Jerusalem, 18 August, 2025 (TPS-IL) — The Ministry of Transportation, Netivei Israel and Israel Railways continue to connect Israel and announced the start of construction of the Tel Aviv – Kiryat Shmona railway, the northern section of the “Connecting Israel” program to connect the country from north to south with a high-speed rail network. The project has an investment of approximately 18 billion Shekels ($5.3 billion) and constitutes a central pillar of the “Connecting Israel” program and marks the transition from vision to the beginning of action on the ground.
The new track, approximately 54 kilometers long, was designed as a double track for passengers and freight. It will connect Kiryat Shmona, the Galilee, and the Upper and Lower Galilee with the national rail network, providing direct and rapid access to all parts of the country.
The project will include the construction of approximately 300 kilometers of high-speed railways for passengers and freight, the operation of high-speed trains of up to 250 kilometers per hour on part of the route, and a direct and fast link between the largest metropolitan areas in Israel – Haifa, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Beer Sheva.