The number of bus travelers rose 6.5% and the number of train travelers by 15.2%.
The number of passengers on public transportation in Israel rose 7.2% in the first eight months of 2016, according to figures published by the Ministry of Transport Public Transport Department: the number of those traveling on buses was up 6.5%, and the number of those traveling on the railways rose 15.2%. There were 487 million bus trips and 41 million train trips.
The number of those using public transportation shot up 10.1% in August, compared with August 2015. Minister of Transport Yisrael Katz said that the figures were very significant for the economy, because according to the Trajtenberg Report, a 1% rise in the number of travelers on public transportation saves the economy NIS 400 million.
Katz argued that the public transportation price reform launched early this year at a cost of NIS 200 million was the main factor in increasing the number of passengers. He added that other factors in the growth of public transportation were the initiation of new routes, greater frequency on existing routes, the possibility of entering buses from the rear on many routes, and technological improvements that made public transportation easier and more comfortable.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on October 5, 2016
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