Jerusalem Light Rail

[daveklepper]

The existing line has traffic-light ore-emption in spots, but definitely not everywhere it should.

And even the traffic systems for buses at the intercfhange stations need lots of improvemen.

Still, on balance, it is a good system, and I enjoy every use I make of it.  Which ranges from no use on one day to four or five times on another.

My general moral on living in Jerusalem jumped 100% on its year 2012 opening.  Only the Unification of 1967  (I began visiting in 1960, moved in 1996.) made more of a difference.

[daveklepper]

Also note this from a posting some four years ago:

[daveklepper]

 

With the exception of the grassed RoW (currently under repair) adjacent to the Old City Wall (picture posted above posting before repair work), all Jerusalem Light Rail is paved private RoW, strong enough to support tanks, anti=aircraft missal launchers, and field artillery; and is restricted to the light rail trains and emergency vehicles, including police and military vehicles and ambulances, which do use the RoW.

[blue streak 1]

Does this line and others have traffic light pre emption ?

[MidlandMike]

What I was really wonderind was if they would have a dedicated ROW, or share the road with autos.  From the photos you showed it looks like they have their own separate ROW, at least in part.

[daveklepper]

My tentative answerf is: temporary.

It appears much like temporary fencing in constructing the existing line:

I don't find it on the finished and operarting part of the Red Line:

But I cannot be certain.   Different parts of Jerusalem may have specific requirements.  

[MidlandMike]

Is the fence temporary, or will the ROW stay separate?

[daveklepper]

The two of the four photos in the JR artikcle that I downloaded to my coputer/  This is on the southern extention of the Red Line, probably on Herzl Blvd,:

[daveklepper]

New track installation

27 KM of routes and more thann 50 new stops arebeing added to Jerusalem Light Rail.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF, Edited and distiklked by DLK  

AUGUST 11, 2021 21:50

   

The expansion of the light rail red line begins with the laying of the first tracks

(photo credit: ABIR SULTAN)

The first new tracks lines were laid Wednesday morning with Jerusalem's mayor, Moshe Leon present.

 

The new tracks were installed on Hentke street.

The red line will be extended south to Hadassah Ein Kerem and north to Neve Yaakov for 11 new stops.

The full route may be open in first half of 2023, but tmay be delayed.

Mayor Leon:  "In the next few days we mark a decade since the red line's activation, and I am excited to open a second decade for the revolution of public transport in Jerusalem with the launch of the extended red line,  I would like to thank all involved and wish us all luck on this project."

"The laying of the red line tracks is launched parallel to the rapid infrastructure works for the green line and the advertisement of the blue line, which will be the third in the light rail system in Jerusalem," said Zohar Zoller, CEO of the Transportation Master Plan. "There is no doubt that the moves we are making these days in Jerusalem will be an inspiration for similar moves in other big cities, and that we are creating a new urban standard for transportation systems."

"Today marks an important milestone for Jerusalem's transport revolution, and Cfir is excited and proud to take part in the actualization of this vision," said Oren Cohen, CEO of Cfir Light Rail.

Transportation Minister MK Merav Michaeli added that "this is another move in the reordering of metropolitan and national priorities for the sake of lessening the use of personal vehicles and toward a more advanced transportation system."

 

[daveklepper]

A better view of what the "driver" (nahag) does and what he sees.

[daveklepper]

Two new  photos, an interior picture and construction along my past regular bus coummute.  (I now have much less walking and more enjoyment by leaving the 34 bus at the nearest light rail statioh, going downtown to Damascus Gate, Old Cty Wall, and then using the 255 or 275 to the back-door of the Yeshiva.)

[daveklepper]

Spanish-Israeli owned company TransJerusalem J-Net Ltd. was selected by an inter ministerial committee on Wednesday to construct the planned extension of the Jerusalem Light Rail and take over operations of the growing network.

Owned by Shapir Engineering and Spanish rail firm CAF, TransJerusalem J-Net was established for the purpose of competing for the Jerusalem JNET tender.

The second consortium bidding for the tender – Shikun & Binui and Egged, together with the Chinese company CRRC, Spanish firm COMSA, Portuguese corporation EFACEC and Polish service provider MPK – was unsuccessful.

The tender, for which bids were submitted by a May deadline, includes taking over the operation and maintenance of the existing Red Line, as well as the extension of the northern segment of the line to Neveh Ya’acov and the southern segment to Hadassah-University Medical Center in Ein Kerem.

The company will replace the CityPass Group, which built and has operated the light rail since construction began in 2002.

The company will also be responsible for the construction of the Green Line, which will run from Mount Scopus to Gilo and Malha, with branches to Hebrew University’s Givat Ram campus and Givat Shaul. The new line is expected to transport 160,000 passengers around the city on a daily basis.

