Israel Railways Halts Tel Aviv Train Service for Week After Infrastructure Damage

Israel Railways has announced a complete shutdown of train traffic through Tel Aviv from August 20 to August 26 due to extensive damage to several hundred meters of electric cable infrastructure caused by a freight train incident last week. The closure affects all north-south routes passing through Tel Aviv, with trains from Jerusalem and Modi'in terminating at Ben Gurion Airport and trains from northern stations ending at Tel Aviv Savidor Central. The disruption has caused significant commuter frustration and overcrowding on alternative transportation, with Israel Railways providing free shuttle buses between Tel Aviv stations at high frequency. The rail company is also using this period to advance safety and maintenance work originally scheduled for September, aiming to prevent further inconvenience later. Transportation officials acknowledge the fault and disruptions but maintain that the system is functioning, while passengers report severe overcrowding and delays. The incident has had a broad impact on Israel’s transport network, with increased pressure on roads and buses as passengers seek alternatives.