Tel Aviv Rail Chaos: Central Station to Shut Down, Trains Halted for 6 Days
Israel Railways announces a week-long shutdown in Tel Aviv, closing HaShalom Station and cutting north-south travel. Free shuttle buses will replace train service as critical safety upgrades take place.
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Israel Railways announced Tuesday that starting tomorrow (Wednesday) and lasting until next Tuesday, train service through central Tel Aviv will be suspended, bringing a week of travel chaos to commuters. The shutdown includes the temporary closure of Tel Aviv HaShalom Station, one of the busiest in the country.
During the six-day disruption, trains from the south will terminate at Lod, trains from Jerusalem and Modi’in will end at Ben Gurion Airport, and trains from the north will stop at Tel Aviv Savidor Central.
Railway officials stressed that the works are “life-saving and safety-critical,” involving major infrastructure upgrades that were originally scheduled for September. By moving them forward, Israel Railways says it will avoid a “double disruption” for passengers.
The maintenance, which includes upgrades to what engineers call the “heart valves” of the rail system—junctions that connect tracks and allow trains to cross lines—will take place between Tel Aviv HaHagana and Tel Aviv Savidor Central.
To ease the impact, free shuttle buses will run every five minutes between Tel Aviv HaHagana, Tel Aviv HaShalom, and Tel Aviv Savidor Central. Extra staff will also be deployed to assist passengers.
Service is expected to gradually resume from Tuesday, August 26, beginning with trains from the south, followed by those from the north.
Passengers are urged to check updates on the Israel Railways website, app, or by calling *5770. Additional public transport information is available from the Ministry of Transportation at *4515.
Israel Railways apologized for the inconvenience, calling on passengers for “understanding and patience” as crews work to strengthen the system’s safety and reliability.