"A project that will change the region": Harish connects to the national railway network

The National Planning and Building Council decided on Tuesday to deposit the "Mesilot Menashe" plan — a national infrastructure project that will, for the first time, connect the city of Harish, the Baka-Jatt area, the Menashe settlements, and Alon Emek Hefer to the national railway network.

The plan includes the construction of a double railway line, approximately 50 km long, alongside the upgrading and widening of highways 574 and 581, and the completion of the regional longitudinal road corridor number 444 between Bat Hefer, Harish, and highway 65. The railway, which will run along highway 6, will connect in its southern part to the Eastern Railway and in its northern part to the Valley Railway, leading to Haifa, and to the Galilee Railway planned to reach Tiberias. In effect, the railway will shorten travel times and allow residents of the region to reach the center of the country without passing through Haifa.

As part of the plan, three new railway stations will be built — in Bat Hefer, Baka al-Gharbiyye, and Harish. Furthermore, one-third of the railway route is planned in tunnels, with the aim of preserving open spaces in the stream channels.

In the past, several alternatives for the railway construction were examined, including a western route far from Harish and an eastern route crossing the city in a tunnel. About two years ago, the National Council approved the proposal by the Ministry of Transport and the Netivei Israel company for a new alternative that keeps the railway aligned with highway 6. Now, the National Planning and Building Council has officially deposited the plan.

Will the move restore the growth momentum in Harish?

Harish is the city with the most significant growth in the number of apartments over the last decade. Between 2015 and 2025, the city grew from 308 apartments to 11,789. By the end of 2024, Harish had about 41,000 residents, with an annual growth rate of 4.68%. Although this is a high growth figure compared to the Israeli average, it represents a significant decrease from previous years (in 2022, the growth rate was 23.3%). It is possible that now, with the connection to the national railway network and improved connectivity to the center of the country, the city will be able to return to large-scale growth.

"The depositing of the Mesilot Menashe plan is a decisive step in realizing the national vision for strengthening the periphery and connecting it to the center, said Rafi Elmaliach, Director General of the Planning Administration. We are launching a vital transport artery that will reduce the load on the roads, transfer freight transport from trucks to the railway, and provide the residents of the region with fast, efficient, and safe access to all parts of the country. This is a project that will change the transport and economic reality of the entire region."