According to the analysis document, which was signed by Udi Kaplansky, VP of Operations and Service at NTA, the update of the operation plan will require substantial changes that will lead to the fact that the initial operation of the service on Shabbat can only take place in about a year. This means that if Michali does not continue in her position and does not serve as the Minister of Transportation in the next government, regardless of who heads it, any minister who replaces her will be able to reverse the decision. Also, the fact that an annual budget increase of approximately NIS 70 million is required means that this is a step that requires an orderly budget transfer in the government and therefore it will not be possible to carry it out in a transitional government.
The light rail operating plan on weekends will include a sparser service than on other days of the week. The line that will be operated is the S1 line that connects Petah Tikva and Bat Yam, and it will operate with a variable frequency of between 6 and 10 trains per hour in each direction. The red light rail line connects Petah Tikva in the north to Bat Yam in the south and passes through Bnei Brak, Ramat Gan and Tel Aviv. The length of the line is 24 km, and the cost of its construction is about NIS 18.7 billion.
Despite the high costs, some hold the opinion that operating the light rail on Shabbat will actually lead to financial savings for the economy. In a study prepared by the accounting firm BDO for the Free Israel Association, it was found that non-operation of all future light rail services in Tel Aviv (the red, green and purple lines) on Shabbat would cost the economy NIS 880 million per year.
According to the study, the operation of the three light rail lines on Shabbat will lead to a reduction in the cost of approximately 9,500 private vehicles, which will result in the removal from the road of approximately 16.5 million trips per year by private vehicles and taxis, to reduce air pollution, traffic accidents and road congestion.