Tel Aviv Metro

[daveklepper]

But the underground stations are reasonably quiet, because of full-height edge-of-platform, mostly glass, walls.  Train operation is automatic underground (manuel on-the-surface), and the train doors match the wall doors.

[daveklepper]

My canera is still a que waiting for repair, but I finally did get to ride the Tel Aviv Red Line.  It is longer than Jerusalem's, and while the operation in the sustantial subway portion is fast, the surface operatuion is slower.   End-end running time is about 80 minutes.

The surprises to me were:`1. unacceptable to me noise levels in the subway, with zero sounf-absorbing material in the tunnels, and 2.   an unsigned, complex, and overly-long walk between the Arlozorov subway and railroad stations, with a connecting pedestrian tunnel still under construction.   

[daveklepper]

 The new Tel Aviv light -rail system has completed 1 month of public service. The trains are full both mornings and evenings and for sports events. The general appreciation by the public is excellent. The Tel Aviv city transport department already says that cars coming into the city from the South and along the Jabotinsky route at the NE, are down by 30%.

Steve Sattler from Globes. (Translated)

 

[daveklepper]

Steve Sattler	5:58 PM (1 hour ago)
to bcc: me

Dear all, 

      Those of us who remember those days in the 70s when any trip between cities was a long, noisy, and uncomfortable bus ride .... and; ...and that black stuff spewing out the back of the bus was a cloud of poison.

       Here is the new reality.

   I can leave my house at 09.22, catch the local bus to the Givat HaTachmoshet Light-Rail station, catch the tram, [every few minutes], ride 8 stops, take the tunnel into the Navon station, do security, then elevators, catch the 10.07 train to Herzliya, and sleep for 35 mins, or re-charge my phone or just chat with the group around me.

    At Savidor Station in central Tel Aviv, [a long platform], I exit, walk 180 meters, and descend into the new Arlosoroff Light-Rail Station, and then ride 4 stops to Allenby Station [all the trip is underground], and exit on Yehuda Halevi. Walk to Ahad Ha-Amm st and I am at my office. Today I was in the office at 11.14.

  On the way back this afternoon - it was just the reverse-  and  I slept.

   At this time most of Allenby st is closed off to traffic as they are digging the Green line... That will run from the East and then North.

   During the day, the new DanKal RED line is not very crowded, but the morning rush and from 4 PM till 8 PM the trams are full.

   Tel Aviv is now 'up-there' with all the other modern cities  and this new 'tram' service has already reduced the number of cars driving into TLV every day.

    Steve Sattler 

[daveklepper]

Ceremonial run past Thursday, opened Friday

Dear all,

a review.

    Friday 18th August.

       Some of us got to Navon station in Jerusalem at 08.20, We met
the rest of the group and took the IR A1 train to Savidor/Arlorozov
station. Then after a little geographic confusion We found the way to
the new Arlorozov underground Light-Rail (tram) station.



       Escalators or elevators to the main level, then the turnstiles
[that  were free today], then to the platforms. We choose the
Light-Rail heading South to Yaffo, then then, rode back to Elifelet,
and then Allenby.

       At Allenby, we exited had an ice-cream, and then the Light Rial
to Bat Yam. This is a long journey [about 7/8 above ground] to
Komimiute deep in the Bat Yam suburb. This is 17 stops south from
Allenby.

      At the last stop, We then leaded North, the tram was full, the
lady driver was very cool and calm, and we met the Tel Aviv mayor -who
was doing a Mayor-ic tour with his staff.

     The tram stops at every station for about 1-3 mins.



     We got to Arlorozov, got past the demonstration, and headed for
the train to Jerusalem.

    This new mass-transport system is a 'wonder', modern,
technological and full. Today over 90,000 people rode the trams.

   Steve

 

[daveklepper]

Since the 18th is a Friiday, and  I usually have lots to do on Fridays to prepare for the Sabbath, the timng denies me the opportunity to be a First Day ruder.  Hope to try the system on the Sunday the 20th.

[daveklepper]

Edited  from 124News report

 

The Tel Aviv Light Rail Red Line will start public operation August 18, after years of delay, the Transportation Ministry announced Friday.  Israel's Transportation Minister Miri Regev assured that all necessary approvals to open the line had been received.

. 

