Jerusalem: In 5 Years, the Train Will Reach Every Neighborhood

You won't recognize Jerusalem: within 5 years, the light rail will reach every neighborhood in the city

New stations and 31 km of track will connect to the existing network with the completion of the Blue Line in the coming years • King George Street will become a pedestrian street, an underground tunnel will be dug in the city center and the Talpiot neighborhood will get a facelift • Expected: half a million daily trips on the system once the expansion is done

In 2029, Jerusalem will become the first city in Israel with a comprehensive light rail network. The new Blue Line, whose works will begin in January, will connect with the existing lines and create a transportation network covering all the city's neighborhoods, from Ramot in the north to Gilo in the south.

The new project will include three main lines: the Blue Line, which will connect Ramot with Gilo through the city center, the Light Blue Line, which will connect Malha with Mount Scopus, and the Purple Line, which will connect Hadassah Ein Kerem with Hebron Road. Together with the operating Red Line and the Green Line under construction, a comprehensive transportation network will be created that will serve around half a million passengers every day.

The most dramatic change is expected in the city center: an underground tunnel will be dug from the intersection of Jaffa and King George streets to Yehezkel Street. The northern part of King George Street will become a pedestrian shopping mall similar to Jaffa Street, including new paving, street trees, modern lighting and benches.

A transformation is also planned for the Talpiot industrial zone: five new stations will be built along Pierre Koenig Street, which will become a modern boulevard. In place of the parking spaces that will be eliminated, three innovative automated parking facilities will be built and free use of the parking will be possible.