Egged officials announce they have completed preparations for the upcoming Tishrei yomim tovim. Officials explain they use the data from the previous year as a guideline, adding a certain amount based on experience which shows the number of travelers grow with each passing year. Motor Transport Division Chief Amir Keinan explains “despite Egged downsizing its fleet, we are going to do everything possible to provide reasonable service”.

Egged will begin holiday scheduling beginning with motzei Shabbos Netzavim Vayelech, coinciding with the beginning of slichos for Ashkenazim. The increased service will concentrate in areas where chassidic courts are located and yeshivos in Bnei Brak, Yerushalayim and Netanya. Service on many lines will begin an hour earlier on Sunday morning to accommodate travelers wishing to attend slichos.

On Wednesday erev Rosh Hashanah, service on lines in chareidi areas nationwide will be increased in all directions with an emphasis placed on service from Yerushalayim to Bnei Brak. On motzei Shabbos and yomtov the 402 line will offer express departures.

Kosel lines will be increased during the days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. A special focus will be placed on Thursday 8 Tishrei for hataras nedarim and slichos at the Kosel during the nighttime hours. Bus service will be halted on erev Yom Kippur between 13:00-14:00 on urban lines and on intra-city lines, service will halt between 14:00-15:00. Bus service to the Kosel will also be significantly increased on erev Yom Kippur. Local bus lines will resume on motzei Yom Kippur at 21:00. Kosel lines will begin earlier. Intra-city lines will begin at 21:30.

Bus lines on all intra-city lines will be increased during Sukkos, including during nighttime hours. Local lines in Yerushalayim during chol hamoed will continue until 01:00. The 1 and 3 lines to the Kosel will run until midnight to the Kosel and until 01:00 from the Kosel. On Hashanah Raba night bus service to the Kosel will continue throughout the night.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)