Trains Suspended on the Tel Aviv - Jerusalem - Bet Shemesh Line next week and Petrol Price Pressure

Train Line Suspended between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem

Next week between Friday 4th February and Friday 11th February the Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and Bet Shemesh train line will be suspended.    The Ber Sheeva to Tel Aviv train line will also be suspended.  This is to allow for the engineering works to the line so that the the journey time can be reduced to 50 minutes between Tel Aviv and Ber Sheeva.

The closed stations next week between 4th February and 11th February will be:

Jerusalem Malha
Jerusalem Biblical Zoo
Bet Shemesh
Kiryat Gat
Lehavim-Rat
Ber Sheva North University
Ber Sheva Central
Dimona


To help compensate for the inconvenience there will be increased bus services between Ber Sheva and Tel Aviv.
A replacement shuttle bus will run in both directions between Lehavim-Rahat, Kiryat Gat and Tel Aviv.
There will also be a special bus service between Bet Shemesh and Lod.

The engineering work will include the laying of a double turnout at Na'an Station, adding a 2nd line between Lod Station and Na'an Station, and setting up new points and diversion along this section of track.

Full information can be found at the Israel Railways website.


Fuel Prices

Following the increase in prices for petrol earlier in January as a result of the Government of Israel raising the tax it charges for petrol there has been recent complaints about the high price for petrol.  This is because Israel has one of the highest level of taxes on petrol in the world.  The Jerusalem Post has an editorial today about the growing concerns of the higher petrol prices.

Bank Hapoalim may buy Highway 6 and news on Better Cars - Saturday 29th January 2011

Bank Hapoalim to buy Highway 6?

Following the decision by the Government of Israel to sell its 49% stake in the toll road Highway 6, Bank Hapoalim's new investment arm is considering purchasing the ownership it is being reported.


The rise of the electric car?

Ynet writes about Shai Agassi the owner of the Better Place electric car company and how he is predicting growth in the electric car market in Israel  but also in Denmark and Australia in the next two years but huge growth around the world by 2020.  Within the next 10 years Shai Agassi predicts that more people will buy electric powered cars than petrol powered cars.

Airport Security - Friday 28th January 2011

The famed security regime at Ben Gurion Airport in Israel is reported by Reuters after a woman was caught at  trying to smuggle 44 IPhones.

Pilots refuse to take new test - Thursday 27th January News

Israel's Pilots Association has said that its members will refuse to take the new English exam by 5th March 2011 Globes has report.  The new English test has been set for all pilots of international flights and air traffic controllers by Israel's Civil Aviation Authority.  The new English exam is part of a list of new safety requirements set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation as a requirement to grant or renew international flight licences to pilots.

El Al has warned that if the pilots refuse to take the English exam than their flights could be disrupted as pilots will have the required licences to pilot the international flights.

Tel Aviv Light Rail System - What is going on ?

For over five years now the Government and local municipalities in Greater Tel Aviv have been planning a light rail scheme, similar to that being built by CityPass in Jerusalem which is due to open later this year.

On December 31 2006, the contract to build and operate the first line of the Tel Aviv Light Rail was awarded to the Metro Transport Solutions Consortium.  The first line known as the Red Line is planned to be a 22km line from Petah Tikva through Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv and Jaffa to Bat Yam.

The original plan was to construct the line by 2012 or 2013 at an estimated cost of 11 billion shekels.  However, because of continued financial wrangling and arbitrations construction is no where near beginning.  Therefore in October 2010 the Ministry of Finance cancelled the franchise with the Metro Transport Solutions Consortium and decided that the Israeli Government would operate the project in-house.

This caused  the Metro Transport Solutions Consortium to file a 2 billion shekel lawsuit against the Israeli Government.

The Israeli Government has argued that since the contract was signed at the end of 2006 the Metro Transport Solutions Consortium has continued to demand many ammendments to the franchise agreement which would have "wiped out the financial and quality advantages of the scheme for Israel".