The line connects Petah Tikva with Bat Yam, 15+miles, with 33 stations also serving Bnei Brak, Ramat Gan, and of course Tel Aviv.

 

 

[daveklepper]

The Trains and Tram Society of Israel.
Dear all,
   The German company that has been hired to certify the communication system for the new Tel Aviv LIGHT-RAIL is still not prepared to confirm that the system is working well.
 It seems that the new computer program will automatically stop the Light-rail trams at the slightest indication and slam-on the emergency brakes.
   This is unacceptable.
  Thus, our day-trip on 31st July is postponed until the MOT gives us  a new date.
 (The MOT is saying 'August', - but ..... who knows.)
So, at this time: we will wait till the MOT and her Minister gives us the 'good-word'.

 

  Steve

 

[daveklepper]

 When we look at our little country from above, the biggest problem facing us is the bad transport situation. The roads are clogged, there are too many cars, people drive like 'crazy' and the bus service is far from 'good'.

   The main priority over the next few years must be to plan and build more rails, a smart distribution of bus services and force the car driver to leave his car at home.

   This process will take years, as educating the driver and creating more public transport is a long-term activity. In the meantime, a quick and instant solution is to create 'car-less' days, whereby the driver gets the choice to either not use his car or pay a lot of extra money for the right to use a car on certain days and certain times.

    A simple electronic Wi-Fi system that follows every car [ and truck]  -on the road, can be installed in every car and then the computer does the calculations and sends the bill electronically to the car owner every month.

   If a car owner knows that it will cost him an extra 50 shekels to use his car at peak-time - on busy days, then he will 'change' his driving habits.

   I hope our Ministers will jump on this idea and start to 'fix' our transport problems

Shabbat Shalom

Steve

 

[daveklepper]

Steve Sattler The Red Line will not begin operating until March 2023 and some sources say that commercial operations might not begin until next June.   The company appointed by the Ministry of Transport to supervise the project estimates that the Red Line will not begin operating until June 2023. The postponement is costing an estimated NIS 40 million per month.   The state chose a complex signaling system for the Tel Aviv light rail with an automatic system on the underground sections and a manual system above ground and coordinating the two types of system is proving difficult. NTA - Metropolitan Mass Transit System, which is overseeing the project, has been encouraged by the decline in the number of emergency stops during trials and at the start of next month a new updated version of the signaling system will begin operating. If the system proves that it can work stably then an official commencement date for commercial operations of the Tel Aviv light rail Red Line will be announced. If the system works well then NTA is likely to announce the end of March 2023 as the date for starting operations but the company supervising the project assumes that June 2023 will be the launch date. In any event, the Ministry of Transport, which feels unable to control events amid all the delays is not convinced that NTA's forecast date of late March 2023 is viable. A senior source at the Ministry of Transport said, "There is a fault with the signaling system that has brought about a delay in operating the line. It is the job of the steering committee to ensure that the revised timetable for operating the line is implemented and no clear picture has yet been received from NTA."   The Ministry of Transport said, "NTA is managing the Red line and is responsible for building and operating it. Representatives of the state on the steering committee, Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Finance are supporting the company and assisting in every way to complete the project, without compromising on matters of safety and operating the service." NTA said, "NTA is not engaged in this or that estimate and does not know about the date mentioned but is investing all its resources in working around the clock in order to operate the light rail without compromising on full	)

 Security

                      The Red Line through and under Tel Aviv will probably start working for public passenger traffic in May or June 2023.

   While this line was been planned and then as the construction was in progress - changes and additions were made to cope with the chronic 'terrorism' problem that infects Israel.

    Although the MOT will not list all the changes and additions that they demanded, we know of 7 issues that were included into the system and certainly on the Light-Rail trains {Trams}.

    All concrete walls in every underground station have extra thickness to survive any serious blast and thus prevent any collapse.

   Communication and power cables/ wiring are mostly behind protected metal plates or in serious metal cabinets.

   In the tunnels - the driver is in-charge but he is watched by both internal and external cameras, and the central OCC [that is duplicated] can also run or stop the tram if the driver is incapacitated.

   On the trams the windows are extra-thick impact glass, and the delicate 'traction' equipment on the roof is covered [metal] against a grenade or an RPG. This adds extra weight to the trams. [ now 50 tonnes.]

