Israel Railways — state-owned operator. A1 Jerusalem fast link. NIS 40B+ electrification. 70M annual passengers.
Israel Railways (Rakevet Yisrael) is the state-owned national rail operator running approximately 1,400 kilometers of track. Over 70 million passengers annually. The network is in its most significant transformation since 1948: a NIS 40+ billion electrification and expansion program including the A1 Jerusalem link (opened 2018), Negev extensions, and planned Galilee connections.
A1 Jerusalem Fast Link
The A1 line connects Ben Gurion Airport and Tel Aviv to Jerusalem Yitzhak Navon station in ~30 minutes (vs 75+ via old route). Six tunnels including the 11.6-km Tunnel 3 through the Judean Hills. Cost: NIS 7B+.
Electrification
Israel Railways has operated entirely on diesel. The national electrification program covers the entire mainline — enabling higher speeds, lower costs, and modern rolling stock. Tel Aviv–Haifa corridor and A1 are priority segments.
Negev Expansion
Rail extensions south — Be'er Sheva to Arad, Dimona, eventually Eilat — serve population-dispersal strategy. New stations in Ofakim (2018), development towns, and Haredi cities integrate periphery into the national labor market.
