The Ministry of Transportation and Israel Railways are ending a year of accelerated electrification work with dramatic transportation news for residents of the south: From Friday - September 26, the 4th of Tishrei - new electric trains will be operated for the first time on the Western Negev lines.
Work begins on the Blue Line: All information about changes to the TAHTC routes • Previously
The move means a 10-20 minute reduction in travel times to the center of the country, an extension of the train's operating hours midweek until midnight, and the resumption of train traffic on Fridays and Saturdays.
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The electric trains are quiet, advanced, and environmentally friendly, and their operation will upgrade the service for tens of thousands of passengers, and strengthen the connection of the south to the center of the country.
In addition, improving and expanding service on these lines will lead to improved accuracy and reliability in the entire system, thanks to a positive "chain reaction.".
New travel times: A trip from Sderot to Tel Aviv will take only 53 minutes (instead of an hour and 6 minutes); a trip from Netivot-Tel Aviv will take only 63 minutes (instead of an hour and 17 minutes) and Ofakim-Tel Aviv will take only 70 minutes (instead of an hour and 28 minutes). In the opposite direction (north to south), the travel time will be even shorter and will be 51 minutes from Tel Aviv to Sderot, 61 minutes to Netivot, and 70 minutes to Ofakim.
In addition, the train schedule will be adjusted for Shabbat arrival and departure times, and the end and start times of activity on Fridays and Saturdays will be updated.
During the week, the train will operate until midnight, on Fridays, trains will operate until 4:00 PM, and on Saturdays starting at 9:00 PM.
The operating hours of Sderot, Netivot and Ofakim stations will be extended until approximately midnight on weekdays. On Fridays, trains will operate until approximately 3:00 PM and on Saturdays from approximately 9:00 PM.
In addition, a new electric line will be operated, with a frequency of one train every hour, between Ofakim stations; Netivot; Sderot; Ashkelon; Ashdod Ad Halom; Yavne West; Rishon Lezion Moshe Dayan; all Tel Aviv stations; Bnei Brak; Rosh HaAyin North; Kfar Saba Nordau; Hod Hasharon Sokolov; Raanana South; Raanana West; Herzliya.
In addition, a line will be operated between Be'er Sheva and Ofakim stations, with a frequency of one train every hour. Passengers from Western Negev stations whose destination or origin is Be'er Sheva stations will change trains at Ofakim station and from there continue to their destination.
In addition, the route of one train every hour (out of two) on the Binyamina-Rehovot line will be extended. This train will have additional stops at Kfar Chabad, Yavne Mizrahi, Ashdod Ad Halom and Ashkelon stations, and a stop at Lod Ganei Aviv station will be canceled. The Netanya-Beer Sheva line will operate with a frequency of one train every hour, during peak hours only, between Netanya and Rehovot stations only. Service to Yavne Mizrahi, Ashdod Ad Halom, Ashkelon, Sderot, Netivot and Ofakim stations will continue as usual or be upgraded, using trains on other lines.
On the Beit Shemesh-Netanya line, a stop will be added at Lod Ganei Aviv station and the stop at Kfar Chabad station will be canceled.
Due to the progress of electrification work being carried out in the Naan area, train service at Beit Shemesh Station will be temporarily suspended every Friday at 1:00 PM (approximately), and on Saturday (during operating hours).