   CCTV and Wi-Fi have extra cover and sensor-security for damage or explosions.

   The main OCC is located underground and behind blast-proof concrete walls. A second OCC exists and is ready to go,  - if necessary.

   Management offices, the light Maintenace and the heavy Maintenace facilities are all in separate buildings and a lot of redundancy has been built-in to cope with any major 'war'-damage.

   Some underground stations [ like the Navon station in Jerusalem ] have a bomb shelter underneath with special equipment for gas or radiation attacks and special ventilation units to keep a few hundred citizens healthy while 'a war' maybe running above.

   The Data Center - has a separate building, well-protected and with both ( duplicate ) optical fiber and electrical connection to all relevant stations, management and the IDF HOME DEFENCE system.

   Back-up generators are doubled and in separate locations and well protected - mostly underground.

   At the main OCC - each desk [there are 10] covers a different component of the transport system and each desk has two operators. The OCC duty-officer has a separate room with his own communication system.

  All Maintenace - either routine, light or heavy is down at special depots [ the are two at this time - there will be more ,] and all parts are supervised for quality, source and all work is supervised by automatic cameras and trained security staff.  

   All staff have been through the First-aid, security and psychology training courses  and have been vetted for 'problems'.

  They MOT, IR, the Light-rail authority and the various municipalities all have the deep understanding that this new transport system must work-well, be safe, be comfortable, be flexible to cope with weather, floods, wars and the terrorism mayhem that is almost normal, and keep the citizens happy as the primary users. 

Steve Sattler

[daveklepper]

HaRikevet HaKallah HaShabbat

1.    Reason for this Memorandum

The Transport Minister announced that the Tel Aviv Light Rail system will operate on Shabbat.  Religious MK’s announced this will not happen.  This is clearly a controversy that prevents understanding and friendship between Religious and Secular Jewish Israelis.  Secular Jews can complain that lack of public transportation on Shabbat denies them a freedom available in every other Democracy.  Religious Jews can complain that public transportation on Shabbat violates the Sanctity of the Land, a Sanctity that makes Israel unique from other lands and discriminates against the religious that would pay for services they cannot use.

But there is a solution, and the ideas to be presented have received approval from teachers at my Yeshiva.  The solution is completely automatic operation combining the technologies of collision avoidance, as in modern autos, Shabbat clocks that turn on-and-off lights, and hotel Shabbat Elevators  that start and stop at each “station” and reverse automatically at the end of each “run.”

2.  Safety, and who will work on Shabbat?

Only Security people will work on the Light Rail on Shabbat.  Regarding any actual operation, at any emergency that is serious and not handled withy complete safety by the automatic equipment, they will activate one simple emergency control button, the train will stop as fast as safely possible, and any other trains will simply proceed to the first possible station, and an automatic announcement will tell passengers of the emergency and ask them to exit the train.  Fire-fighters, medical people, police and security people would be able gto use the system’s public address system.

3.  No fares would be collected. 

If this were the New York City Subway System, a special door could provide access to each station platform, specially subsidized regular-type keys  could provide access,  and special fully automatic  trains with stops at all stations could be used by the Shabbat observant, recognizing that most users aren’t Jewish and would choose to ride faster and more frequent regular trains. But the Light Rail has station stops where the platform is an integral part of the streets’ sidewalks.  So, free ridership on Shabbat is the only practical fair fare policy.

4.   Speeds

The primary use of Shabbat Light Rail Trains should not be to duplicate Weekday conditions, but to allow elderly to visit children and grandchildren.  On the surface, with pedestrian and auto traffic adjacent and/or crossing, speed should duplicate a fast walking pace, giving the collision avoidance equipment ample time to do its job.  In tunnels, speeds can be more normal.

5.   Automatic Operation Elsewhere and Door Control

Operation of the opening of the Philadelphia-Camden-Lindenwold rapid-transit line followed 100% automatic test operation about 50 years age.  Today, similar to operation on New York City’s “7”and “L” lines. Bay Area Rapid Transit, the Washington Metro, and elsewhere, Philadelphia-Lindenwold operators do activate door closings at each station.  But this can be handled automatically with sensitive door edges and/or optical or ultrasonic recognition of doorway intrusion problems.  This  kind of operation, completely automatic, is in use on many intra-terminal Airport “People Movers.Should not tyhis technological solution apply to Jerusalem, as well?

