The Rakevet Israel Railway Company is introducing a new train schedule starting Saturday, January 17, which includes extending operating hours at some stations, increasing train numbers and adding more than 40,000 seats across the country.
According to Rakevet Israel, with the completion of electrification work on the section between Ofakim and Be’er Sheva stations, operating hours on this line will be extended and approximately 4,000 passenger seats will be added daily. From Sunday to Thursday, operating hours will be extended until approximately midnight, on Friday until 15:00, and at the end of Saturday, train service will be resumed in full.
For the first time, new Siemens electric trains (double-decker electric trains) will be added to the Tabat Hasharon and HaNegev Ma’aravi lines (Herzliya – Ofakim). Their introduction was made possible thanks to the electrification project, which allows the operation of modern, long and spacious trains while maintaining a high level of service and precision.
On the Netanya – Rehovot line, Siemens trains will be extended from six cars to 12 cars, which will add about 8,000 passenger seats daily.
On the Karmiel-Be’er Sheva line, trains will be extended to nine cars, which will add about 3,240 seats daily.
On the Nahariya-Ben Gurion Airport-Modi’in line, trains will be extended to nine cars during peak hours, adding about 13,140 seats daily.
On the Nahariya-Be’er Sheva line, trains will be extended to eight cars, adding 3,240 seats daily.
Double-decker red trains will be relocated on the Beit She’an-Atlit and Karmiel-Haifa lines, adding more than 10,000 seats daily.
When the new schedule is launched, the departure times of some trains will be changed, and the operating hours at the end of Saturday will also be adjusted. The changes will take effect on Saturday evening, January 17, 2026.