We await the outcome of the lawsuit and how the Government proposes to develop any future light rail scheme in Tel Aviv.

News on Cheap Flights and Road Safety - Wednesday 26th January

Cheap Airline Tickets


Globes is reporting that airline tickets from Israel to Europe and America are falling as a result of increasing competition from Arkia Airlines and other European airlines.  Arkia is currently offering flights to European destinations for $99.



Road Safety Committee 

The Knesset has this week set up a Road Safety Sub-Committee to examine a way of reducing road accidents in Israel according to the Jerusalem Post.  The Committee will be chaired by the Kadima Knesset Member Robert Tibayev.  This follows an 11% increase in road accidents in 2010.

The new committee was supported by Or Yarok the road safety organization that has run a campaign criticising the Transport Minister Israel Katz.  

Tel Aviv Fast Lane 'is becoming more popular'

The new fast lane which opened on 7 January 2011 between Ben Gurion Airport and Tel Aviv on Highway 1 is starting to become more popular amongst motorists.

The Jerusalem Post has reported that the the schemes operators Shapir Engineering are pleased that the number of users of the lane is increasing and according to the Nitzan Yotzer, the head of operations, the optimum "capacity will be reached within a few weeks,
when the real value (of the lane) will come to light".  Capacity is currently at 80% and according to Nitzan Yotzer "already carries more traffic than any of the other lanes" on the Highway 1.

The operators are therefore predicting that this could the first of many road-charging schemes into Tel Aviv.

As the level of motorists increases, the operators are saying that the price which motorists are charged to use the lane will increase, from what has been six shekels to as much as 25 shekels during busiest periods.  This unique example of variable charging for the fast toll lane is to deter motorists at busy time with a higher price and attract motorists at less busy times, so as to ensure that the road has a good level of vehicles on it, while ensuring that the minimum speed limit on the fast lane remains at 70 km/hour.

Motorists who wish to use this lane should register on the fast lane website or by phoning *3633.  Motorists can also park their car at the Shapir Interchange and then using the free Dan bus into Tel  Aviv or Ramat Gan.  Alternatively vehicles with four or more people can drive through the toll booth at the Shapir Interchange in order to use the lane for free.

Tuesday 25th January 2011 News on the Carmel and the Jerusalem to Tel Aviv Train

New Road Proposed in the Carmel National Park


Haaretz is reporting that environmentalists are concerned about a proposed new road through the Carmel National Park which the Interior Ministry is considering building between the Druze town of Daliat al-Carmel and the moshav Nir Etzion.  The proposed route is currently a dirt road and the upgrade which could help the economic growth of the area is being opposed by the Society for the Protection of Nature and the Israel Parks Authority, as it could threaten the natural ecology of the National Park


Jerusalem - Tel Aviv Train Line


While the world is talking about the leaks of the previous Israel-Palestinian negotiations, Palestine Monitor reviews how the proposed new Jerusalem - Tel Aviv Train Line is controversial amongst Palestinians and their supporters.  As 6km of the proposed line runs through the West Bank, pressure is being put on the Italian based construction company Pizzarotti & Co. to pull out of the project.

Monday 24th January News Record Year for Aviation, Trains Running Again

Record year for Ben Gurion Airport

2010 was a record year for Ben Gurion Airport for the number of passengers it saw passing through the airport. The airport saw 12,160,001 passengers in 2010 an increase of 9.37% over the previous year.  The number of flights also increased by 5.54% from 2009 to a total of 95,170.

El Al was the busiest airline with 3.8 million passengers, followed by Lufthansa with Continental Airlines the busiest airline from North America.  The fastest growing airlines were Easy Jet and US Airways.

The US was the largest market with  more than 1.5 million passengers a 10% increase over the year.  Further figures can be found at the Jerusalem Post.



Israel Railway


Following the fire on the Israel Railway the trains were declared following an investigation according to Haaretz and the train service returned to normal yesterday.