 

[daveklepper]

The Israeli Government's Transpot Minister has announced that the Tel Aviv  system will operate on the Jewish Sabbath.  Certain Israeli Parliament (Knesset) members replied it will not.

To settle the issue, I have recommended automatic operation on the Sabbath.

Just incase a reader feels my reply is too religious for posting here, I'll put my memorandum to the Transport Minister in a separate posting (next) for easier removal or modification by me or the Moderator

[daveklepper]

Another view of the Petach Tikvah Yard:

[daveklepper]

[daveklepper]

deleted

 

 

[daveklepper]

[daveklepper]

 

 

 

[daveklepper]

Israeli transit consultant Aharon Gazit was given a tour of northern surface portion of the Tel Aviv Red Line, and these are csome of his pictures.  The yard and shops are in Petach Tikvah

I'll have to ask others to post the pictures.

 

 

[daveklepper]

[daveklepper]

METROPOLITAN Mass Transit Systems (NTA) has awarded a €1.015bn contract to a consortium of CAF and construction firm Shapir to construct and equip the 27km Purple light rail line in Tel Aviv, which is expected to be fully operational by 2027.

The contract consists of the design, construction, financing and maintenance of the line for 25 years. The new line will have 45 stations as well as a depot for fleet maintenance.

The contract also includes the construction of 98 low-floor five-section 35m-long Urbos LRVs, with an option for a further 32 LRVs in the future.

The new line will run from Complex 2000, in the centre of Tel Aviv adjacent to the Arolozorov railway station, to the eastern part of the city centre, where it will split into two branches, with one running north to the Bar Ilan University area, and the other east to the neighbouring city of Yehud-Monoson.

The CAF portion of the contract is worth €525m and consists of the design and manufacture of the LRVs, the supply of signalling, energy and communication systems and project integration. CAF will also have a 50% stake in the special purpose vehicle (SPV) company that will manage the line’s maintenance.

[daveklepper]

Steve Sattler	Jan 31, 2022, 4:17 PM (23 hours ago)

The mega-project to build a modern, useful and extensive [fast]  light-rail -service for the Tel Aviv complex is moving along.

The Red line may run - as a trail service - by November of this year. This is the North-East to - South line. The M1

The Green line - the M2 - that is a  true North to South line [ but further inland to the More Westerly RED line :  this tender has now been won by Alstrom [French]  and the Dan & Electra companies ...  and they will start their building with-in 12 months. The Green line will be 39 kms with 63 stations - with only 4 stations underground. Tel Aviv University & Herzelia will be served by this line. It should begin to run by 2026. The main residential complex of Rishon LeTzion [in the South ] will be the source of most of the passengers in the morning run-hours.

Originally - it was a given  that Chinese companies would win the tenders - [like the Red Line ] but American pressure to avoid the Chinese,  and the bad vibes from complaining Chinese workers about ill-treatments and even physical abuse have convinced the Israeli ministeries to avoid the Chinese.

The Purple line :- the M3  (that was originally called the blue line [not to be confused with the blue Yarkon river ] was changed by the Tel Aviv mayor to purple ) is a critical East to West service. This seperate tender was won by  Shafir [Israel] and CAF [Spanish] and they will also start with-in some 12 months. The Purple line [ brings residents from Yahud and Kiryat Ono to the Tel Aviv center,  and servicing Bar Ilan University in Ramat Gan  will be 27 kms long with 45 stations - most over-ground.

The Israeli NSC has frequently warned ministers that the Chinese 'business' invasion into Israel [over the last generation] has serious security issues and thus,  - Israel - that has a strong desire to be friendly with China, Russia and the USA (all at the same time ) - is this time sending a message to China that there is a practical limit to how much China can 'look' into Israel.

A recent document from the US - NSC has spotlighted the massive Israeli military and cyber-warfare equipment(s), units  and software that Israel is selling to India , Taiwan and Singapore. China knows that her immediate neighbours have advanced Israeli [ and well-tested ] military equipment. 

Another issue - was that the main Chinese company that would have won the Green line tender was CRCC [A railway construction company ]  and this company is on a Biden black-list  and also the World Bank [2019] sanctioned this company for fraud recently.

