Israel Railways: due to the workers' sanctions, the opening of the direct train line between Modi'in and Jerusalem is delayed

Israel Railways informed the Tel Aviv Regional Labor Court that due to the workers' sanctions, the opening of the direct train line between Modi'in and Jerusalem (Keshet Modi'in), which was planned for the end of the year, will be postponed for three months.
About five years ago, the cornerstone was laid for a project that is supposed to connect Modiin to the direct line between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. The journey from Modi'in to Jerusalem on the new line is expected to take only 17 minutes.
The opening of the line was originally planned for the summer of 2021, but due to the reinforcement of works following the Corona crisis, it was reported to open in early 2021. Now the train hopes that in March 2022 Modiin residents will be able to reach Jerusalem by direct and electric train.
The postponement of the Keshet Modiin project joins the postponement of the Keshet Hasharon project - which is supposed to connect the passengers between Bnei Brak, Petah Tikva, Rosh HaAyin, Kfar Saba, Hod Hasharon, Raanana and Ashkelon by electric train. The track was also to be inaugurated in a week and a half, and its opening was postponed to an unknown date.
The Railway Workers' Committee has declared a labor dispute claiming that railway workers are affected by the transition from the slow and polluting diesel trains, to the faster and more environmentally friendly electric trains. New electric trains have recently arrived in Israel, but it is impossible to operate them without the cooperation of the workers.
"The electrification project is of national importance, with a total cost of about NIS 12 billion," the railway management claims in its appeal to the court. "The non-opening of the electric lines directly leads to unnecessary suffering for the citizens of Israel - who are forced in vain to stand in traffic jams on the roads in the Sharon area to Ashkelon. It should be emphasized that there is no diesel equipment with which this service can be maintained."
The workers' committee informed the court that "management wants to cancel the operation of diesel systems and operate electric trains that will affect the premium and wages of workers who operate diesel trains. As a direct result of promoting the electrification project, more than 1,000 workers are financially injured .
"This is a critical injury of an average of at least NIS 800 per employee per month, and in some cases even reaches NIS 4,000 per month (not including implications for additional social rights)."
The committee also claims that diesel cars can be operated on all lines, instead of electric cars. "Failure to open the electric line at the time the train planned for itself does not cause any damage to passengers. In order to operate the line, management seeks to cancel the operation of diesel systems that exist in abundance today to meet all tasks, and operate electric trains that will hurt premiums and pay workers.
In addition, the committee claims that due to the works to electrify the tracks, freight trains are not operated from Wednesday noon to Sunday morning, and this causes damage to the premium of freight train drivers and their assistants.