Israel Railways announces changes to lost and found operations due to summer passenger surge
Following thousands of items left on trains during the summer and resulting warehouse congestion, Israel Railways is launching an expedited retrieval process and extending operating hours at the Tel Aviv Savidor Center lost and found department.
Violins, fishing rods, fishing gear, duty-free packages, scooters, mobile phones, laptops, tablets, wireless headphones, and religious items are just some of the belongings left behind on Israel Railways during the summer months. The lost and found department is currently working to return these items to their owners.
As every summer, there is an increase in train demand as families, teenagers, and parents with children travel for outings, flights from Ben Gurion Airport, or cruises from Haifa, joining the regular daily commuters.
Many items lost at stations or in carriages are collected, processed, and stored by service staff until claimed. During the summer months, approximately 5,000 items have been handled, including hundreds of electronic devices, clothing, camping gear, backpacks, sunglasses, and suitcases. Among the more unusual finds are musical instruments, unopened duty-free packages, scooters, baby strollers, and car booster seats.
Due to the warehouses reaching capacity, Israel Railways is announcing a special operation to return items to their owners. This includes an expedited retrieval process and extended operating hours at the Tel Aviv Savidor Center station until 19:00, from August 25 to August 31, 2026.
Israel Railways operates two lost and found departments, located at Tel Aviv Savidor Center and Merkazit HaMifratz stations, which typically provide service from 8:00 to 18:00. Passengers can submit an inquiry regarding a lost item via the Israel Railways website or mobile app, by calling *5770 (extension 3), or by visiting the department during operating hours.