Thursday 20th January News on new road construction

Israel Katz the Transport Minister of Israel is reported by Ynet to have announced that 95 new intersections will be built on Israel's roads in the next five years in order to help reduce congestion and improve the motoring experience across the whole of Israel.   The estimated cost of the new intersections will be 27 billion shekels, and 1.7 billion shekels will be invested in road safety.

Wednesday 19th January News Israel Aviation Safety Criticised

The head of the International Air Transport Association - Giovanni Bisignani - has said that Israel's aviation safety is an "international embarrassment for the civil aviation authority.  This follows the Government being slow to implement safety recommendations at Ben Gurion Airport.

Israel has been warned that Ben Gurion Airport is using outdated technology, too short runways and has an overcrowded airspace together with a dysfunctional civil aviation authority.

This has seen Israel downgraded to a Category 2 state by the American Federal Aviation Administration, meaning that Israeli airlines are now prevented from expanding their capacity in the American market or carrying code-share passengers from American airlines.

Israel has though now begun to upgrade the civil aviation network with new radars and instrument landing systems, the extension of one of Ben Gurion's runways and the construction of a new air control tower.  Israel is also working with the American Federal Aviation Administration in order to be able to return to being a Category 1 state.  The Transport Ministry is also planning to introduce Israel's first piece of aviation legislation.

Tuesday 18th January - Impact of new bus routes in Jerusalem and New Transport Ministry Director General

Bus Changes

Following the closure of Jaffa Street to all road traffic the Jerusalem Post reports on the early impacts of the changes to the bus routes.  The impact appears not to be too bad especially at rush hour.  The time of day with the most congestion appears to be in early afternoon at the end of the school day.  Bus drivers are though facing some difficulties when turning corners with a bus approaching from other directions.

 Fig. 1  A bus bottleneck on Agripas Street (16.01.11) Picture take by Tomer Appelbaum, Haaretz

The advice of Israeltransport.blogspot.com is for anyone travelling into the city center to use public transport and to allow slightly more time for travel than in the past, as these changes are introduced.  If you have any comments on the new transport system in Jerusalem please leave a comment here or email.




New Director General for the Transport Ministry

Dan Harel has been approved by the Appointments Committee as the new Director General of the Transport Ministry.  The appointment was made by the Transport Minister Israel Katz.  Dan Harel is the former Chief of Staff of the Israel Defence Force.

Jerusalem City Center - New Bus Routes

Fig. 1 - Bus routes out of the Central Bus Station (Egged Website)

As of last night - 15th January 2011 - bus routes will be redirected away from Jaffa Street because of the new Jerusalem light-rail tramline. 

Fig. 2 - Bus Routes towards the Central Bus Station

Bus Routes 23, 25, 39, 40, 45 and 46 will now run along Yeshayahu Street instead of Strauss Street.

Changes will also be made on the following bus routes:

No. 6 from Pisgat Ze’ev to Malkha: the stops at Jaffa Street (aside from 210 Jaffa Street and Central Bus Station ) will not be served
No. 6 from Malkha to Pisgat Ze’ev: the stops at 169 Jaffa Street and Makhane Yehuda Market will not be served
No. 7 from Ramat Rakhel/Diplomat Hotel to Atirot Mada: the stops at Jaffa Street (aside from Central Bus Station) will not be served
No. 8 from East Talpiyot to Giv’at Ze’ev: the stops at Jaffa Street (aside from Central Bus Station) will not be served
No. 8 H from East Pisgat Ze’ev to Kfar Shaul: the stops at Jaffa Street will not be served
No.13 from Giv’at Mesu’a: the stops at 169 Jaffa Street and Makhane Yehuda Market will not be served
No.13 to Giv’at Mesu’a: the stops at Jaffa Street (aside from Central Bus Station) will not be served
No.15 from Yeshaiyahu St. (starting 13/01/11): the stops at Strauss Street will not be served
No.17 ? 17H from Mankhat to Ein Kerem: the stops at 21 King George and Jaffa Street (aside from Central Bus Station) will not be served
No.17 from Ein Kerem to Mankhat: the stops at Jaffa Street, as well as Central Bus Station and Binyanei ha-Uma, Ben Yehuda – Migdal ha-Ir will not be served
No.18 from the center of town to Malkha via Central Bus Station: the stops at Yafo Street (aside from 210 Jaffa Street and Central Bus Station ) will not be served
No.18 from Shderot  Herzel to the center of town: the stops at 169 Jaffa Street. and Makhane Yehuda Market will not be served
No.19 from Mount Scopus to Hadassa Ein Kerem: the stops at 28 Jaffa Street and 14 Shlomtsiyon ha-Malka will not be served
No.20 from Jaffa Gate to Giv’at Mesu’a: the stops at Jaffa Street (aside from 210 Jaffa Street and Central Bus Station ) will not be served
No.20 from Giv’at Mesu’a to Jaffa Gate: the stops at 169 Jaffa Street and Makhane Yehuda Market will not be served
No.21 ? 21H from Ramat Sharet to Talpiyot: the stops at Jaffa Street, as well as Central Bus Station and Binyanei ha-Uma will not be served
No.21 from Talpiyot to Ramat Sharet: the stops at Jaffa Street (aside from Central Bus Station) will not be served
No.23 to Mount Scopus: from 13/01/11 to 14/01/11 the stops at 169 Jaffa Street and Makhane Yehuda Market will not be served, starting from 15/01/11 buses will not call at 169 Jaffa Street, Makhane Yehuda Market and Strauss
No.23 from Mount Scopus: from 13/01/11 to 14/01/11 the stops at Strauss Street and 72 Jaffa Street will not be served, and starting from 15/01/11 buses will not call at Strauss Street and Jaffa (aside from Central Bus Station)
No.25 from CBS to Neve Ya’akov from 13/01/11 to 14/01/11 the stops at Strauss Street will not be served, starting from 15/01/11 buses on the route will not call at Strauss Street, 169 Jaffa Street and Makhane Yehuda Market
No. 25 from Neve Ya’akov to CBS: from 13/01/11 to 14/01/11 the stops at Strauss Street and 72 Jaffa Street will not be served, and starting from 15/01/11 buses on the route will not call at Yafo St. (aside from Central Bus Station) and Strauss Street.
No.30 from Mount Scopus to Gilo: the stop at 28 Jaffa Street will not be served
No.30 from Gilo to Mount Scopus: the stops at 26 Jaffa, 14 Shlomtsiyon ha-Malka, and 4 Yanai will not be served
No.39 from Atirot Mada to Bayt va-Gan: from 13/01/11 to 14/01/11, the stops at Strauss St. will not be served. The stops at Strauss Street, Yafo – Merkaz Klal and Makhane Yehuda Market will not be in use from 15/01/11
No.39 ? 39H from Bayt va-Gan to Atirot Mada: from 13/01/11 to 14/01/11, the stops at Strauss Street will not be served. Starting from 15/01/11, the bus stops at Yafo (including CBS and Binyanei ha-Uma) and Strauss St. will not be in use
No.40 from Ramot to Strauss St.: the stop at 9 Yeshayahu St. will not be served from 13/01/11
No.40 from Yeshyahu to Ramot: the stops at 20, 34 Strauss will not be in use from 13/01/11
No.45 ? 45H from CBS to Neve Ya’akov: from 13/01/11 to 14/01/11, the stops at Strauss St. will not be served. Starting from 15/01/11 buses on the route will not call at 169 Yafo, Makhane Yehuda Market and Strauss Street
No.45 from Neve Ya’akov to CBS: from 13/01/11 to 14/01/11, the stops at Strauss St and 72 Yafo will not be served. Starting from 15/01/11, the stops at Yafo (aside from CBS) and Strauss will not be served
Alternative No.49 from Neve Ya’akov to Talpiyot: buses on the route will not call at 28 Yafo
No.50 to Ramat Beit ha-Kerem (from 14/01/11): the stops at Yafo Street (aside from CBS) will not be served
No.56 from Ramat Shlomo to Strauss (from 13/01/11): the stop at 9 Yeshayahu will not be served
No.56 from Yeshayahu to Ramat Shlomo (from 13/01/11): the stops at 20, 34 Strauss will not be served
No.60 from Jaffa Gate to Har Nof: the stops at Yafo Street will not be served
No.60 from Har Nof to Jaffa Gate: the stops at 169 Yafo and Makhane Yehuda Market will not be served
No.66 from Pisgat Ze’ev to CBS: the stops at Yafo Street (aside from 210 Yafo and CBS) will not be served
No.74 ? 75 from Khomat Shmu’el to Har Nof: the stops at Yafo Street will not be served
No.120 from Ma’ale Adumim to Jerusalem: the stop at 24 Yafo will not be served

