Jerusalem light railway begins testing

After ten years since the start of the project to build a light railway service in the capital, this week the first carriages will be tested on the streets of the city. It's a moment of history for the travel annuls of Israeli history. Travel Minister Yisrael Katz who participated in some of the testing this week said: "This is the solution to raising the quality of life of the city's residents." Nir Barakat, the city's mayor was also among participants of this weeks testing. More than a quarter of a million passengers use public transport services each day in Jerusalem, that around a quarter of the greater city's population. The new light railway will use modern and highly capable technology to allow up to 500 passengers in one journey. Jerusalemites can expect the light railway to be fully functioning by April 2011