The Chinese CECC company that is building the RED LINE is a sub-company of the  CRCC. Although the original Chinese tender for this line was low - the constant upgrades of the costs by the Chinese has 'destroyed' the original budget  and 'anger' , both in the municipality and in the Ministry, has swollen at the Chinese.

Many experts have criticized the original planning of this Gush Dan metro complex as built from the wrong focus. They suggest that the Purple line should have been built first,  then the Green line and last the Red line. Most of Tel Aviv's 'motor' problems are from the EAST and not from the South.

Steve Sattler

[daveklepper]

First full test run, Tel Aviv Red Line
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iV1TQW-u8ac

[daveklepper]

 

 

 

Steve Sattler	Wed, Nov 24, 9:54 PM (14 hours ago)

 

The TLV metro has been planned for 20 years and finally the planning, the permissions and the money became available.  In October 2021 - the original plan was for the RED LINE [ the more or less vertical line - South to North East ] was to be opened. The budget was 10.4 bill shekels. The current budget is 18.0 ill shkls.

 

 

 

So - it is running behind - and the latest date is for November 2022 for the RED LINE to run and function.  So far - in reality - a real 2 unit tram has run on the Petach Tikva section and a short section in Jaffa. - These are only test runs and a lot of PR.

 

 

 

I was on Zev Jabotinski St today - in Ramat Gan - and yes - they are working on the metro stations there -with twin escalators and elevators and a lot of junk lying around but it is very far from any obvious progress to finish soon

 

 

 

 Now, - the experts are saying that the RED LINE is just not enough. The SEGOL LINE [ purple line] from the EAST is an essential component of the GUSH DAN transport complex and it is still in the planning stage with just a few  local starts of exploration holes for testing the sand and stones under Givatayim and nearby.

 

 

 

The GREEN LINE [from the South East ] is also a major route for passengers into TLV - and it is way behind in the planning. {The Kfar Shalem village/suburb - that was to be cleared of their local residents - and they all got a lot of money;  - is still there,   and back in court with riots and police in/around the area.).

 

 

 

The Chinese company that actually won the initial contract for the work has been put on hold - as the Govt ...."is not keen on having Chinese working on this project".... so the tender is still open.

 

 

 

Meanwhile the TLV city comptroller says that every day the city/ country loses 600 mill Shkls in 'loss' with all the delays of the METRO - and from next year this will jump to 900 mil Shksl /day.

 

[daveklepper]

Steve's son-in-law and his sister express their joy at having a light rail line directly in front of the apartment building on Jerusalem Blvd. in Jaffa:

[daveklepper]

From Stevec Sattler:   The first Tel Aviv Red Line light ral car has  reached Yaffo (Jaffa).

[daveklepper]

The grey lines on the map are Israel Railways lines, including freight-only.

[daveklepper]

That is definitely the plan.  There will be connecting tracks between all lines, as in Jerusawm;s expansing system.  However, I have not seen plans for any second shop for Jerusalem, but possibly we willl follow the Tel Aviv example in the future.

[blue streak 1]

4 operations and maintenance centers.  The diversation appears very prudent.  Wonder if Valley transit wishes it had more than one in San Jose ?

Dave do you know if one is knocked out of service for any reason the others  can take over ?

[daveklepper]

From Steve Sattler:

In  a long interview on Israeli TV tonight ...

     One of the main engineers took the TV crew into the new train stations under TLV - 35 meters under- round  and showed the 'almost-finished' platforms and rooms. Lots of marble walls and very fancy 'ceramic' platform floors. Autonomic doors for the trains at the stations.

    The big and main station cavern under  very busy Allenby st -will be a cross-over point for the RED and Purple  lines. The Purple line serves the EAST suburbs and cities to central TLV.

The RED LINE [ From Bat Yam in the South to Petach Tikva in the East ]  will be operational in Nov 2022. with 10 underground stations and 54 kms of tracks. All together 34 stations.

 

Each station will be automated with AI computers: for doors, elevators and escalators , ventilation, fire-sprinklers, and even bomb-proof sections for Nuclear attacks. A train will arrive every 3.5 to 4.00 mins.

So far- the engineers have used 15% less concrete and steel in the construction than the original plans.

The central section is underground - and the two wings are above ground. The through Jaffa section [ above ground] is almost finished.