Historic transport development in Israel's capital

Minister Regev: “Committed to the capital of Israel. By the end of the decade, Jerusalem will be the first city in which it is possible to travel without the need for a private vehicle.”
Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, is in the midst of a comprehensive and unprecedented transportation initiative. The 2026 budget presented by the Ministry of Transportation, led by Minister Miri Regev, and approved by the government, allocates unprecedented resources for the development of transportation infrastructure in the city and for better connection of the metropolis to the central region and to the entire country.
This involves a series of mega-projects, including israel railways and Light Rail lines, extensions of existing lines, interchanges, bicycle paths, transportation terminals, and significant upgrades to accessibility and service. These initiatives will shorten travel times, reduce congestion, and provide residents and visitors of the capital with a real alternative to private vehicles.
According to the Ministry’s vision, by the year 2030, Jerusalem will be the first city in Israel where it will be possible to travel easily and comfortably without the need for a private vehicle. The Jerusalem Light Rail network continues to expand rapidly. The network is based on the “15-minute city” concept, connecting neighborhoods, employment centers, educational institutions, and entertainment venues through efficient, accessible, and green transportation infrastructure.
The Red Line, Israel’s first light rail line, is now operating at its full capacity of 22 kilometers, after extensions of the line to the north and south were recently completed. The line serves approximately 260,000 passengers daily with a train frequency of every six minutes during peak hours, and is the backbone of public transportation in the city.
As early as 2026, the Green Line will also open to traffic, connecting Gilo in the south to Mount Scopus in the north, via Malha, the Government Quarter, Ramot Eshkol, and other centers, and will create connectivity between the campuses of the Hebrew University. The line, which is 21 kilometers long and has about 40 new stations, will connect to the Red Line at two central points. The estimated budget is about 14 billion shekels.
The next stage in the network is the Blue Line, which is in advanced stages of work. The line will cross the city from Ramot to Gilo via Golda Meir Boulevard, Har Hotzvim, King George Street, Keren Hayesod, and the Station Complex. Its planned length is about 31 kilometers and it is expected to include 53 stations and serve about 200,000 trips per day. Its opening is planned for 2029 and its budget is estimated at about 15.6 billion shekels.
As part of the 2026 budget, the extension of the eastern branch of the Blue Line from the Talpiot area to Armon Hanatziv was approved, an addition of about 3 kilometers and 5 new stations. This is a significant addition that completes the connectivity between all the light rail lines in the city, which will enable the realization of about 40,000 housing units and extensive urban renewal in the Talpiot and Armon Hanatziv areas.
In addition, other light rail lines are being promoted: the Yellow Line, which will connect the Knesset to the Dung Gate in the Old City and is expected to open in 2029, and the Brown Line, which is planned to serve residents of East Jerusalem from the Atarot route to Tzur Baher and is in the early planning stages.
In the area of metropolitan connection, a budget has been allocated for the completion of planning for the connection of Beit Shemesh to Jerusalem’s mass transit system. Beit Shemesh is one of the fastest-growing cities in Israel, with an annual growth of about 7% and an expected population of about 360,000 residents by 2040. In light of its accelerated development and the need for its efficient connection to the capital, various technologies, including BRT, will be examined to ensure high-capacity and high-speed lines.
Another project being promoted by the Ministry of Transportation through Israel Railways is an underground extension of the Jerusalem fast train line from Yitzhak Navon station directly to the city center, and to the Khan station in the German Colony. The extension, 5.3 kilometers long, will include two new stations at a depth of about 80 meters: Jerusalem Center on Jaffa Road and Jerusalem-Khan, which will be built near the Liberty Bell Garden, the Station Complex, and other tourist sites. The new station will integrate with the Red Line and the Blue Line of the light rail and with the future cable car to the Old City. Upon completion of the works, the frequency of trains between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem will double to 13 trains per hour in each direction, carrying about 20,000 passengers per hour.
The project budget is about 4.75 billion shekels, and the estimated completion is in 2033. In the 2026 budget, about 20 million shekels were also allocated for a significant upgrade of the Yitzhak Navon station, including the construction of a new eastern entrance integrated into the City Gate project, the addition of elevators, the extension of platforms, and the improvement of accessibility and flow at the busy station.
Another project approved for execution in the new budget is the Cable Car to the Western Wall, a continuation of transportation, tourism, and culture. The cable car will connect the Khan station to the Dung Gate, and it is expected to dramatically improve accessibility to the Old City areas for millions of visitors each year. With the completion of the fast train extension, the opening of the Blue and Red Lines, and the operation of the cable car to the Western Wall, the Khan station will become a unique central transportation hub in Israel.
For the first time, it will be possible to reach the center of Jerusalem by public transport from anywhere in the country, and from there continue to the Western Wall with the same ticket and without the need to change stations.
The integrated connection of a fast intercity train, the light rail network, and the cable car will create a natural, seamless, and convenient transfer point for residents, students, tourists, and pilgrims, and will strengthen the capital’s status as a leading and connected city.
Minister of Transportation and Road Safety, Maj. Gen. (Res.) Miri Regev: “Jerusalem is currently at the peak of a historic transportation revolution. The 2026 budget allows us to fulfill the vision of ‘Connecting Israel’ also in the capital, and to provide its residents with an advanced, accessible, and connected transportation system, as befits the eternal capital of the people of Israel, where the cultural, spiritual, and national heart of the country beats. The completion of the light rail network, the extension of the fast train to the Khan station, the cable car to the Western Wall, and other projects we are promoting – all these create a real revolution in the daily lives of hundreds of thousands of passengers.”
Minister Regev added: “By the end of the decade, Jerusalem will be the first city in Israel where all neighborhoods are connected to each other by an advanced mass transit system, and the first city where there will be no need for a private vehicle for daily travel. We will continue to connect all neighborhoods, all activity centers, and all parts of the country, and make traveling by public transport the natural, fastest, and most convenient choice.”
Mayor of Jerusalem, Moshe Lion: “Jerusalem is in the midst of one of the largest transportation development drives in Israel, and this is clearly visible on the ground. The work is progressing at a high pace and in full coordination among all parties, out of a genuine commitment to daily change in the lives of the residents. The network we are building will connect Jerusalem from end to end, serve hundreds of thousands of passengers daily, and provide the city’s residents with a real, efficient, and convenient alternative to private vehicles.
This initiative will ensure that Jerusalem becomes the first city in Israel to escape traffic jams, and will be a long-term investment in quality of life, the urban economy, and the future of the capital of Israel.”
Director General of the Ministry of Transportation and Road Safety, Moshe Ben Zaken: “The huge investments approved for Jerusalem are the result of in-depth professional planning and systematic and coordinated work with the Jerusalem Municipality. This is one of the most advanced transportation systems in the world: a light rail network of tens of kilometers, a fast train to the heart of the city, all with full connectivity. The Khan station will become a unique transportation hub in Israel, where a fast intercity train, light rail, and a cable car to the Western Wall converge. We will continue to promote every project professionally and with determination to meet deadlines, remove obstacles, and ensure the residents of Jerusalem an reliable, efficient, and accessible transportation system.”