Israel Railways Ltd. (Hebrew:רַכֶּבֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל, Rakevet Yisra'el) is the state-owned principal railway company responsible for all inter-city, commuter, and freight rail transport in Israel. Israel Railways network consists of 1,138 kilometers (707mi) of track. All its lines are standard gauge but some were originally built to other gauges and later regauged. Electrification began in 2018 with the new line to Jerusalem and there are plans to electrify the entire network at 25 kV 50 Hz supplied via overhead line. The network is centered in Israel's densely populated coastal plain, from which lines radiate out in many directions. In 2018, Israel Railways carried 68 million passengers.

Unlike road vehicles and city trams, Israeli heavy rail trains run on the left hand tracks, matching neighboring Egypt and other Middle Eastern countries, whose formerly connected rail networks were constructed by British engineers. Those lines that formerly crossed Israel's borders were severed during the 1948 Palestine war and as of 2024[update] there are no international train lines or services to or from Israel.

Until 1980, the company's head office was located at Haifa Center HaShmona railway station. Tzvi Tzafriri, the general manager of Israel Railways, decided to move the head office to Tel Aviv–Savidor Center railway station. In 2017, the company's head office was moved to a new campus built on the grounds of the Lod railway station.

Stations

There are 66 stations on the Israel Railways network, with almost all of the stations being accessible to disabled persons, with public announcement and passenger information systems, vending machines and parking.

Dimona train station, 1970

Bicycle policy

Bicycles are permitted on trains in designated coaches.

Israel Railways encourages people to use bicycles by building a double-deck parking for bicycles in every railway station and by allowing people to take bicycles with them on trains to minimise the need for private cars.

Smoking

In Israel, smoking is prohibited in public enclosed places and in commercial areas. Although smoking in railway stations is allowed in designated areas, the sale of tobacco from automated vending machines is prohibited.

