Train schedule in Israel. Private guide and tour guide in Israel. Individual excursions and tours, recreation. License from the Ministry of Tourism Israel Railways Diagram
Useful information about Israeli railways first hand: types of tickets, fares, calculations of how to get in Israel from Tel Aviv airport to Jerusalem, description of Israeli trains, instructions for ticket machines, how to buy tickets in Israel, tips
To my surprise, the Israeli railways turned out to be much more convenient than local buses, although some of my friends claimed the opposite. The ease of use, the relatively low cost of tickets, and comfort left me with very good impressions of Israeli trains. In addition, which is nice, the interface of the railway website is made in Russian - it is only in appearance that it is unreadable Hebrew, but at the top left there are buttons for switching the language, and there, in addition to the Arabic and universal English intended for locals, there is also Russian.
Having switched, any traveler from Russia can see all the necessary information as if he were at home and taking a ticket for a domestic train...
Thanks to this approach on the part of the Israeli Railways, planning a trip becomes a nonsense, since everything is clear and accessible. For example, you need to get from Tel Aviv airport to Jerusalem by train, which means you select the appropriate stations, indicate the date and approximate time of departure, after which you receive a list of travel options.
It is important to take into account that from Friday evening until almost the end of Saturday, Israeli trains do not run - Shabbat, you know... That is, trains do not run at all, they simply do not exist, and there is no schedule for this period of time as a class. In other words, when planning, say, to fly to Tel Aviv on Saturday, do not count on the railway, but rather rely on Arab minibuses to Jerusalem and other places. If it’s a weekday, the schedule on the Israeli railway website will look something like this.
In general, this schedule can be trusted, although I personally noted delays - they did not affect my plans, but if the transfer is short, problems cannot be ruled out. On the other hand, tickets are valid for a specific route, and not for a specific train, so you can safely use the next flight, even if you have to wait. As for the cost of travel, it is determined by the distance from point A to point B, and, in particular, the cost of tickets for travel between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv will be equal to a trip to Jerusalem from Ben Gurion Airport with a transfer in Tel Aviv, although a separate a ticket between Ben Gurion and Tel Aviv will cost two-thirds of this cost - 22.5 and 15 shekels, respectively.
Some savings come from purchasing round-trip tickets immediately - a 10 percent discount in this case is guaranteed. Thus, popular one-day excursions from Tel Aviv to Haifa among tourists will cost those who know about this rule somewhat cheaper than everyone else. The only bad thing is that, according to information from the railway workers themselves, you cannot buy, for example, a pass to Acre and back, and make a stop in Haifa: this would cost significantly less than two separate tickets, from Tel Aviv to Haifa and from Haifa to Acre.
An additional opportunity to save money is provided by combined tickets - "Combined Day return - Dan" gives its owner the right not only to travel, say, from Tel Aviv to Haifa by train, but also to ride Tel Aviv buses for the whole day. Having estimated that one bus ticket costs 6.60 shekels, you understand that a combined pass is profitable, even if you just take the bus from the hotel to the station and back - travel to Haifa from Tel Aviv costs 55 shekels for a round trip versus 61 shekels, which costs "Combined Day return - Dan". In short, before traveling to the Promised Land, you need to carefully study the website of the Israeli railways...
Since the railway website does not provide the opportunity to buy tickets, the most important thing in working with it is to find out the cost of travel and train schedules in Israel, because navigating the place in a hurry is not very convenient: all the stands indicating the time are arranged from right to left, and this is terribly confusing at first confused. It’s good that in practice, the schedule is duplicated everywhere in English, so it’s still possible to figure out where the train is going... However, on trips, the names of the stations may not be reported, especially if we are talking about ordinary places that are rarely visited by tourists. In other words, Tel Aviv stations or Ben Gurion Airport will be announced by broadcast in English, but expecting that you will be warned about some Bet Shemash is somewhat naive: the loudspeakers, at best, will burst into patter, but that’s all. Try, therefore, to catch the word “tahana”, that is, stop, and then the name of the next station will appear.
