The first line of the Tel Aviv light rail is finally set to open on August 18 after years of delays, the Israeli Transport Ministry announced on Friday.
The coastal cities of Bat Yam, which is located just south of Tel Aviv, and Petach Tikvah, which is located east of Tel Aviv, are connected by the 24-kilometer (15-mile) Red Line, which has received all necessary safety clearances.
The almost NIS 19 billion ($5 billion) project, whose launch was first planned for almost two years ago, was frequently delayed by errors, including those in its signaling and emergency braking.
The line, which has 33 stations, extends in both directions from Bat Yam to Petach Tikvah through Jaffa, Tel Aviv, Bnei Brak, and Ramat Gan.
A tunnel beneath the road is used for around half of the journey. Although the length of the grace period is still up for debate, it is planned that the Red Line will launch with a period of free rides.
With the spring national and Muslim holidays adding to the delays, the train has been running test runs without passengers for months, aggravating Tel Aviv residents who frequently see it pass by while they are delayed in traffic.
When Prime Minister Golda Meir originally proposed the notion of a metro line for Tel Aviv fifty years ago, the first tender for the train line was published. After similar delays, the Red Line, the first line of the Jerusalem light rail, opened in 2011.
It has developed into a distinctive element of the capital city and is utilized by both locals and visitors who are Jewish, Muslim, and Christian. There are several other lines being considered.
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