After six years of work, the first practice run of the Red Line light rail was launched between Petah Tikva and Bat Yam, about a 24-kilometer stretch. The midnight run was operated by the Metropolitan Mass Transit System, or NTA, and covered by a large crew of police officers who ensured the public didn’t approach while communication, electricity, signaling, and safety systems were being tested.
The light rail is scheduled to become fully operational in November 2022, though has already experienced a series of delays. The Red Line is the first main intercity line to be complete, and will also be followed by the Green and Purple Lines. The Red Line will navigate through 34 stops, 10 of which are underground, and will run every 3.5 minutes. Each train can hold about 500 passengers.
Of the test run, Haim Glick, CEO of the NTA, said “we still have a lot of systems coordination work ahead, but this is a historic day.”