List of stations

vteIsrael Railways Route Map
Bus transport in Israel Nahariya Karmiel Bus transport in Israel Acre Ahihud Kiryat Motzkin Kiryat Haim Metronit Hutzot HaMifratz Yokneam–Kfar Yehoshua Metronit Rakavlit Bus transport in Israel Tram HaMifratz Central Migdal HaEmek–Kfar Baruch Metronit Haifa Center–HaShmona Afula Metronit Haifa–Bat Galim Beit She'an–David Levy Metronit Bus transport in Israel Haifa–Hof HaCarmel Atlit Binyamina Caesarea–Pardes Hanna Hadera–West Netanya Hadera–East Netanya–Sapir Shomron–Tayyiba Beit Yehoshua Tira–Kokhav Ya'ir Hod HaSharon–Sokolov Kfar Saba–Nordau Ra'anana–South Rosh HaAyin–North Ra'anana–West Herzliya Petah Tikva–Segula Bnei Brak–Ramat HaHayal Petah Tikva–Kiryat Aryeh Tel Aviv Light Rail Tel Aviv–University Tel Aviv Light RailBus transport in Israel Tel Aviv–Savidor Center Tel Aviv Light Rail Tel Aviv–HaShalom Bus transport in Israel Tel Aviv–HaHagana Holon Junction Ben Gurion Airport Ben Gurion Airport Holon–Wolfson Paatei Modi'in Kfar Chabad Ayalon Valley Bridge Lod–Ganei Aviv Modi'in–Center Bus transport in Israel Lod Jerusalem–Yitzhak Navon Jerusalem Light RailBus transport in Israel Bat Yam–Yoseftal Bat Yam–Komemiyut Be'er Ya'akov Rishon LeZion–HaRishonim Ramla Rishon LeZion–Moshe Dayan Rehovot Yavne–West Beit Shemesh Yavne–East Biblical Zoo Ashdod–Ad Halom Jerusalem–Malha Ashkelon Mazkeret Batya Sderot Kiryat Mal'akhi–Yoav Netivot Kiryat Gat Ofakim Lehavim–Rahat Goral Junction Be'er Sheva–North Dimona Bus transport in Israel Be'er Sheva–Center All stations are accessible
Bus transport in Israel NahariyaKarmiel
Bus transport in Israel AcreAhihud
Kiryat Motzkin
Kiryat Haim
Metronit Hutzot HaMifratz
Yokneam–Kfar Yehoshua
Metronit Rakavlit Bus transport in Israel Tram HaMifratz CentralMigdal HaEmek–Kfar Baruch
Migdal HaEmek–
Kfar Baruch
Metronit Haifa Center–HaShmonaAfula
Metronit Haifa–Bat GalimBeit She'an–David Levy
Metronit Bus transport in Israel Haifa–Hof HaCarmel
Atlit
Binyamina
Caesarea–Pardes Hanna
Hadera–West
NetanyaHadera–East
Netanya–SapirShomron–Tayyiba
Beit YehoshuaTira–Kokhav Ya'ir
Hod HaSharon–SokolovKfar Saba–Nordau
Ra'anana–SouthRosh HaAyin–North
Ra'anana–West
HerzliyaPetah Tikva–Segula
Bnei Brak–Ramat HaHayalPetah Tikva–Kiryat Aryeh Tel Aviv Light Rail
Tel Aviv–University
Tel Aviv Light RailBus transport in Israel Tel Aviv–Savidor Center
Tel Aviv Light Rail Tel Aviv–HaShalom
Bus transport in Israel Tel Aviv–HaHagana
Holon JunctionBen Gurion Airport Ben Gurion Airport
Holon–WolfsonPaatei Modi'in
Kfar ChabadAyalon Valley Bridge
Lod–Ganei AvivModi'in–Center Bus transport in Israel
LodJerusalem–Yitzhak Navon Jerusalem Light RailBus transport in Israel
Bat Yam–Yoseftal
Bat Yam–KomemiyutBe'er Ya'akov
Rishon LeZion–HaRishonimRamla
Rishon LeZion–Moshe DayanRehovot
Yavne–WestBeit Shemesh
Yavne–EastBiblical Zoo
Ashdod–Ad HalomJerusalem–Malha
AshkelonMazkeret Batya
SderotKiryat Mal'akhi–Yoav
NetivotKiryat Gat
OfakimLehavim–Rahat
Goral Junction
Be'er Sheva–North
Dimona
Bus transport in Israel Be'er Sheva–Center
All stations are accessible
StationPassengersMunicipalityDistrict
CodeName2019202020212022202320242025
16Nahariya3,076,0391,241,1731,915,7612,529,4742,786,7732,691,2773,208,498NahariyaNorthern
13Akko (Acre)2,043,343732,1801,067,4441,471,1171,633,8231,629,7581,833,776Acre
62Afula776,477268,214495,069722,153848,136953,1231,021,353Afula
63Beit She'an–David Levy442,417162,902295,790427,176477,532541,605570,641Beit She'an
61Migdal HaEmek–Kfar Baruch259,97785,531138,467210,073242,584256,519264,047Kfar Baruch (Jezreel Valley)
60Yokneam–Kfar Yehoshua339,789122,210224,054327,172346,705385,978432,412Kfar Yehoshua (Jezreel Valley)
64Ahihud276,018102,243148,278199,027217,301188,295253,104Ahihud (Mateh Asher)
65Karmiel1,923,674675,6211,119,3081,468,6951,604,9241,697,8251,853,980Karmiel
12Kiryat Motzkin2,376,278844,7091,317,7161,766,1572,026,9562,137,6672,372,426Kiryat Motzkin/HaifaHaifa
11Kiryat Haim480,814171,289257,428350,175356,702362,000373,989Haifa
10Hutzot HaMifratz626,017245,094419,471567,226589,480597,921673,231
38HaMifratz Central2,984,8211,113,0621,642,4872,774,9233,133,3503,291,2053,562,105
25Haifa Center–HaShmona2,242,279773,8621,066,8351,662,3461,900,1931,832,4212,025,032
9Haifa–Bat Galim2,282,213874,9191,480,5651,906,4042,176,3672,292,0482,515,870
14Haifa–Hof HaCarmel4,648,7661,630,1102,425,2783,304,7443,728,9294,021,8304,365,806
8Atlit363,614143,931254,038346,930413,171481,721514,806Atlit (Hof HaCarmel)
