Dozens of trains canceled as 35 drivers call in ‘sick’ for 2nd day

Dozens of trains were canceled Monday after 35 drivers called in “sick,” Israel Railways said.

The rail company accused the drivers of holding an illegal strike, which began on Saturday night when the drivers first notified the company that they were supposedly ill.

On Sunday, 13 trains were canceled due to the lack of drivers. On Monday, among the trains cancelled were 21 between Rishon Lezion and Lod, and nine trains between Jerusalem and Beit Shemesh.

Israel Railways said it had canceled the routes with the fewest passengers to minimize disruption.

There were also delays on other routes nationwide.

Hadashot TV news called several of the drivers on Monday night to inquire about their health; several of them simply hung up the phone. Further delays and cancellations were anticipated on Tuesday.

The TV report said the sudden bout of “sickness” was believed by some to be tied to efforts by the drivers to improve their pay and conditions ahead of the opening of the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv fast train.

The Railways Workers’ Committee told the Walla news site there was no need for the cancellations, saying that only four drivers were needed to operate the canceled lines, while there were some 300 train drivers employed by Israel Railways.

“Is it really necessary to cancel passenger trains,” the committee asked, “or is this perhaps just a way of the railway administration once again, to redirect the fire from its own failings toward the workers and the committee?”

It also rejected the accusations that it was conducting an illegal strike.

“We want to reiterate and clarify that the workers’ committee did not give any official instructions to the workers to start sanctions,” it said. “The railway administration should examine itself and stop throwing accusations at us.”

Avi Nissenkorn, head of the Histadrut labor federation, said he would hold a meeting with the workers’ committee and railway management.