Jerusalem Light Rail: Difference between revisions

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As part of the light rail project, CityPass is developing a number of sites along the route, including [[Davidka|Davidka Square]].
As part of the light rail project, CityPass is developing a number of sites along the route, including [[Davidka|Davidka Square]].


In late 2009, the planting of trees began along the line. In 2010, 3,500 trees will be planted along 14&nbsp;km of track, out of 3,800 originally planned. The genera include [[platanus]], [[Fraxinus|ash]] and types of [[oak]].<ref name="haaretz-trees">{{cite web|title=There is No Light Rail Yet, but 3,500 Trees Have Already Been Planted Along its Route|url=http://www.haaretz.co.il/hasite/spages/1117011.html|publisher=[[Haaretz]]|author=Hasson, Nissan|date=September 25, 2009|accessdate=2009-09-25}} {{he icon}}</ref>
In late 2009, the planting of trees began along the line. The species selected were deemed suitable to the Jerusalem climate, hardy enough to withstand the capital's cold winters while providing shade in summer. In 2010, 3,500 trees will be planted along 14&nbsp;km of track, out of 3,800 originally planned. The genera include [[platanus]], [[Fraxinus|ash]] and types of [[oak]].<ref name="haaretz-trees">{{cite web|title=There is No Light Rail Yet, but 3,500 Trees Have Already Been Planted Along its Route|url=http://www.haaretz.co.il/hasite/spages/1117011.html|publisher=[[Haaretz]]|author=Hasson, Nissan|date=September 25, 2009|accessdate=2009-09-25}} {{he icon}}</ref>


===Plans and extensions after the Red Line===
===Plans and extensions after the Red Line===

Revision as of 06:46, 3 November 2009

Mural on Jaffa Road imagining downtown Jerusalem when the light rail system becomes operative

The Jerusalem Light Rail project consists of one, and at a later stage, multiple light rail lines to provide rapid public transport in Jerusalem.

Construction

The Red Line under construction on Herzl Blvd.

Light rail was promoted in the 1990s as a means of providing faster and less polluting public transit through the heart of the city, as well as reversing the decline of certain central areas. CityPass, a specially formed consortium, won a 30-year concession to build and operate Line 1 (the "Red Line"). CityPass consists of financiers Polar Investments (27.5%) and Harel (20%), constructors Ashtrom (27.5%) and engineers Alstom (20%), plus service operators Connex – later Veolia Transport (5%).[1]

Construction of Line 1 began in April 2006, and is scheduled for completion in 2011. Line 1 is planned to have 23 stations on a new 1,435 mm gauge twin-track 13.8 km alignment.[1] It is planned to run from Pisgat Ze'ev in the northeast, south along Road 1 (intercity) to Jaffa Road (Rehov Yaffo). From there, it is planned to run along Jaffa Road westward to the Jerusalem Central Bus Station, and continue to the southwest, crossing the Chords Bridge along Herzl Boulevard to the Beit HaKerem neighborhood.[2] The first test run for this route is planned for November 2009.[3]

Additional development along the route

As part of the light rail project, CityPass is developing a number of sites along the route, including Davidka Square.

In late 2009, the planting of trees began along the line. The species selected were deemed suitable to the Jerusalem climate, hardy enough to withstand the capital's cold winters while providing shade in summer. In 2010, 3,500 trees will be planted along 14 km of track, out of 3,800 originally planned. The genera include platanus, ash and types of oak.[4]

Plans and extensions after the Red Line

Initial extensions to the first line were planned to the neighborhoods of Neve Ya'akov and Ein Kerem (nearby Hadassah Hospital), and former mayor Uri Lupoliansky stated that they would be completed at the same time as the rest of the line. However, in March 2009, CityPass announced that it would not be interested in working on the extensions.[5]

Operation

The French-based company Veolia Transport, which held 5% of CityPass's shares, was originally meant to operate the light rail. However, due to pressure from pro-Palestinian groups, Veolia sold its share in the project in September 2009 to the Dan Bus Company for $15–20 million.[6]

