Jerusalem changes direction: the new light rail line that will connect the city to Malha

In the coming days, test runs will begin on the L4 line on the section between the Gonenim station and the Gilo area, as part of the continued expansion of the light rail network in Jerusalem. The Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Finance, the Jerusalem Municipality, "Transport for Jerusalem," and the "Cafir" company announced that the test runs are a key stage ahead of opening the line for commercial service to the public.

During the test runs, the line's operational, service, and safety systems will be tested, alongside checks and calibrations required for its operation in accordance with safety requirements and standards. L4 is expected to be the next line to join the city's light rail network, after the L3 line began commercial service on Friday, August 21, 2026.

L3 is the new light rail line in Jerusalem, connecting the HaTurim station on Jaffa Street to Malha. The section that opened spans approximately 7 km and includes 13 stations – 12 new ones and the HaTurim station, which is also shared with the existing L1 line.

The opening of L3 marks a significant change in Jerusalem's transport, which is moving from a system that relied for years on a single light rail line to a network of lines. L3 joins L1, which has been operating since 2011 between Neve Yaakov and Hadassah Ein Kerem, and the two create the first light rail network in Israel.

For passengers, this means a more direct connection to centers of employment, education, culture, sports, and leisure throughout the city, including Binyanei HaUma, the government complex, the Givat Ram campus, the high-tech complex at the Hebrew University park, the Botanical Gardens, Teddy Stadium, the Arena, and the Malha Mall.

The line also serves neighborhoods in Jerusalem, including Givat Mordechai, Pat, Gonenim, and Malha, allowing residents to reach central locations in the city via the light rail.

Along L3, there are two transfer stations with L1 at the HaTurim station and in the area of the Central Bus Station and Binyanei HaUma. The connections are expected to also facilitate the transfer between the light rail, Israel Railways, and bus lines.

The new network is also expected to serve passengers arriving in Jerusalem from outside the city. Those arriving by Israel Railways will be able to continue from the Yitzhak Navon station via the light rail, and in the future, a "Park and Ride" lot in Gilo is expected to allow drivers arriving via Highway 16 to park their vehicles and continue by public transport.

L3 is the first line to open as part of the "Green Route Project" of the Jerusalem light rail. Later, L4 is expected to connect the Gilo area to the network, and in a further stage, a section is planned that will also connect the Mount Scopus area.

The project is being promoted using the PPP method, a collaboration between the public and private sectors led by an inter-ministerial tender committee and with the participation of representatives from the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Transport, and the Inbal company. "Transport for Jerusalem" serves as the authority in charge of the project, and the execution is done through the "Cafir" company, a joint venture of Shapir and CAF.

Thus, within a short time, Jerusalem is moving from a single light rail line to a network of lines, with L3 already operating and L4 now taking another step on the way to joining the system.