In an effort led by Leon towards the start of the school year: The Jerusalem Municipality, the Jerusalem Transportation Team, the Ministry of Transportation, the Accountant General's Department at the Ministry of Finance, and the Light Rail Authority announced this evening (Saturday) that the required safety and operating approval has been received from the Ministry of Transportation - and that starting this morning, the Jerusalem Light Rail service will return to full operation from Neve Yaakov in the north to Hadassah Ein Kerem in the south.
This successfully concluded, on time, the most complex engineering operation and the first of its kind in Israel, which was a key step on the way to establishing the first light rail network in the country - in our capital, Jerusalem.
As part of the intensive work, which did not stop even during Operation 'Am Kalavi', the tracks, infrastructure, and systems of the future Green Line were connected to the existing Red Line for the first time.
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The complex work was carried out at 6 different locations in the heart of the city and included, among other things, dismantling and installing new tracks for the Green Line, which cross those of the Red Line, and complex installations of electrical and control systems, adding a third track, and constructing an "E" station in Torim.
In addition, along with the completion of the operations and the return of full service on the Red Line, important news is added with the completion of the work and opening of the Neve Yaakov Depot, which is planned for the coming days. This is another important step that will greatly assist the operational flexibility of the light rail, ensure higher availability of trains, and enable improved service to the traveling public.
Starting Tuesday, shuttle service - 500, 501, 502 and 503 - will be discontinued and the southwest lines will return to their original route, with the exception of line 27, which will continue to operate for the time being to the Central Station.
Completion of development work on the Red Line will continue over the next two months, not during train operations and without disrupting regular travel.
Additionally, upon completion of the operations and according to plan, the Torim station will remain closed for several additional weeks in order to complete the infrastructure, systems, and safety work as required. The station's opening date will be announced later.
At the same time, accelerated work continues that will enable the operation of the Green Line, which will be the second light rail line in the capital.
The Green Line will include 40 new stations and will extend over approximately 20 km between the Gilo neighborhood in the south, through the Malcha Sports Complex, the Givat Ram Campus, the Government Complex, the Central Bus Station and the city center, and to the Mount Scopus Campus in the north.
The first part of the line is expected to open to the public as early as 2026, including two new service lines in Megillah and Malha, which will connect hundreds of thousands of residents of Jerusalem and the island to the city's railway network.
Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Leon: "The return of the Red Line to full operation is significant news for the residents of Jerusalem. We managed to meet a complex task while maintaining schedules, thereby restoring the essential service of the light rail to tens of thousands of passengers. This is a significant step on the way to a tremendous transportation revolution, at the end of which Jerusalem will be the first city in Israel with a modern, convenient light rail network that connects all parts of the city.".