Rolling stock

Alstom train for use in the light rail

Initial rolling stock are to be 46 Citadis 302 100% low-floor five-module units manufactured at Alstom's Aytré factory. The first car was delivered via the Port of Ashdod in September 2007. All axles are driven to handle up to 9% inclines. The maintenance and storage depot for the whole fleet is to be located on a 10-acre site near French Hill in the north of Jerusalem. The route and vehicles are to be monitored from the control center, and trams are to be driven under line of sight principles, with built-in priority at road intersections. The fare collection and ticketing system is to be supplied by Affiliated Computer Services.[1]

Criticism

The project has aroused criticism because the route passes through territories captured by Israel in the Six-Day War.[7] In consequence, a Dutch bank divested from Veolia Environnement, one of the French companies hired to build and operate the rail system.[8] Both Veolia and Alstom are facing possible legal action in the French courts.[9][10]

The project has also been criticized for increasing air pollution in Jerusalem.[11] Nir Barkat, mayor of Jerusalem, was critical of the traffic jams caused by construction and told Yair Naveh, CEO of CityPass, that "The process isn't being managed, you can't stop a city. This is intolerable".[12] In March, he said he proposed to cancel the project after the first two lines are completed, and told the San Francisco Chronicle that he wants to replace the rest of the planned rail network with buses.[13]

Archeological findings

While tracks for the light rail were being built in Shuafat, the remains of an ancient Roman-Jewish settlement were discovered. The settlement was described as a "sophisticated community impeccably planned by the Roman authorities, with orderly rows of houses and two fine public bathhouses to the north."[14]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Jerusalem Light Rail Project". Railway Technology. Retrieved 2008-11-22.
  2. ^ "Settlers condemn and strongly oppose Jerusalem light train project". Entrepreneur.com. 2007-05-03. Retrieved 2009-03-06.
  3. ^ Prosmoshkin, Michael (October 28, 2009). "Finance Committee: Light Rail in Jerusalem will Start Operation on September 8, 2010". Local Jerusalem. Retrieved 2009-10-29. Template:He icon
  4. ^ Hasson, Nissan (September 25, 2009). "There is No Light Rail Yet, but 3,500 Trees Have Already Been Planted Along its Route". Haaretz. Retrieved 2009-09-25. Template:He icon
  5. ^ Bar-Gil, Doron (March 8, 2009). "CityPass Canceled Light Rail Works in Neve Ya'akov and Ein Kerem". nrg Maariv. Retrieved 2009-03-10. Template:He icon
  6. ^ Baron, Lior (September 13, 2009). "As Published in Globes: Dan will Operation Light Rail in Jerusalem". Globes. Retrieved 2009-09-16. Template:He icon
  7. ^ Kershner, Isabel (June 5, 2007). "Jerusalem Light Rail Raises Questions about the Divided City". International Herald Tribune. Retrieved 2009-01-23.
  8. ^ Rapoport, Meron (December 6, 2006). "Dutch Bank Divests Holdings in J'lem Light Rail, Cites Settlements". Haaretz. Retrieved 2009-01-23.
  9. ^ McCarthy, Rory and Chrisafis, Angelique (October 26, 2007). "PLO Disputes Jerusalem Rail Plan". The Guardian. Retrieved 2009-01-23.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ In Jerusalem, Arabs and Jews Finally Agree ... (Wall Street Journal)
  11. ^ Ben Nun, Gil (2008-02-26). "Jerusalem 2008 Style: Mountain Air Full of Dust". Jerusalem Mid-week edition. Yedioth Ahronoth. p. 4.
  12. ^ Hasson, Nir (2009-01-15). "New Jerusalem mayor slams light rail project after trudging through capital". Haaretz. Retrieved 2009-03-06.
  13. ^ Kalman, Matthew (2009-03-29). "Barkat may stop J'lem light rail project". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2009-03-30.
  14. ^ Kerhsner, Isabel (June 5, 2007). "Under a Divided City, Evidence of a Once United One". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-01-23.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jerusalem_Light_Rail&oldid=323641811"