$52 Million for New High Speed Rail Lines In and Out of Jerusalem

Jerusalem, 27 July, 2025 (TPS-IL) — The Ministry of Transportation and Israel Railways are marking the “final milestone” in the huge infrastructure project – Track 431, which connects Rishon LeZion, Modi’in and Jerusalem, with a fast and direct line. The Ministry of Finance has approved a budget of 175 million Shekels ($52 million) to advance the work on the ground, towards the completion of the project. As part of the railway’s strategic plan for the coming decades, which aims to increase the number of annual trips to 300 million by 2040.

The project includes laying approximately 30 km of double, electrified track along Route 431, which will connect Rishon LeZion Moshe Dayan Station to Modiin and Jerusalem Yitzhak Navon Stations without the need to change trains in Tel Aviv.

The new track will shorten travel times from Rishon LeZion to Jerusalem and Modi’in by half compared to the current travel time. In addition, new stations will be built: Ma’oin Sorek and Ramla South, and the Rishon LeZion station will be upgraded. A 3.5 km long railway bridge and three infrastructure tunnels 20 meters deep will also be built.

The initial operational phase is expected in 2027, with two trains per hour in each direction. Later, after the expansion of the central stations, the frequency will be increased to four trains per hour.