6Binyamina3,336,0931,206,2941,954,8272,659,0293,272,1803,751,7823,951,298Binyamina-Giv'at Ada
7Caesarea–Pardes Hanna1,339,506477,264749,923998,4461,169,9031,349,8011,491,010Pardes Hanna-Karkur/Caesarea (Hof HaCarmel)
5Hadera–West2,430,825879,1121,424,8601,990,3402,297,2042,709,5872,888,668Hadera
Hadera–East (opened June 2026)———————
Shomron–Tayyiba (opened June 2026)———————Tayibe/ QalansuwaCentral
Tira–Kokhav Ya'ir (opened June 2026)———————Tira/Kokhav Ya'ir–Tsur Yig'al
4Netanya3,563,0261,212,7291,596,6592,508,7953,008,3013,360,3023,579,278Netanya
59Netanya–Sapir1,155,205407,584630,966958,5461,149,9641,318,7501,406,963
3Beit Yehoshua2,056,937675,3901,052,9221,469,0311,643,0731,853,6441,938,480Beit Yehoshua (Hof HaSharon)
2Herzliya3,004,6481,008,0771,795,0333,287,4933,960,3704,695,0544,925,064HerzliyaTel Aviv
66Ra'anana–West265,00658,882120,302379,791541,332454,124619,249Ra'anana/HerzliyaCentral
67Ra'anana–South233,11450,49468,938149,799226,814214,320288,556Ra'anana/Kfar Saba
44Hod HaSharon–Sokolov926,654185,951247,703513,615774,572714,525961,141Hod HaSharon/Kfar Saba
15Kfar Saba–Nordau1,373,963286,105398,644817,3901,054,734876,8561,156,304
27Rosh HaAyin–North1,573,945475,460519,8341,111,2241,228,811946,9421,202,873Rosh HaAyin
34Petah Tikva–Segula905,440237,701221,772477,782609,412362,148478,312Petah Tikva
45Petah Tikva–Kiryat Aryeh1,943,818528,942477,7821,145,3911,372,580733,924931,587
35Bnei Brak–Ramat HaHayal1,271,141320,820282,841604,381707,608463,762621,002Bnei BrakTel Aviv
36Tel Aviv–University6,499,8571,883,8103,132,5614,931,8045,173,6815,573,2995,951,321Tel Aviv
1Tel Aviv–Savidor Center13,426,3984,980,5376,476,3629,384,61210,687,30412,359,61913,400,789Tel Aviv/Ramat Gan
23Tel Aviv–HaShalom15,352,9445,635,0928,425,11113,220,10215,309,11616,642,89817,209,007Tel Aviv
39Tel Aviv–HaHagana6,596,0802,516,5733,659,1475,309,2155,920,7335,147,0855,382,799
50Holon Junction629,715182,892162,413376,879381,951267,747310,567Holon/Tel Aviv
51Holon–Wolfson823,403281,062256,297615,392672,254591,007597,282
52Bat Yam–Yoseftal1,810,003584,714685,8301,199,0821,364,5021,323,2361,338,495Holon/Bat Yam
53Bat Yam–Komemiyut934,648288,396274,700611,642669,802560,800637,255
40Ben Gurion Airport4,383,073788,867881,2762,948,4034,339,1023,737,9674,700,437Ben Gurion Airport (unincorporated area)Central
22Kfar Chabad416,411163,848267,515393,541454,156561,060608,857Kfar Chabad (Sdot Dan)
46Lod–Ganei Aviv525,198215,892305,990386,895410,009475,926474,302Lod
20Lod2,489,889965,3691,283,2291,735,2822,076,2072,278,6052,390,666
26Ramla861,166336,700452,460668,712708,128734,069772,316Ramla
48Paatei Modi'in391,832120,963225,461515,597667,989860,0511,020,603Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut
49Modi'in–Center1,711,198594,652957,0501,762,0502,169,0932,326,6572,458,515
18Beit Shemesh930,014316,171482,584629,960773,853842,785884,357Beit ShemeshJerusalem
69Jerusalem–Yitzhak Navon2,674,8401,651,6593,598,4436,536,3937,916,2558,453,5939,493,864Jerusalem
17Biblical Zoo (closed from March 2020)26,4451,403—————
41Jerusalem–Malha (closed from March 2020)115,11817,744—————
54Rishon LeZion–Moshe Dayan2,217,849596,198670,6121,296,2741,438,9041,522,4271,761,595Rishon LeZionCentral
31Rishon LeZion–HaRishonim360,136111,024137,38636,809134,771164,162171,138
28Be'er Ya'akov777,819294,761444,211569,267779,887930,267971,876Be'er Ya'akov
29Rehovot3,855,7661,395,0401,654,7492,199,9382,606,1042,779,9193,022,117Rehovot
55Yavne–West1,465,638483,214647,9741,188,4471,264,7941,295,8311,481,547Yavne
30Yavne–East470,468154,927169,294284,367283,932355,895409,680
70Mazkeret Batya243,989177,890315,499457,064534,723652,019675,757Mazkeret Batya
32Ashdod–Ad Halom3,765,8641,273,1761,590,7022,727,8422,785,2032,868,8633,400,800AshdodSouthern
42Ashkelon3,005,1311,026,1981,220,6112,290,6142,484,8572,846,2063,200,125Ashkelon
56Sderot1,025,670359,793398,278635,242448,712123,524568,261Sderot
57Netivot970,450382,667480,892710,581524,149303,495608,131Netivot
58Ofakim864,528331,842415,333575,277394,402245,086548,053Ofakim
68Kiryat Mal'akhi–Yoav360,569135,497233,242320,860374,038458,468446,440Kfar Menahem (Yoav)
19Kiryat Gat1,175,058479,342714,5331,018,6441,091,1381,197,6261,195,184Kiryat Gat
47Lehavim–Rahat438,867158,862246,747316,435392,104433,534463,511Lehavim/Rahat
21Be'er Sheva–North2,308,782890,9261,244,9461,822,1701,789,1262,041,9402,068,277Beersheba
37Be'er Sheva–Center3,562,7921,331,9202,030,8112,650,5162,472,4862,628,1722,764,454
43Dimona14,7455,2787,9696,39712,27718,17823,269Dimona