Friday 14th January 2011 News - Jaffa Road to close and Road 6 for Sale

Jaffa Road closes to traffic from today

After 150 years as Jerusalem's main thoroughfare Jaffa Road will close to all traffic (including buses) from today, between Mahane Yehuda Market and the Old City of Jerusalem.  Jaffa Road will now be pedestrianised and have the new tram running through it, with testing starting shortly ahead of the official launch in either April or August of this year.

Haaretz has an article looking forward to the new tram line.

Highway 6 Toll Road for Sale

The Government will be selling its 49% stake in the Highway 6 Toll Road.  The other owner is the operator of Highway 6 Derech Eretz Highways.  

During 2010 vehicle numbers increased by 18% on the toll road, reaching an average 135,000 vehicles a day.  There are now more than 1 million registered users of Highway 6.

Thursday 13th January 2011 Fast Lane reviews

The Jerusalem Post Editorial today criticises the new fast toll lane into Tel Aviv for being affordable and so causing further congestion on the previous existing lanes of Highway 1 as in parts the new toll lane has replaced one of the former free lanes.  However, the GreenProphet website puts a more positive spin on the lane saying that it reduces the journey along the 13km often from an hour down to 11 minutes.

What do you think of the new lane, leave your comment on the website.

Wednesday 12th January News on Speed Limits, Road 90 and bus policy

Road 90 into Eilat


The new dual carriageway between Eilat and Timna was opened today.   The 18km road was widened at a cost of 153 million shekels.  The 12km road between Timna and Hai Bar will open in July.

The road heading north from Hai Bar will have a tender published for its upgrade in February 2011 by the Israel National Roads Company.



Speed Limits


The Jerusalem Post has an opinion piece by Elihu Richter the former head of the Injury Prevention Centre at Hebrew University - Hadassah School of Public Health in which he criticises the new increased speed limits on major highways, arguing they will cause more road injures.

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Bus Passengers


Following the decision last week by the High Court to end the policy of women having to sit on the back of the bus on certain Egged bus routes there is an article at JewishWeek about the aftermath of this.  The Israel Religious Action Center will be travelling on routes where women have been separated to ensure that women are no longer forcibly segregated.

Tuesday 11 January 2011 News about a cheap airline and more on the fast lane

New Cheap Airline Planned for Israel

It has been reported in Ynet that a former employee of the low-cost airline EasyJet is planning to launch JetIsrael a new low cost airline out of Israel.

In other airline news El Al has launched a new option to check-in and choose a seat  via IPhone.


Tel Aviv Fast Lane Technology

The new dynamic toll lane into Tel Aviv is the first of its kind for using a dynamic toll system where the price of the lane varies based on the level of congestion according to Globes.

The technology designed by Siemens and enstalled by Orad Hi-Tech Systems is being used for the new fast lane by Shapir Engineering and is able to predict traffic volume, calculate demand and so determine a price to ensure that traffic on the lane is always able to flow properly.  The cost of the technology to set up and maintain the lane was 120 million Shekels.  The technology was installed by Orad Hi-Tech Systems Ltd
 
Siemens have worked on many other similar projects around the world such as the Stockholm road pricing scheme but the fast lane into Tel Aviv is a uniquie project.  While there are toll lanes in the USA, those lanes have a fixed price.
 
