Egged recently began operating three new mehadrin
lines in Jerusalem, Line 54 from Neveh Yaakov to Center 1,
Line 56 from Ramat Shlomo to Rechov Strauss and Line 40 Alef,
which continues the route as far as Kever Shmuel Hanovi. The
new mehadrin lines join Line 40 from Ramot, currently
in operation for three months, and Line 1 Alef to the Kosel
Maarovi. Meanwhile the route for Line 40 Alef has been
lengthened and now reaches Kever Shmuel Hanovi several times
per day. This is the first time Egged has operated daily
service to that site.
The rabbonim of Neveh Yaakov and Ramat Shlomo issued a call
to residents to patronize these lines in order to ensure
their success. "Observing the limits of kedushoh and
expanding the bounds of taharoh increases the glory of
Heaven and the Divine Presence, thereby strengthening [our]
protection against harm or tragedy, Hashem yeracheim,"
the rabbonim wrote.
Yossi Chachkes, director of Egged's Jerusalem operations,
says the intra-urban mehadrin lines are meant to
accommodate the chareidi public which views them as an
improvement in service. Egged will evaluate the lines'
operation and the demand created, in designing the public
transportation map in chareidi neighborhoods.
Guidelines for the mehadrin lines are based on the
opinions of neighborhood rabbonim and mehadrin
activists, in cooperation with Egged. Men board via the front
door and sit in the forward section. Near the back door is an
automatic ticket puncher for women boarding. The radio does
not play on these lines.
Before the lines went into operation Egged issued a "traffic
circular" to all of the drivers on these lines to clarify the
operating guidelines for mehadrin lines.
The locations of the bus stops, and the schedules, were
planned painstakingly in meetings held between Egged managers
and neighborhood representatives.
Line 56 from Ramat Shlomo replaces a mehadrin line run
in recent months by Darkeinu, a private initiative. Along
with the mehadrin lines and for the convenience of
residents, the lines in operation until now, Lines 10 and 11
in Ramat Shlomo and Lines 25 and 25 Alef in Neveh Yaakov
East, will also continue to operate.
Sponsored by Vaad Hachinuch Haolami, Darkeinu, which ran the
mehadrin line in Ramat Shlomo, circulated a letter
blessing Egged managers for success in operating the
mehadrin line in Ramat Shlomo. The Neveh Yaakov East
Neighborhood Committee and members of the Transportation
Committee distributed a detailed information sheet to
neighborhood residents. The special sheet includes a note of
appreciation to Egged's Jerusalem Manager Yossi Chachkes,
Traffic Department Manager Ronen Chalifa and the members of
the advisory committee.
