New Rail Connection to Haifa Ports Expected to Reduce Congestion on Roads

Jerusalem, 11 August, 2025 (TPS-IL) — The National Transportation Authority has given the green light to promote an additional rail connection between Haifa Ports and the national rail network. Israel’s Ministry of Transportation called this a “huge step towards transferring cargo transportation from roads to rail.

Today, over 90% of the volume of cargo in Israel is transported by road using trucks. This situation creates heavy traffic loads, safety risks, accelerated wear and tear of the infrastructure, high pollutant emissions and significant maintenance costs for the economy. On the other hand, rail transport allows for the transport of large quantities of cargo efficiently and quickly, while saving costs, reducing air pollution and increasing road safety. Expanding rail capacity for transporting cargo is key to reducing road congestion and improving the competitiveness of the Israeli economy.

The new rail will connect Haifa’s ports to two main logistics clusters: the eastern waterway cluster includes the Gulf Port, Shavit Terminal, Kishon East Terminal and the Israel Shipyards Port, and serves as a central hub for unloading and loading containers, general cargo and bulk cargo. The western waterway cluster includes the Carmel Port, Haifa Port, Dagon Silos, Haifa East Wharf and the historic Kishon Terminal, and constitutes a connection point between the existing rail infrastructure and the commercial and storage activities in the western area of the port.

According to forecasts, in 2035, the railway will operate about 33 freight trains per day – and this is before the regional peace railways, which we all hope will be established in the near future, are put into operation. The result: shorter transportation times, reduced traffic congestion on the roads, and improved operational efficiency of the ports.