Vehicles using the fast lane are identified by a camera which passes the registration number to a back-office computer and cross-references the information with the Ministry of Transport database of registered vehicles.

Monday 10th January - News on the Fast Lane

Yesterday saw the first full use of the new toll lane into Tel Aviv and the Jerusalem Post reported that it was not a very popular way to travel into Tel Aviv.

The new 13km fast toll lane between Ben Gurion Airport and Tel Aviv has a capacity to service 1500 vehicles every hour, however during Sunday's morning rush to work only 900 vehicles used the lane while only a small amount of commuters used the new park and ride shuttle service. The first day of the new lane also appeared to cause greater than usual congestion on the remaining free lanes of  Highway 1.

Elsewhere the Jerusalem Post has an interesting editorial examining Israel's transport needs and difficulties following the opening of the new toll lane to Tel Aviv.  The editorial reviews how Israel has previously had a slow histroy at delivering transport infrastructure such as the proposed Jerusalem to Tel Aviv train line.

Israel's sexist bus policy banned

As reported elsewhere including in the Jerusalem Post and Haaretz the Supreme Court announced its decision regarding policy on 30 bus routes run by Egged, where women have been forced to enter and sit at the back of this bus.

Since the 1990s there have been an increasing number of routes within and between ultra-orthodox areas in Israel, where in order to keep the haredi market happy Egged has agreed to a policy on certain routes where women and girls are forced to enter and sit at the back of the bus.

The Israel Religious Action Center has petitioned against this policy and last week the Supreme Court announced that women would no longer be forced to enter and sit at the back of the bus if they do not want to.  The Court required the bus drivers to ensure this was the case together with Egged and the Transport Ministry who were order to have more inspectors to make sure women were not required to do something they do no want to do.

This was the correct decision.  We can not be living in a democracy where women are banned from sitting in certain places on the bus.  If the haredim want to ensure their modesty they can get on the bus in the same way as ultra-orthodox Jews do around the world on all forms of transport by themselves sitting or standing in a position on the bus where they can protect their modesty.  I hope that Egged and the Transport Ministry work together to ensure that the requirements of the Supreme Court are properly followed and do not again cave into pressure from the haredim.

Saturday 8th January News on Speed Limits increase and Rabbis call for better Road Safety

Speed Limits rise on Major Highways


Speed limits increased at the end of this on the major highways this week by 10 km/h.  The changes have been made on:
Road 1 between Latrun and the Road 6 interchange where the speed limit has now increase to 110km/h Road 2 where the speed limit has now increased to 100 km/h
Road 4 between Ashdod  and Rishon Lezion where the speed limit has now increase to 110km/h
Road 5 between Samaria Gate and the Heres interchange where the speed limit has now increase to 110km/h
Road 77 in the Galil where the speed limit has now increase to 100km/h
Road 431between Modiin and Rishon Lezion where the speed limit has now increase to 110km/h

Prayers for Road Safety


Ynet has reported that the Chief Rabbis office has written a prayer to be said after road safety accidents and a halachic document on how to drive correctly and safely.

The new Tel Aviv 'Fast Lane' explained

What is the Fast Lane?

There is a new lane on Highway 1 travelling into Tel Aviv between Ben Gurion Airport and the

Ayalon Highway (approximately 13 miles), which will open on 7 January 2011.  The purpose of the fast lane is to reduce the level of congestion and time it takes to travel  by car and bus into Tel Aviv.

Who can use the Fast Lane?

- Commuters who register to pay to use the fast lane.

- Commuters who wish to park their car at the interchange park & ride center and switch to a “shuttle bus” which will arrive to the Azrieli Center in Tel Aviv and the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange in Ramat Gan.  There will be no charge for the bus service which during the rush hour will arrive every five minutes. The buses will be operated by Dan’s subsidiary United Tours.

