Passengers getting of train to walk on tracks
Trains go on sudden strike
Tens of thousands of passengers forced to make their own way after Israel Railway workers shut down signaling system, stopping trains for over an hour
Without giving any prior notice, Israel Railways workers shut down the trains' central signaling system, leaving tens of thousands of furious passengers stranded Monday morning.
Previous strike
Eli Senyor
Despite end of strike, flights out of Ben Gurion resumed only at 11 a.m.; airport officials not sure why. Citizens also complain about train delays
Passengers from across the country reported to Ynet that they were told that the trains would stop until further notice, due to a malfunction.
Many passengers, who had been sitting in trains for several minutes, were asked to get out of the train and had to walk on the tracks as the train pulled away.
After over an hour of disruptions, Israel Railways administration announced that the system was restored and that trains would slowly recommence operation. The company said it would compensate passengers
for any damage caused.
The railway management claimed that the workers committee went on strike in protest at the company's planned structural personnel changes.
The management said that the committee was using aggressive tactics and it offered its apologies to the public who suffered.
"They let people on the trains and then suddenly announced that there was a mishap in the signaling system. The person who announced that also accidentally said that there was a strike," said Ronny Sagra, one of the upset passengers.
Saying that passengers were not offered any alternative after being forced off of the trains, Sagra said, "We were just sent to the street to look for a solution."
"Every time damage is caused, they apologize, but when the damage keeps happening, the apologies become meaningless, and when it happens on purpose, it's even more infuriating," he added.
Angrily saying that this tardiness would cost him some NIS 200 ($50), Sagra added that "they treat us like hostages."
Another passenger, Omri Hauser, said that people got off the trains and had to walk on the tracks.
"People were shouting," he said, "We had to walk on the tracks for about one kilometer (0.6 miles) to reach a place where we could find public transportation. There are business people here who are losing lots of money, people on the way to the airport, they cannot just stop the country, without even notifying in advance."
Moran Rada contributed to this report