In addition, the new trains have an information board where the train route is displayed, while simpler trains, even if they have electronic panels, contain information only in Hebrew. This Israeli train, terribly reminiscent of German electric trains, is one of the new, information-rich ones.
And this is the interior of the train, so to speak, of the old model, one-story and somewhat shabby - the seats, for example. may well be broken. However, Israeli trains are much better than Russian electric trains, if only because it is not customary to smoke or urinate in their vestibules...
The passage to the trains usually looks like this, with the exception, however, that before entering any station you will have to go through security control. And if, for example, in Tel Aviv the train stations are equipped with the same type of devices that are in airports, then the main station in Jerusalem, Malha Train station, is “equipped” with a security guard who, like a mole, rummages through suitcases and spends a lot of time on this - it’s better to come not just before the train departs, but a little before...
Cashiers serving the Israeli railways most often speak English well, but it would be wise to still write on a piece of paper the name of the desired station and departure time - this measure will prevent possible misunderstandings and save nerves.
It is also wise to familiarize yourself with the ticket machines: the fact that in the previous photo there is no queue at the ticket office is the exception rather than the rule, and if you come across a deaf woman in front of you in the queue, traveling from Modlin to Ashdod with a two-day stop in Caesarea, you will get tired of waiting first, than you get to the cash register window. At the same time, machines are usually used by people who know how to handle computer interfaces, so there are no delays there. The unit only looks menacing, but in reality it is simple...
Israeli Railways ticket machines may also look like this.
The main thing when buying a ticket through a machine is to switch to English-language mode. To do this, you should simply touch the inscription “Language”, and although you will not be offered the Russian language, because this is not a website, English will be quite enough.
A list of the most popular stations among tourists can be found literally right away, and in order to realize, say, a planned trip from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, you just need to select the name of the city, and the departure point is recorded automatically in any way from the beginning. If those places in Israel that are listed first do not suit you, click “More destinations” and scroll through the list, arranged in alphabetical order.
After selecting stations, the system itself will indicate the nearest departure and offer to indicate the category to which the passenger belongs; for a tourist it will be "Adult", the first position in the right column.
It is quite important to remember that Israeli trains will cost slightly less when you take a ticket both there and back; the savings will be 10 percent - it seems like a trifle, but it’s nice...
The next screen will show the total cost of the tickets; The fare price is final and, so to speak, is not subject to appeal, unless the passenger suddenly remembers his status as a military man, pensioner or child - then all operations will have to be carried out again and the cost of tickets will become different, significantly lower. In this example, for travel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem you will have to pay 22.50 shekels one way or 40.50 for a round trip.
After the fare has been determined, all that remains is to give the required amount of money to the machine. Coins, banknotes, and, of course, credit cards are accepted for payment, so there should be no problems purchasing a ticket.
The purchased ticket must be validated after passing through the station turnstiles, and even after boarding the train, under no circumstances should you throw it away: firstly, inspectors periodically walk through the carriages; secondly, you can only exit the destination station through the turnstiles, which means your ticket will still come in handy.
Good luck using Israel's railways!
In Israel, government policy has recently paid special attention to the modernization of freight and rail transportation.
Israel's railways provide a rare example of restoration, where a largely forgotten and unused mode of transport has become a major means of transportation, especially for passenger transport.
What are Israeli railways?
Israel's railways have a relatively short total length of approximately 750 km. They have a fairly extensive network that has covered all cities of the country, connecting the center with remote corners of the country. There are almost 50 train stations and train stations here. Tel Aviv has 4 stations, and Haifa has 6. Thanks to this, you can get to the station from almost any corner of the city.