- Commuters who wish to pay at the interchange before using the fast lane.

- Vehicles with four or more people.

The following vehicles are not allowed to use the fast lane: non-motor vehicles, motorbikes with an engine less than 125cc, vehicles weighing more than 3.5 tonnes, tractors, side-cars, slow vehicles, and connected vehicles.

What is the cost of using the fast lane?

- There is no cost in order to register to use the fast lane.

- The cost of each trip will vary depending on the level of traffic at that time. 

- Multi-passenger vehicles will be exempt from payment.

- Motorcycle  riders will pay 50% of the price charged to other vehicles.

How is the cost of the trip calculated?

The cost of each trip will vary depending on the level of traffic at that time.  At busier times the cost will be higher.  This is in order to encourage more commuters to choose the public transport option when there is more congestion.  The price will therefore vary during the day and between days.

Signs are located approximately 1 km before the fast lane begins indicating the cost for the use of the fast lane at that time.

How do you register for the fast lane?

Registration can either be done by phoning *3633 or registering on the website.

How are vehicles identified?

Vehicles using the fast lane are identified by a camera which passes the registration number to a back-office computer and cross-references the information with the Ministry of Transport database of registered vehicles.
What happens to vehicles which use the fast lane that have not registered?

Vehicles will be charged an additional payment of compensation and reimbursement of expenses in addition to the normal charge. 

Who is managing the fast lane?

The fast lane was built and is being managed by Shapir Engineering Ltd.

The fees are being collected using a payment system designed Siemens.

Wednesday 5th January - Road Safety News

New Traffic Enforcement Reforms

The Ministerial Committee has approved new regulations to better penalise dangerous drivers. The new reforms include plans to introduce immediate arrest of drivers who commit sever traffic violations.  Before introduced legislation will be required.  The legislation could also see bad drivers suspended for up to 3 months for drunk-driving, dangerous overtaking,illegal crossing of railroad tracks, and reckless or aggressive driving.
Courts will also be required to deal with the most serious offences quickly within 1 month.   While there is also likely to be more speed cameras.

Sunday 2nd January 2011 News Brief

Gasoline Prices reach new  high

The price of petrol increased this week to a new high of 7.10 shekels (for self-service) for 95 octane fuel.

Israel has one of the highest  prices in the world for fuel, mostly due to the high level of tax (56% of the total cost).  The rising cost is due to a 20% increase in the tax - the second time in 18 months - and which is to be repeated in 2012. 

Israel's Train Infrastructure needs modernising

Globes have an opinion piece arguing that Israel's train company is against modernisation so that they do not have to reform itself and improve, a policy supported by the Transport Minister Israel Katz.

Haaretz meanwhile is reporting that following last week's fire, one-third of carriages will be inspected from today.  This will see cancellations in both directions between Hod Hasharon-Tel Aviv-Rishonim (Rishon Letzion ); Tel Aviv-Ramle-Beit Shemesh-Jerusalem; Be'er Sheva North-Dimona; Hof Hacarmel (Haifa )-Kiryat Motzkin. These are planned to be replaced by bus servicecs.


New Vehicle Emission Level's Announced

The Environmental Protection Ministry will be able to place stricter limits on emissions from motor vehicles from today in order to improve air quality.  The new law will allow the Ministry for the first time to set emission standards which vehicles will have to pass as part of the annual motor inspection tests.

Israel's main source of air pollution is currently from motor vehicles.

Saturday 1st January 2011

Road Deaths increase in 2010

Following a 5 year downward trend in  the number of deaths caused by road accidents in Israel, 2010 saw an increase in deaths.  In 2010 the  number of deaths increased by more than 30 to 380.

The Jerusalem Post reports that the road pressure group Or-Yarok  is blaming the increase on a reduced budget for the Traffic Police and National Road Safety Authority which has also been without a director-general  for 18 months,



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