Lines

Schematic diagram of Israel Railways passenger services
Regional map of past and present railway lines

Israel Railways currently operates 15 passenger service lines. These can be broadly subdivided into inter-city lines, which connect two or more of Israel's major metropolitan centres (Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, and Beersheba), usually skipping some of the intermediate stations, and commuter lines, centered on one metropolitan area and serving all stations on the line. However, Israel Railways no longer officially uses this classification.

Some services were partially or fully suspended as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and electrification works.

Inter-city lines

CorridorServiceTerminus (start)Intermediate stopsTerminus (end)Infrastructure
Haifa– Tel Aviv– BeershebaNahariya–Beersheba (partially commuter) ‡Nahariya17 AkkoKiryat MotzkinHaMifrats CentralHaifa CenterHaifa–Bat GalimHaifa–Hof HaCarmelTel Aviv–UniversityTel Aviv–Savidor CenterTel Aviv–HaShalomTel Aviv–HaHaganaLodRamlaMazkeret BatyaKiryat Mal'akhi-YoavKiryat GatLehavim–RahatBe'er Sheva–NorthBe'er Sheva–CenterCoastal railway Ayalon railway Jaffa–Jerusalem railway South railway
Karmiel–Beersheba ‡Karmiel15 AhihudAkkoKiryat MotzkinHaMifrats CentralHaifa–CenterHaifa–Bat GalimHaifa–Hof HaCarmelHadera–WestTel Aviv–UniversityTel Aviv–Savidor CenterTel Aviv–HaShalomTel Aviv–HaHaganaLodKiryat GatBe'er Sheva–NorthKarmiel–Acre railway Coastal railway Ayalon railway Jaffa–Jerusalem railway South railway
Haifa– Tel AvivNahariya–Modi'in (partially commuter) ‡Nahariya16 AkkoKiryat MotzkinKiryat HaimHutzot HaMifratzHaMifrats CentralHaifa–CenterHaifa–Bat GalimHaifa–Hof HaCarmelAtlitBinyaminaTel Aviv–UniversityTel Aviv–Savidor CenterTel Aviv–HaShalomTel Aviv–HaHaganaBen Gurion AirportPa'atei Modi'inModi'in CenterCoastal railway Ayalon railway Tel Aviv–Jerusalem railway Anava–Modi'in railway
Nahariya–Ben Gurion Airport (night train)Nahariya9 AkkoKiryat MotzkinHaifa–CenterHaifa–Hof HaCarmelBinyaminaHadera WestNetanyaTel Aviv–Savidor CenterTel Aviv–HaHaganaBen Gurion AirportCoastal railway Ayalon railway Tel Aviv–Jerusalem railway
Tel Aviv– JerusalemHerzliya–Jerusalem †Herzliya5 Tel Aviv–UniversityTel Aviv–Savidor CenterTel Aviv–HaShalomTel Aviv–HaHaganaBen Gurion AirportJerusalem–Yitzhak NavonCoastal railway Ayalon railway Tel Aviv–Jerusalem railway
Tel Aviv– JerusalemTel Aviv–Jerusalem (night train) †Tel Aviv–Savidor CenterBen Gurion AirportJerusalem–Yitzhak Navon (closed Wednesdays for maintenance)Ayalon railway Tel Aviv–Jerusalem railway
Tel Aviv– BeershebaTel Aviv–Beersheba (night train, suspended) ‡Tel Aviv–Savidor Center4 Tel Aviv–HaHaganaBen Gurion AirportLodKiryat GatBe'er Sheva–CenterAyalon railway Tel Aviv–Jerusalem railway Jaffa–Jerusalem railway South railway

