Amid protests, train services shut down across country; railways blames computer error

Hundreds of train riders trying to get to Tel Aviv are being forced to exit idling rail cars at the Hagana train station in the city’s south, an eyewitness says, as the rail service announces a nationwide shutdown amid massive anti-government protests.

The traveler, who was attempting to reach his home in central Tel Aviv after arriving on a flight from the US hours earlier, says his train was sitting for at least 10 minutes at Hagana station when a person announced over the PA that all trains were being shut nationwide due to a technical malfunction.

“Everybody is angry and everybody walked out of the train,” he says.

A message sent by Israel Rails to customers says service is being cut off due to a computer malfunction.

At Hashalom Station, next on north-bound lines following Hagana, protesters are seen surrounding a train. The station sits at the central Tel Aviv intersection that has become a locus for protests.

Israel Rails later says the problem has been fixed and services will gradually resume.