IDF Faces Major Shuttle Delays to Training Bases, Soldiers and Parents Express Frustration
On Sunday morning, many IDF soldiers and their families expressed anger over significant disruptions in shuttle services from central Tel Aviv to the military training bases in southern Israel, known as the City of Bahadim. The army attributed the delays to a miscalculation of the number of soldiers waiting for transport. However, parents and soldiers on site reported that despite shuttles being scheduled every 15 minutes, five consecutive shuttles failed to depart, leaving many stranded.
One father, whose daughter serves as a commander at the Infantry Professions School (BISLACH), told ynet this was not an isolated incident, citing at least six similar occurrences on recent Sundays. Soldiers tried contacting their commanders but received no solutions, as the commanders faced the same logistical issues. Frustrated, some soldiers resorted to taking trains, which added complexity and time to their journeys.
A BISLACH commander who waited an hour at the station described the situation as a recurring problem that sometimes extends travel times from two to four hours, with no effective response from military leadership. The army's explanation of misestimating soldier numbers was dismissed by parents as "childish," noting the shuttle schedule is clearly posted in an app and that no shuttles arrived regardless of the number of soldiers.
Another parent from Haifa highlighted similar problems with northern shuttles, where competition for seats sometimes leads to conflicts among new recruits fearful of punishment for tardiness. Following media inquiries, the IDF arranged an additional bus about 30 minutes after the complaint. The army spokesperson confirmed all ordered buses were deployed, and an extra bus was promptly dispatched to pick up remaining soldiers. The IDF also assured that soldiers who arrived late due to the delays would not face disciplinary action and pledged to continue improving the transportation system for service members.
This issue has persisted for some time, affecting both regular and reserve soldiers, particularly those stationed far from central Israel. Families and soldiers feel the army has underestimated the severity of the problem, which they believe should have been resolved years ago.