Commuter lines

Metropolitan coreServiceTerminus (start)Intermediate stopsTerminus (end)Infrastructure
HaifaNahariya–Binyamina (inter-city connection)Nahariya9 AkkoKiryat MotzkinKiryat HaimHutzot HaMifratzHaMifratz CentralHaifa–CenterHaifa–Bat GalimHaifa–Hof HaCarmelAtlitBinyamina inter-city to Modi'in →Coastal railway
Karmiel–HaifaKarmiel8 AhihudAkkoKiryat MotzkinKiryat HaimHutzot HaMifratzHaMifratz CentralHaifa–CenterHaifa–Bat GalimHaifa–Hof HaCarmelKarmiel–Acre railway Coastal railway
Beit She'an–AtlitBeit She'an7 AfulaMigdal HaEmek–Kfar BaruchYokneam–Kfar YehoshuaHaMifratz CentralHaifa–CenterHaifa–Bat GalimHaifa–Hof HaCarmelAtlitJezreel Valley railway Coastal railway
Tel AvivBinyamina–Ashkelon (commuter connection) †Binyamina17 Caesarea-Pardes HannaHadera WestNetanyaNetanya–SapirBeit YehoshuaHerzliyaTel Aviv–UniversityTel Aviv–Savidor CenterTel Aviv–HaShalomTel Aviv–HaHaganaKfar ChabadLod–Ganei AvivLodBe'er Ya'akovRehovotYavne–EastAshdod–Ad HalomAshkelon commuter to Beersheba →Coastal railway Ayalon railway Jaffa–Jerusalem railway Lod–Ashkelon railway
Herzliya–Ashkelon †Herzliya18 Ra'anana–SouthHod HaSharon–SokolovKfar Saba–NordauRosh HaAyin NorthPetah Tikva–SgulaPetah Tikva–Kiryat AryehBnei BrakTel Aviv–UniversityTel Aviv–Savidor CenterTel Aviv–HaShalomTel Aviv–HaHaganaHolon JunctionHolon–WolfsonBat Yam–YoseftalBat Yam–KomemiyutRishon LeZion–Moshe DayanYavne–WestAshdod–Ad HalomAshkelonSharon railway Eastern railway Yarkon railway Ayalon railway Tel Aviv–Bnei Darom railway Lod–Ashkelon railway
Netanya–Beit Shemesh ‡Netanya9 Beit YehoshuaHerzliyaTel Aviv–UniversityTel Aviv–Savidor CenterTel Aviv–HaShalomTel Aviv–HaHaganaLod–Ganei AvivLodRamlaBeit ShemeshCoastal railway Ayalon railway Jaffa–Jerusalem railway
Netanya–Rehovot †Netanya8 Beit YehoshuaHerzliyaTel Aviv–UniversityTel Aviv–Savidor CenterTel Aviv–HaShalomTel Aviv–HaHaganaKfar ChabadLodRehovotCoastal railway Ayalon railway Jaffa–Jerusalem railway
Tel Aviv–Modi'in (inter-city connection)Tel Aviv–University ← inter-city to Nahariya5 Tel Aviv CenterTel Aviv HaShalomTel Aviv HaHaganaBen Gurion AirportPa'atei Modi'inModi'in–CenterAyalon railway Tel Aviv–Jerusalem railway Anava–Modi'in railway
Lod–Rishon LeZionLod–Rishon LeZionLod–Rishon LeZion–HaRishonimLod–Ashkelon railway
JerusalemBeit Shemesh–Jerusalem (suspended)Beit ShemeshBiblical ZooJerusalem–MalhaJaffa–Jerusalem railway
Modi'in–Jerusalem †Modi'in–CenterPaatei Modi'inJerusalem–Yitzhak NavonTel Aviv–Jerusalem railway Anava–Modi'in railway
BeershebaLod–Beersheba (inter-city connection) ‡Lod ← inter-city to Nahariya6 RamlaMazkeret BatyaKiryat Mal'akhi-YoavKiryat GatLehavim-RahatBe'er Sheva–NorthBe'er Sheva–CenterJaffa–Jerusalem railway South railway
Ashkelon–Beersheba (commuter connection) ‡Ashkelon ← commuter to Binyamina4 SderotNetivotOfakimBe'er Sheva–NorthAshkelon–Beersheba railway
Ashkelon–Beersheba ‡Ashkelon4 SderotNetivotOfakimBe'er Sheva–NorthAshkelon–Beersheba railway
Beersheba–DimonaBe'er Sheva–North–DimonaBeersheba–Dimona railway

† Fully electrified line ‡ Line electrification in progress

Future

Electrification

Since the opening of the fully-electrified Tel Aviv–Ben Gurion Airport–Jerusalem railway line in 2018, work has been underway to electrify the passenger rail network with overhead 25 kV 50 Hz AC electrification. In 2024, Israel Railways estimated that work was 72% complete, with full electrification officially scheduled for July 2027.

Network expansion

Due to increasing demand, Israel Railways is pursuing expansion to its infrastructure network.

The 64km (40mi) long Eastern Railway, which will connect Hadera to Kfar Saba and then to Lod, running parallel to the Coastal Railway, began construction in 2019 and is scheduled to open in 2027, with partial opening of the line from Hadera West Station to Rosh Ha’Ayin North Station occurring at the end of June 2026. This line follows the disused route of the Ottoman-period Tulkarm–Lydda railroad, which was abandoned in 1968, and will allow freight and passenger trains to bypass the congested Hadera–Herzliya corridor.

The 30km (19mi) Rishon LeZion–Modi'in Railway also began construction in 2019, with opening planned in 2026. This line will create an east-west link south of Tel Aviv, crossing the Tel Aviv–Ashkelon, Tel Aviv–Beersheba and Tel Aviv–Jerusalem rail corridors.

Since 2019, work is underway to quadruple the 3.5km (2.2mi) section of the Ayalon Railway from Tel Aviv Center to Tel Aviv HaHagana, which forms a critical bottleneck for the entire rail network. Upon completion, this project will nearly double the capacity of the corridor, allowing a significant increase in train frequency across the network. Completion is scheduled for 2028.

Plans and proposals

A 23.5 kilometres (14.6mi) line from the city of Acre, on the Mediterranean coast, to Karmiel was completed in March 2017. However, this tract bypasses Acre and does not make a stop there; it is planned to be extended north to the north-eastern town of Qiryat Shemona, with future stations also planned for Jadeidi-Makr and Majd al-Krum, though there is no timetable for construction. This line will be fully electrified.

In 2011 the reconstruction and expansion of the 60 kilometres (37mi) long, formerly abandoned Jezreel Valley railway line connecting Haifa and Beit Shean (near the Jordanian border) started. This was completed in 2016. There has been talk of further extending the line to Irbid, in Jordan (to allow a direct freight connection from Jordan to the Mediterranean Sea); however, no decision has yet been made on this matter. Another proposed extension under discussion would connect the reconstructed Jezreel Valley railway at Afula to Tiberias.

