Israel to hold a Road Pricing Experiment

The Transport Ministry and Finance Ministry in Israel yesterday announced that they will hold an experiment to examine the impact of road pricing on drivers.

A tender to find the company responsible for holding the road pricing experiment will be conducted by Derech Eretz.

The experiment will see 1200 drivers  volunteer to have their driving habits monitored, including the time and distance travelled, when journeys take place and where.  Each driver will be given $500 per year for participation to participate and will be charged for the journeys based on when, where and how far they travel.  The aim of the experiment is to see whether the cost of a journey impacts on a driver's behaviour on where and when to drive. 

The experiment could possibly lead to road charging schemes in order to reduce congestion levels in Israel.

Public Transport to be hit by General Strike in Israel on Monday and A BBC report on the Jerusalem Light Rail

A BBC report on the Jerusalem Light Rail

BBC - Jerusalem Light Rail

The BBC has a positive report on the Jerusalem Light Rail and how it benefits the whole population of Jerusalem  both Israeli's and Arabs.


Public Transport to be hit by General Strike in Israel on Monday


The General Strike by the National Union tomorrow in Israel could affect all public transport in Israel.  The strike is being held to campaign for better rights for contract workers in Israel.

Rav Kav Smart Card have replaced bus tickets

As previously reported by israeltransport.blogspot.com Egged buses in Israel this week officially replaced the former multi travel 'Kartisiya' and monthly 'Hofshi Hodshi' paper tickets with their new Rav Kav Smart Cards.

As of this week all bus journeys will have to be paid for as a single ticket or using the Rav Kav Smart Card for either multiple journeys or season tickets. Although existing multi travel 'Kartisiya' tickets will be accepted until the end of 2011.

The Rav Kav Smart Card can be received for free at the following places:

- Jerusalem Central Bus Station (opposite platform 22) Sunday to Thursday 7am to 10pm and Friday 7am to 1pm.
- Jerusalem Rav Shefa Mall 2nd Floor , Sunday to Thursday 2pm to 9pm
- Givat Masua Egged Terminal, Sunday to Thursday 7am to 7pm and Friday 7pm to 1pm
-CityPass Light Rail Service Stations

Rav Kav Cards can also be received from:

South & Center
Tel Aviv CBS - Ticket Office (6th floor)	Sun - Thu 07:00- 19:00 | Fri 07:00 - 13:00
Kfar Saba CBS - Ticket Office	Sun - Thu 07:00- 19:00 | Fri 07:00 - 13:00
Holon, 4 Weizman St	Sun - Thu 07:00- 19:00 | Fri 07:00 - 13:00
Holon,  Dar Gat Mall	Sun - Thu 08:00- 17:00 | Fri 08:00 - 13:00
Rishon le-Tsiyon, the old CBS - 63 Herzl St	Sun - Thu 07:00- 19:00 | Fri 07:00 - 13:00
Rishon le-Tsiyon, the new CBS	Sun - Thu 07:00- 19:00 | Fri 07:00 - 13:00
Rehovot CBS	Sun - Thu 08:00- 17:00 | Fri 08:00 - 13:00
Haifa & South
Haifa Merkazit Hof ha-Karmel	Sun - Thu 07:00- 19:00 | Fri 07:00 - 13:00
Haifa Merkazit ha-Mifratz	Sun - Thu 07:00- 19:00 | Fri 07:00 - 13:00
Haifa, 8 Hasan Shuqri Str	Sun - Thu 08:00- 17:00 | Fri 08:00 - 13:00
Haifa, The University of Haifa	Sun - Thu 08:00- 16:00
Karmi'el Terminal	Sun - Thu 07:00- 19:00 | Fri 07:00 - 13:00
Kiryat Hayim - "Ha-Tzrif" Junction	Sun - Thu 07:00- 19:00 | Fri 07:00 - 13:00
Kiryat Shmona CBS	Sun - Thu 08:00- 17:00 | Fri 08:00 - 13:00
Kiryat Shmona, Tel Khai College	Sun - Thu 08:00- 16:00

Once received multi-use tickets and season tickets can be charged to the Rav Kav Smart Card by bus drivers.

Jerusalem to Tel Aviv Railway - Construction Continues

The Transport Ministry in Israel has provided an updated on the progress being made on the development of Jerusalem's future Inter-City Train Station.  As the work continues an 80 meter underground shaft has been dug.

In addition work will  begin in 2 months on the construction of an 11.5 km underground tunnel after two international mining machines have arrived in Israel.

Video explanation of the building of the tunnels in Jerusalem for the new Jerusalem to Tel Aviv Railway - Israel National News

The new intercity railway which will see 30 minute train journeys between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem has been a priority of the Transport Minister, Israel Katz.

The railway line which will be 56 miles in will include 5 tunnels and 10 bridges, will cost $7 billion to construct and is expected to be completed by 2017.

Car Drivers are Reminded to turn on their lights

Car drivers in Israel are reminded to use their external lights at all times of the day when travelling on intercity roads during the winter months until 31 March 2011.

The fine for driving without lights on is 100 dollars plus two penalty points.

Timetable Changes on Israel's Railways in November and Jerusalem Light Rail - A review

Timetable Changes on Israel's Railways in November


Israel Railways have announced the following cancellations to routes during November.

The Akko to Nahariyya Line will be closed between 1 November and 18 November and replaced with a free bus shuttle.


On Friday 4 November there will be no service between Haifa and Nahariyya with regular bus services being available instead.


Between 7 November and 20 December there will be no services between Rishon Le Zion and Lod to be replaced by a shuttle bus.





Jerusalem Light Rail - A review
Oren Hirsch the creator of the unofficial Jerusalem Bus Map has published an optimistic review of the initial months of the Jerusalem Light Rail.

El AL to charge $70 for second suitcase, Airport Crash Averted at Ben Gurion Airport, A view on the Jerusalem Light Rail

El AL to charge $70 for second suitcase 

El Al have announced have announced that from 1 November 2011 they will started charging $70 for the second suitcase checked in for economy seat/coach passengers on flights to and from Israel.

Airport Crash Averted at Ben Gurion Airport

Air Traffic controllers at Ben Gurion Airport narrolwy avoided a crash on Monday betwen an Israir plane and and Ukrainian aircraft.  Both pilots thought they had been given permission to head to the runway to begin take-off at the same time, before airline controllers realised the mistake an ensured an orderly take-off.


Flight safety issuers have previously been a concern at Ben Gurion Airport and the airport safety status for Ben Gurion Airport was downgraded last year.

A view on the Jerusalem Light Rail


The Jerusalem Post today has a column on the new light rail and how it is working well.  What do you think?