Israel’s Ministry of Transportation is set to announce a temporary halt in the operations of Yerushalayim’s light rail system, lasting about one week, according to Walla. The suspension is planned for the end of January. During this period, the trains will run along their usual route, but they will not carry passengers. Instead, the operator, Kfir, will use this time to test the newly implemented operating system across the full length of the rail line, stretching from Neve Yaakov to the Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center.
Following the testing phase, the light rail will begin operating along its entire expanded route, with the “red” line officially extending from 14 kilometers to 22 kilometers. Additionally, the number of stations will grow from 23 to 35. This expansion was initially slated to begin about two years ago but faced delays, including the departure of some European testing personnel after the October 7 massacre.
Construction of the light rail in the Kiryat Yovel neighborhood, located just after the Mount Herzl stop (which currently marks the end of the line), started in the summer of 2010. Currently, around 180,000 people use Yerushalayim’s light rail daily, and this figure is expected to rise to 250,000 once the extended line is operational. The report also mentioned that the time interval between trains during rush hours will likely be reduced slightly as additional trains are introduced when the new section opens.
To accommodate passengers during the testing period, the Ministry of Transportation is expected to provide bus services as a replacement for the light rail. Furthermore, the number of buses operating on existing routes will be increased.
Walla! also noted that during the summer months, part of the light rail line will be out of service for approximately a month to allow construction for the “green” line, which is scheduled to begin operations in early 2026. Additionally, the light rail section in Givat Shaul, which currently ends at the entrance to Har Nof, is expected to be operational by 2027.
{Matzav.com Israel}