In May 2017, an extension of the railway from Arad via Kuseife was approved. The line would connect to the existing Beersheba–Dimona rail line at the proposed new station at Nevatim.

Rolling stock

Israel Railways currently owns a total of 193 locomotives, 717 passenger cars, and 110 MU trainsets.

Current

Locomotives

ClassImageTypeTop speedNumberRemarksBuiltEntered service
mphkm/h
EMD G12Diesel-Electric locomotive10Bo-Bo. Israel imported 23 from EMD 1954–62 and captured four more from Egyptian National Railways in the 1967 Six-Day War. Some have been withdrawn and one (No. 107) is now in the Israel Railway Museum in Haifa. No. 106 was withdrawn after sabotage. Nos. 119 & 123 withdrawn after incidents. No. 130 never in service due to Six-Day War.1954–621961
EMD G26141971–821971
EMD GT26CW-213Number 701 is an original EMD unit delivered in 1989. In the mid-2010s Israel Railways purchased thirteen units from NRE which were completely rebuilt by TŽV Gredelj from 11 Croatian Railways HŽ series 2063 GT26 units plus 2 new frames and designated as NGT26CW-3 variants. They were delivered to Israel Railways between August 2015 and December 2017 and numbered 710–722.1989, 2015–172015
Alstom Prima JT 42CW681107Series 702–709. EMD prime mover.19961997
Alstom Prima JT 42BW8714048Series 731–778. EMD prime mover.1996–20061997
Vossloh Euro 320010016024Series 1301–1324. With modifications capable of 200km/h. EMD prime mover.2011–132015
Vossloh Euro 40008013014Series 1401–1414. EMD prime mover.20112014
Bombardier TRAXX P160 AC3Electric locomotive10016063 (32 options)Ordered in 2015. 25 kV 50 Hz AC operation. 6 MW electric output. Initial delivery began in 2017.20172018

Multiple Units

ClassImageTypeTop speedNumberRemarksBuilt
mphkm/h
Siemens Desiro HCEMU100160~60 sets (330 cars)Siemens won tender in September 2017. Tender called for two basic double-deck sets: 15 short (composed of 4 cars) and 45 long (6 cars). First delivery, consisting of three sets, took place in November 2020.2019

Carriages

Israel Railways owns a total of 717 passenger cars.

ClassImageTypeTop speedNumberRemarksBuilt
mphkm/h
Bombardier Double-deck Coachdouble deck push-pull (DDPP)10016024Driving- and generator trailer (PC-103) series 401–424. Two trailers out of operation2001–04
68Coaches (TC-101) series 425–490. Four trailers out of operation2001–04
7Driving- and generator trailer (PC-103) series 501–507.2005–06
18Coaches (TC-101) series 521–538.2005–06
82Coaches (TC-101) series 2201–2394.2005–06
Siemens Viaggio Lightsingle deck push-pull87Three types: standard coach (901-953), standard coach with wheelchair accessible toilets (825-849) and DVT with diesel generator (801-814). First stock in service on 8 March 20092008
single deck push-pull312011
Bombardier Double-deck Coachdouble deck push-pull78Further coaches were ordered from Bombardier in 2010.2011
72Ordered in 2012 and delivered from the end of March 2014. Similar in overall appearance to previous DDPP sets but capable of higher speeds and advanced safety measures (although previous Bombardier DDPP sets were later upgraded to these standards). First rolling stock capable of operating on Israel Railways' 25 kV 50 Hz electrified lines.2014
93Twindexx. Similar in overall appearance to previous DDPP sets. Sixty Ordered in 2016 and a further 33 in mid-2017.2018
48Twindexx. Similar in overall appearance to previous DDPP sets. Electric operation only (no diesel generator installed in control car). Ordered in late 2017.2019
74Twindexx. Similar in overall appearance to previous DDPP sets. Ordered in May 2019.2020

Retired

Locomotives

Steam Locomotives

ClassImageTop speedNumberRemarksBuilt
mphkm/h
Baldwin H class6Series 7-12 (H2), 13-17 (H3), 33 of series 871–920. Taken over from Palestine Railways. Last went out of service in 1959 and scrapped in '60.1918
NBL/Borsig Egyptian 545 class45 captured during 1956 Israeli invasion of Sinai on the former Palestine Railways main line between El Kantara East and Gaza: numbers 546, 550 and 557 (NBL) and numbers 607 and 613 (Borsig). 4 taken into stock and used them around Lod in central Israel for 1–2 years. Withdrawn and scrapped in 1959.1928, 1931
NBL P class 4-6-06Series 60–65. Taken over from Palestine Railways. Last went out of service in 1959 and scrapped in '60. Tender of 62 preserved at Israel Railway Museum.1935
LMS Stanier Class 8F23Series around 70513. Taken over from Palestine Railways. Last went out of service in 1958. One (the 24th) stranded 8F, 70372 (NBL works no. 24680), on a small section of the main line near Tulkarm on the West Bank side of the 1949 Armistice line.It remained there, increasingly derelict, until after the 1967 Israeli 6 day war. The Israelis finally removed and scrapped it in about 1973. A similar 8F (a Turkish TCDD 45151 Class locomotive) preserved at Be'er Sheva Turkish railway station and numbered 70414.1935–46
USATC S100 Class2Number 21 &22 (class 957?). Transported from Europe to Suez in September 1942. To Palestine Railways, later Army. Later to Israel Railways. 11942

