Amid thousands of complaints filed against Citypass, the now unpopular operator of the Jerusalem light rail, the company announced that anyone whose smart card does not register payment due to code discrepancies will not be fined as has been the policy to date.

It is difficult for one to ascertain just where the system has failed, since both Egged and Citypass blame the other, but what is important to understand is that according to a HaMevaser report, one transferring from a bus to the train no longer has to fear the train payment mechanism will not recognize the bus transfer and result in a 180 NIS fine.

Some feel that when the card is filled, the process of adding funds changes the card’s code and renders it incompatible with the train. Ironically, it was Citypass that issued the cards, which are now a source of conflict and turmoil for commuters.

Citypass announced that beginning on Sunday, 26 Shevat, inspectors have been instructed not to issue fines for such violations. The commuter will receive a warning. The train operator also decided to cancel fines already issued, the HaMevaser report adds.

Those wishing to ‘correct’ the situation must report to the Citypass office opposite the Jerusalem Central Bus station where the code can be modified to work for both buses and the light rail Citypass reports.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)