Minister orders urgent discussion following train failures

Following traffic delays on Israel Railways, transportation minister calls for urgent discussions, urges expedited track construction.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
train 311 (photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
train 311
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
Following a morning of intense traffic delays on Israel Railways Wednesday, Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz called for urgent discussions to improve Israel's train system.
Wednesday's delays were the most recent of what Katz called "repeated failures" of the train system.
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In addition to calling the meeting for tomorrow morning and requesting a detailed report with proposals for solutions from Israel Railways, Katz emphasized the need to expedite construction of a second track between Tel Aviv and Beersheba.
Wednesday's delays were exacerbated by the fact that the train, broken down between Ashkelon and Rehovot, was stuck on a single track.
Another train originating from Beersheba briefly broke down in Kiryat Gat. Israel Railways has promised that some delayed passengers will be compensated for their delays, but did not specify which ones.
The train system has experienced near-daily incidents in recent weeks, despite a court blocking railway employees' recent attempts to strike.