Diesel Locomotives

ClassImageTop speedNumberRemarksBuilt
mphkm/h
SAFB (GM-EMD)681103BoBo locomotives series 101-103, fitted with EMD 3RSW engines. In service until 1998. First diesel locomotive in IR's service. 102 locomotive is preserved.1952
Esslingen18Series 211–228. Similar to DB Class V 60. In the mid-1960s, the Esslingen factory was closed. As a result, some almost-new locomotives were cannibalised for parts. One example preserved at the Railway Museum and another at the Jezreel Valley railway heritage site in Elro'i.1955–56
Deutz3Series 201-203 shunting locomotives. 203 is preserved under the 201 number1958
EMD G163Co-Co. During the Six-Day War Israel captured Egyptian Railways 3304, 3329 and 3361 which were appropriated into Israel Railways stock as numbers 301–303, later 161–163. All have now been withdrawn from service but 163 (formerly ER 3361) is preserved at the Israel Railway Museum.1960–61
GA DE90050803Series 261–263. Primarily used for shunting. Withdrawn from service in the early 2020s. One placed on static display near the historic Petah Tikva railway station.1997

Multiple Units

ClassImageTypeTop speedNumberRemarksBuilt
mphkm/h
EsslingenDMU12Similar to German VT08. 3-car sets (powered coaches 1-12, intermediate coaches 1-12, driving coaches 1-12), some later extended to 4-unit sets (with intermediate coaches 13-22). In the early sixties converted to non-powered coaches in push-pull service because of high maintenance costs. Withdrawn in 1979. Some carriages continued in regular services from 1992 until nineties as 111–117. One trailer should be preserved by the Country Museum in Tel Aviv1956
FIAT 7225Railcar80128010 ordered. After 8 were finished, the order was cancelled for unclear reasons. Italian literature wrote because of the Yom Kippur War. All ten units were sold to Ferrocarril del Pacifico and Ferrocarril Chihuahua al Pacífico in Mexico, where they entered service in 1975.1970/1973
ABB Scandia IC3DMU112[citation needed]180[citation needed]9 sets (42-50)The introduction of IC3-trains in the early 1990s marked the beginning of a political recommitment to major improvements in the services of Israel Railways. Each IC3 set is composed of 3 cars and multiple sets may be joined together. Sets 42-50 purchased from SJ in 2005. 31 was scrapped after an incident near Revadim on 10 August 2006. 19, 21, 25 possibly out of service. 01 is now in the Israel Railway Museum.1990
100[citation needed]160[citation needed]10 sets (01-10)1992
31 sets (11-41)1994–96

Carriages

ClassImageNumberRemarksBuilt
O&K83rd class coaches similar to German Eilzugwagen series 51-58. Seating however different with 2+3 seat arrangement and 96 seats.1955
Carel et Fouché[fr] CarF14Picture: first carriage. Series 71-841961
Boris Kidrič/Metalka "Yugo"43Series 601–643, delivered in several batches between 1964 and 1972. 601-615 in 1964, series 616-625 in 1965, 626-633 in 1966, 634-637 in 1971 and 638-643 in 1972. Coaches 631, 632 and 633 were fitted with buffets. 610 converted to half passenger carriage, half generator car. Some other were converted to full generator carriages. 621 in 2009 used as office in red colors in Bnei Brak.1964–72
DEV-Inox Carel et Fouché8Bought from SNCF in 1994 (Series 91-98) to create superfuous coaches for refurbishment by HaArgaz. Original 1st class A9TJ-mainline carriage U64. Declassified to B10 1/2TJ in eighties. Scrapped in 2006. 1 preserved in Railway Museum.1965
British Railways Mark 2c TSO8 (13)Bought from British Rail in 1977 (Series 681-688 (ex BR 5567, 5570, 5575, 5580, 5588, 5593, 5606, 5612) and retro-fitted with air conditioning equipment at Wolverton Works. 1 preserved at Railway Museum. In 1989, restaurant chain Apropo bought 5 Mk1 (BR 3947, 7675, 18768, 84338) and 1 Mk2 (5250) and shipped these to Israel, never to be used.1970
Alstom Modo35Assembled in Israel by Haargaz and were the first push-pull carriages operated by Israel railways. In August 2022 Israel Railways announced they were pulling the Alstom Modo from service starting September 2022. Driving Coach 302 is preserved on display at Railway Museum.1996-1997

Organizational structure

The company is headed by a chief executive officer. It has two subsidiaries: a real estate development company, and a freight rail company. The main organization has five operational departments: freight, infrastructure, rolling stock, passengers and development.

