zvika Brot (Likud), said: “We are happy and excited. We have waited a long time for this.” He added that the residents had borne the brunt of the railway construction for years. “But the result is wonderful. This railway will move Bat Yam forward.”
The Tel Aviv Transport Authority (NTA) oversaw the work. It began in 2015 and was originally scheduled for completion in 2021. However, there were delays.
According to a report in the newspaper "Yediot Aharonot," the start of the service was also somewhat bumpy: the destination display on the train didn't always work. Furthermore, a train driver had to reverse to align the doors with the opening positions. It was also noted that there are too many traffic lights along the route, which are slowing down train traffic.
Student arrived from London
This did not dampen the passengers' spirits, however. Twelve-year-old Mika had persuaded her father, Schai, to travel with her on the first train: "I told him a week ago. He wakes up at 5 a.m. anyway, so he drove me here. I'm having a great time."
The father added: “This is truly a historic moment. We deserve this railway after a long period of Tel Aviv suffering.” He was presumably referring to the traffic jams.
Itai Schifrin came from Modi'in with his three children for the opening: "I wanted to be part of this historic event." He is originally from Bat Yam. "I've heard about this project for years. I prefer to travel by train rather than by car, especially when it's not crowded."
Shawn Michael had traveled a long way, coming all the way from London. The British architecture student said he had been following the project for a long time. "Projects like this are especially important because of the climate crisis. And it's important to learn from them."
Netanyahu: "This line will serve everyone"
On Thursday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud) symbolically cut the ribbon at the Petach Tikva terminus during an official opening ceremony. He said: "This line will serve everyone – those who support us and those who oppose us. This is a day of celebration for Israel."
Hundreds of protesters opposing the Israeli government's planned judicial reform had gathered outside the compound. Boos and honking were heard during Netanyahu's speech, forcing him to raise his voice.
Protesters also positioned themselves at various points along the route that Netanyahu and his wife Sara traveled on a test run of the new railway. According to media reports, approximately 1,000 police officers secured the route.
Protesters fail at the Supreme Court
On Wednesday, organizers of the protest movement criticized the planned road closures from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the opening of the light rail system. They argued that these closures were designed to prevent demonstrators from disrupting the ride. The protesters called on the police to prevent "the paralysis of all of Tel Aviv for the benefit of the dictator taking a ride on the light rail." They deemed the closures "unreasonable.".
And so, on Thursday morning, the leaders appealed to the Supreme Court. But the court did not intervene. Furthermore, there were plans to disrupt the opening on Friday with the first passengers and to block the railway line.
Transport Minister Miri Regev (Likud), in turn, joked at the official ceremony with regard to the demonstrators: "Mr. Prime Minister, you have no idea how grateful some residents are – they were waiting for me here with a chorus of honking horns, I saw the excitement in their eyes."
Tel Aviv mayor protests against Sabbath rest
Meanwhile, Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai (The Israelis) boycotted the inauguration ceremony. He criticized the fact that the railway, like most of Israel's public transportation, is closed on Shabbat.
In a video message on Wednesday, Huldai declared: “This is my protest. The light rail system must also operate on weekends and serve the public, as befits a liberal and democratic country.”
The project cost the equivalent of approximately 4.6 billion euros. Politicians hope it will ease the traffic situation in the Tel Aviv area. (Israelnetz)
