Israel Speaks
In August 2011 Jerusalem made history when the first light train
began operating in the city.
After over 10 years of construction and a few months of trial use
passengers could finally board the trains.
The building of the tramway has changed the face of the city, -
particularly, in the important traffic route, Jaffa street, cutting through
the entire new city.
Nadav Meroz is responsible for the city's traffic planning.
He leads the tramway project as well as other projects
improving the city's traffic arrangements.
Jaffa street was one of the city's busiest streets before becoming
the main route of the light train.
In addition to launching the tram traffic, the project also includes
other changes in the city's traffic arrangements.
- How is your experience so far?
You still have to find a parking spa- ce in order to get to the trainstop.
In the morning it's nice, because there are less people.
The traffic lights slow it down a little bit.
All in all it's a nice experience and I'm glad I did it.
The train is nice, it creates a different kind of atmosphere.
There has never been anything like it.
We enjoy travelling without traffic jams. It's nice.
We have never had anything like it.
The buses were always full and now the train can take on more people.
If there are less people on the buses, it will be easier.
When there will be a wave of green traffic lights, it will be very good
and it can take on almost 500 people every time.
The center will bustle and the businesses will flourish.
The train saved the city and its infrastructure.
Earlier it looked old and in poor condition, -
but now there is strength.
I've used the train a few times. I think it's an amazing
method of transportation. It could move a little bit faster, though.
- Why did we need it?
It's a quiet, user-friendly and green method of transportation.
It made the Jaffa street a wonderful place.
You cannot even hear the train.
- That's true. Thank you.
The building of the tramway took more than 10 years.
During all that time the residents of the city suffered from the noise
and dirt caused by the construction.
Many of the businesses on Jaffa st. also suffered financial losses.
Even though the train has begun operating, the people of Jerusalem
will not immediately forget the difficult years prior to that.
I have worked in this kiosk for 50 years in the same place.
We had a very bad situation.
Already for 5 years the construction has spoiled everything from us.
There is not much work, because people don't come here
or move here.
The train began operating only 2 weeks ago, although we waited for years.
There is no work.
There is no work. We waited for the train, but the situation is the same.
Nothing much has changed.
The trains are full, because it's free and families take trips on it.
We don't benefit from it. The streets are empty.
Four businesses closed down.
I don't know what will happen eventually.
We are waiting.
We have waited already for 11 years. We suffer and wait.
It took a long time and was nerve-racking, but we overcame it.
We waited for the train to start operating and, thank God, it did.
It wasn't nice, but in Jerusalem we're used to suffering from many things.
If it's not the train then it's some- thing else. We are people who suffer.
- We had a few difficult years.
We felt sorry for this area.
Now it's very nice to walk here in the evening. It feels like a real
street happening with cafés and tourists.
But I wonder if the losses will ever be compensated for.
The train route also passes via the new bridge.
The bridge resembling a harp was finished in 2008
at the Western entrance to Jerusalem.
It was designed by a Spanish architect named Santiago Calatrava.
Bridges and buildings designed by him can be found, for instance, in
Barcelona, Athens and New York.
In Jerusalem special attention must be paid to the passengers' safety.
Several terror attacks have taken place in the city's buses.
Hence, they must also prepare for the trains becoming terror targets.
It's a problem, but we have to overcome it.
We have to add security guards and hope for the best.
If it was dangerous on the buses, it's even worse on the trains.
If a terrorist gets on a train, we are in great danger.
We have to find a solution for it.
- Are you optimistic anyway? - Yes, I hope only for peace.
The train traffic is the first phase in a 3-stage plan revolutionizing
the city's traffic arrangements.
Translation: Sonja Mattayev