Train services will be back in operation gradually on May 16th

The Ministry of Transport announced that the train will be back in operation gradually on May 16. This is after a week ago, the Israel Railways submitted to the Ministry of Transport proposals for a return plan, in accordance with the Ministry of Health's guidelines.
Disabling rail operations must have both advantages and disadvantages for the company. On the one hand, many long-delayed infrastructure jobs have been given the opportunity to accelerate. On the other hand, most of the railroad's revenues come from the passenger sector - and in their absence, revenues have also fallen.
Amir Asraf, head of the public transport authority, "The number of arrivals can be restricted at the entrance to the train station, but once passengers rise and fall at the stations, it is difficult to control the number of passengers." He says the main challenge now is reducing the number of passengers in cars and waiting on docks; Alongside a shortage of fleet cars and rails that also exists in the routine. The Ministry of Transport has no estimates of demand forecasts due to the changing reality every week, and many questions are rising at this point about the public's willingness to use trains as a means of mobility as long as the Corona crisis is not over.
Among the solutions being considered to prevent overcrowding in carriages is the expansion of the possibility of reserving pre-booked places, as was the case until the closure of the Corona trains, in the reserved trailer model. The online purchase mechanism already exists and implementation of the move should not be complex.
Railway management hopes that keeping the distance in the cars will naturally be done out of public awareness and concern, as happened at the beginning of the Corona period before its operations ceased - then empty trains were observed and travel volumes dropped to 15% compared to a normal day. However, it is clear to the professionals that this script cannot be relied upon. Strengthening the need for regulation can be seen in the buses that were in some places in Israel, such as Bnei Brak, before restrictions were placed on the number of passengers. Contrary to bus seating arrangements, the train carriages have a seating structure of four-seater quarters - allowing one passenger to sit in each quartet. This option appears to be a favorite among decision makers.