In 2017, Israel Railways founded a Tunnels Unit that is responsible for the daily operation of railway tunnels, including lighting, air circulation, etc. and managing emergencies.

Performance

The passenger number history (in millions) is as follows:

Ridership of Israel Railways
YearRidership (millions)
19501.6
19604.4
19704.1
19803.3
19902.5
19912.9
19954.8
19965.1
19975.6
19986.4
19998.8
200012.7
200115.1
200217.5
200319.8
200422.9
200526.8
200628.4
200731.8
200835.1
200935.9
201035.9
201135.9
201240.4
201345
201448.5
201553
201659.5
201764.6
201867.7
201969
202024.2
202135.0
202254.7
202362.5
Additional statistics
199019952000200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023
Total Revenue (million NIS)a1022004027768408429029971,0951,1581,1021,1591,1551,146518599604598
Passenger-kilometers (million)1702677812,0111,9861,9272,1332,3762,4852,6082,6452,7653,0323,5801,2531,9563,0193,401
Train-kilometers (passenger, million)3.8129.3758.9058.7678.34810.03511.1712.10112.9213.76714.13714.79610.158
Train-kilometers (cargo, thousand)1,4981,5711,6091,5081,5561,5841,7821,8172,0632,1411,9341,9341,791
Ton-kilometers (cargo, million)1,0481,1761,1737991,0621,0991,0111,0581,1651,1551,4041,3811,2351,2411,2501,085992895
Network length (km)9408589261,0011,0351,0791,1381,1531,1941,2771,3371,3841,4621,4621,486

^a In contemporary shekels – not adjusted for inflation

Notable accidents

  • On 26 December 1963 two passenger trains on the then single-track main line linking Tel Aviv and Haifa collided head-on at Bet Yehoshua just south of Netanya. The northbound train had passed a red signal and its locomotive rode over and crushed the locomotive of the southbound train. None of the coaches was derailed but a coupler broke in the northbound train detaching the rear three coaches. The continuous train brake should have then automatically stopped the detached coaches but it had not been connected properly so they started to roll back southwards. 55 people were injured but only three seriously enough to be detained in hospital. The two head-end crews survived but their locomotives, EMD G12s 105 and 118, were destroyed.
  • HaBonim disaster: On 11 June 1985 a train collided with a bus carrying school children, killing 19 children and 3 adults, near moshav HaBonim.
  • On 21 June 2005 an IC3 train crashed into a freight truck near kibbutz Revadim, killing 8 and injuring 198.
  • 8 July 2005, a train collided with a truck between Kiryat Gat and Ahuzam, resulting in the death of the train driver and 38 injuries. In February 2012 a plea bargain had been set for the Revadim crash.
  • On 12 June 2006 a train crashed into a truck near Beit Yehoshua, killing 5 and injuring from 77 to over 80.
  • On 27 December 2009 a train crashed into a car near Kiryat Gat. The driver proceeded without regard to the train checkpoint on the road. The train struck his car and he was killed.
  • On 5 August 2010 a train crashed into a minibus near Kiryat Gat, killing 7 and injuring 6. The minibus was hit at 19:05 GMT+3 on Route 353, apparently as it tried to pass over a level crossing.
  • On 28 December 2010 a fire started in a train near kibbutz Yakum, probably because of a short circuit, injuring 116.
  • On 7 April 2011 two trains collided frontally near Netanya, injuring 59.
  • On 4 October 2013, two men walking along railroad tracks in the Emek Hefer valley industrial zone were killed by a train.
  • On 18 December 2013, a Beersheba-bound train collided with a group of camels walking along railroad tracks at the Segev Shalom Junction in the Negev, killing 14 camels. The incident caused massive delays in train traffic.
  • On 29 December 2013, an Israel Railways worker was run down and killed by a train near Lod.
  • On 15 March 2016, an Israel Railways locomotive crashed into freight wagons, injuring 6.

See also

Ottoman Palestine railways

  • Eastern Railway, Ottoman WWI line, Tulkarm to Hadera and Tulkarm to Lydda; connected to Jezreel Valley, Jaffa–Jerusalem, and Beersheba lines
  • Jaffa–Jerusalem railway (inaugurated 1892)
  • Jezreel Valley railway (1905-1948), segment of the Haifa–Dera'a Line which connected the Hejaz Railway to the port of Haifa
  • Railway to Beersheba or the 'Egyptian Branch', Ottoman WWI line headed towards the Suez Canal; two lines: (Lidda–) Wadi Surar (Nahal Soreq)–Beit Hanoun, and Wadi Surar–Beersheba

Mandate Palestine & Israel railways

  • Palestine Railways, government-owned company and rail monopolist in Mandate Palestine (1920-1948)
  • Coastal railway line, main line in Mandate Palestine and Israel

Bibliography

  • Cotterell, Paul (1986). The Railways of Palestine and Israel. Tourret Publishing. ISBN0-905878-04-3.

External links

  • (in Hebrew)
  • (in Arabic)