The project includes the construction of 27 km. of rail, 50 stations, the design and manufacture of over 100 carriages and significant network control infrastructure. Operation of the expanded network, set to stretch over 40 km. of the city once complete, is due to commence gradually in 2022 and be fully operational by 2025.

 

“Selecting the winner of the JNET project is a key milestone in promoting Jerusalem’s transportation infrastructure,” said Accountant-General Rony Hizkiyahu.

“This project is a significant part of the 2030 Plan, in which infrastructure projects are expected to be implemented in a variety of areas such as energy, desalination, waste and, of course, other transportation projects, such as the light rail in Tel Aviv and the metro project in Gush Dan,” Hizkiyahu said.

“Completing the tender process in such a short time frame demonstrates that government ministries are working diligently to advance the standard of infrastructure in Israel to the standard of developed countries as soon as possible.”

The project, a public-private partnership, will be the largest of its kind in Israel to date. TransJerusalem J-Net will operate the network for an initial period of 15 years, with an option for an additional 10 years, and will be responsible for the maintenance of the network for 25 years.

/Steve

 

[daveklepper]

latest update from Jerusalem Post of 22 Feb. on expansion of the system:

[daveklepper]

The way Citipass Light Rail, Jerusalem, handles lost monthly passes, may be unique in the industry, and may be of interest.

After renewing my monthly pass plastic for January, it was stolen or lost, along with my Israeli identification, and other important identifications.  The first priority was Israeli identification, and this required a visit to first the Police lost-and-found, and then to Police Headquarters.  This was followed by two visits to the Interior Ministry, with temporary identification provided, and a second on 24 January to activate my new identification card.

As soon as I received the temporary identification, I went to the Egged bus offices, where they produced a duplicate plastic, with my picture, from their computer files.  But they said to activate, I would need to visit the Citipass offices, to which I went directly.  They asked standard questions concerning the loss, and then told me I would need to first get the Police lost-and-found to verify it was lost.  I pointed out that I had visited that office already, and that the Police Clerk there had agreed to email me if the lost identification and plastic pass were to show up.  Finally, the Citipass office people agreed to activate it, and gave me a paper  to sign, which I wrongly assumed only acknowledge the activation.

"Wrongly assume?"   When I returned to the Yeshiva from the Interior Ministry, with the activated Israeli identification, a note from the bank was on my desk indicating 94.40 Sheckles had been withdrawn from my bank account by Citipass.  The regular activation of the plastic for a month for senior citizens is 106.50, and I am 87.

[daveklepper]

An error in the preceding posting.  Meant to write 38, not 8!   But now there are about 45.

 

A step forward is that there is now a new 84 Egged bus that directly comnnects the light rail stop nearest my apartment (Amunition Hill,  British Mandate name that has not been changed) directly to the Mt. of Olives Cemetary.  Previoiusly morners had to use taxis or private autos.  There is a stop each direction not far from my Yeshiva, but not as close as the 48 line's stop, and 48's service has been reduced from 12 each day to six.  The 48 originates at the same light rail stop, which is also the stop where most suburban busses interchange with the light rail line.

The reduction in service of the 48 may mean more trips for me on the Arab sector 275 from the Yeshiva's back door to Damascus Gate near the light rail station of that name.

[daveklepper]

In answer to some of the questions as to the improvement in the lives of those of us living in Jerusalem as a result of the first Light Rail Line, I can point out that there were only five sidwalk cafes before its consruction and now there are 8 on Jaffa Road in downtown Jerusalem.  The better air and quieter environment encourage people to eat and drink on sidewalks in good weather instead of inside. Here is some interesting data:

 

[daveklepper]

 

 

 

[daveklepper]

Red Line existing, its extensions dashed:

[daveklepper]

[Firelock76]

You've got to hand it to the Israelis, they know how to get things done.

Here in the US after seven years they'd only be finishing the first round of environmental impact studies.

[daveklepper]

Back on topic

[daveklepper]

Just slightly off-topic, Haifa's funicular subway is well-known, but the telefarique south of the city less well known, called the Rakball.

[daveklepper]

 

[daveklepper]

[daveklepper]

[daveklepper]

Yes.   For detailed info, [e-mail] or wait until my edit button is restored.

[MidlandMike]

The trolley signal seems to have shades of PRR position lights.

[daveklepper]

I can post photos without the edit button, but not text.

[daveklepper]

Since I do not currently have the edit button the thread is abayance and I cannot currently continue further.

[daveklepper]

1.  Yes, constant tension, and I hope to post pix soon, possible today or tomorrow.

2.  I think trolley poles would work except at all switches, where there are no frogs, just wires side-by-side.  A heritage car would work but would require a pole-shifting at each switch.  Oh yes, also at the weight locations for the constant-tension catenary.