For ABC Wednesday F is for fine.
And for failure, franchise, and frequency.
Israel's Transportation Ministry is fining Citypass for failure to meet the franchise conditions:
the frequency of the trams is too low, the hardly-working ticket machines are still frustrating and enfuriating, and average travel time is 20% longer that originally planned.
CityPass, the private consortium that won a 30-year contract to build and run Jerusalem's light rail system, has had two years of operating the new trams.
But they just can't seem to get it right, and now they will have to pay the State a million shekel fine (about $280,000), according to today's report by Army radio.
Feh. F is for "This is a fine kettle of fish," that funny old English idiom meaning a troublesome situation, a vexing problem.
I can honestly say the tram and all the eight years of its construction (and tearing up the main roads) are not something that I miss after moving away from Jerusalem.
.
It seems that the Light Rail in our area has gone through some of the same growing pains.
ReplyDeleteThat is a huge Fine to have to pay for not delivering what was promised.
I wish the FAILURES of some of the sysytems in the US led to hefty FINES!
ReplyDeleteROG, ABC Wednesday team
I often use the expression fine kettle of fish. Good post for F. Carver, ABC Wed. Team
ReplyDeleteIt is such a shame that the consortium couldn't get it together but good for the ministry to make them pay. Apparently, the project was way over their head.
ReplyDeleteThe ones here in Manchester are not much better - fine most of the time but full of frustration when the least little bit goes wrong.
ReplyDeleteGood post. Long waits and trams often crowded here... But now luckily the situation seems to improve.
ReplyDeleteUh oh... Hawaii is trying to get our light rail started. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it works out. We need something to alleviate our traffic situation.
ReplyDeleteAn interesting story. Sadly a recurring one.
ReplyDeleteWe have also problems with our public transport. The Dutch and Belgian governments had ordered a number of trains in Italy. When the trains arrived they looked wonderful, equipped with the latest novelties, but when they were tried out, there were a lot of defects. The engines were deficient among other things.Both governments want to get back all the money they spent on the trains.
ReplyDeleteGood subject Dina!
Wil, ABCW Team.
Yikes, that's a lot of money for a mistake. Sheesh. We don't have trains here, the city is much too small. We are lucky to have 3 or 4 buses to come around to bring folks around but really, things around here are so compacted, you can practically walk from store to the next. HUGS
ReplyDeletePublic transport is a mess all around the world, here even more, but I do love your trams!
ReplyDeleteAnyway, the tram is beautiful...
ReplyDeleteFEH is right!
ReplyDelete