The country's railway lines carry both freight trains and modern trains designed to transport passengers. They consist of single-story ones and departures occur 2-3 times per hour during peak times, and once per hour during off-peak times. On the route from Nahariya to Haifa, Tel Aviv and Ben Gurion Airport, trains also operate at night, stopping at Haifa's Hof HaCarmel station and Tel Aviv's Merkaz station. All other stations in these cities are closed after midnight.
History of construction
Israeli railways have a long history. Their construction began when the country was ruled by Turkish and British authorities. The idea of building a railway line was first voiced by Moses Montefiore, a British Jewish financier. And 1892 became the year of construction of the railway for Israel. At this time, the first single-track line, 82 km long, was laid. It connected the city of Jaffa (now a district of Tel Aviv) and Jerusalem. This distance could be covered in 4 hours. The Jerusalem railway line opened in 1892. In the city of Jaffa, the station has survived to this day, which was recently reconstructed, and the building was given over to a museum and entertainment center.
The Turks, owning the Middle East, in 1900 developed a project for the construction of a railway track in Palestine. It was supposed to run between Istanbul and the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. The project was developed under the leadership of the Turkish Sultan Abdullah Hamid II, and the technical part was carried out by German engineers. As a result, a line was built connecting Istanbul and Medina. But the British who came to power did not allow the Turks to use it. There was another attempt to build a railway between Palestine and Egypt, but it was not completed.
The cities of Haifa and Beit She'an were connected by a line in 1904, and the following year, 1905, a line was built connecting Haifa and Damascus. The Turkish military railway line between Afula and Beer Sheva opened in 1915.
After the country gained independence in 1950, a new Haifa-Tel Aviv-Jerusalem line was opened in Israel. And for the first time after a long war, regular railway communication was established here. In 1954, a railway station was opened in Tel Aviv. A line was built and opened between Be'er Sheva and Dimona in 1965 to transport goods.
Modern development
Israel's railways continue to intensively develop and modernize. On the line opened in 1991 to Rehovot, an order was placed for several new locomotives running on diesel fuel. In 1992, Israeli lines were replenished with modern IC3 - Diesel trains. Spain sent comfortable passenger carriages to the country in 1997. And in 1998, new diesel locomotives were received from Spain.
Israel's railways are becoming more and more comfortable. Using their services, it became convenient to move around the country.
Israel Railways today
Today, almost 410 trains are used every day to transport passengers on nine railway lines. Each train consists of six cars; there are trains of 12 cars. Trains on certain sections of the road can reach speeds of about 160 km/h. But there is no unnecessary noise or feeling of shaking.
Inside the carriages there are seats on both sides, with tables between them. Plastic garbage bags can be seen near each seat. Each carriage is equipped with climate control air conditioning and soft fluorescent lighting. Each train has a toilet, you can see the movement map. The group sells light snacks on the road, including water and sandwiches. You can use free Wi-Fi here. All the way, each station name is accompanied by an audio and visual announcement.
Purchasing tickets and train schedules
The level of service in Israel corresponds to the European one, where every passenger is guaranteed travel in comfortable conditions with pleasant service.
To purchase tickets, you can use the machines or buy them directly at the box office. Moreover, tickets are purchased not for a specific trip, but from one point to another. Transfers in a paid direction can be made an unlimited number of times. Tickets are in the form of a plastic card with a built-in magnetic stripe. They can be purchased for one trip or for several, both in one direction and in the opposite direction. Purchased single tickets can only be used during the day the ticket was purchased, and multi-use tickets can be used throughout the month.
The stations are equipped with turnstiles at the entrance and exit. Baggage is not paid separately. You can move it yourself or with the help of a person on duty, using a special gate.
It is almost impossible to travel for free on an Israeli train, since almost every train has inspectors, and the fines for trying to travel for free are quite high.
To find out the train schedule, you can go to the Israel Railways website. You can also find out any changes made to the schedule here.
Management Company
Today, all passenger and freight transportation by rail is handled by the state-owned Israeli Railways company, Rakevet Israel. It was organized in 2003 under the leadership of the country's Minister of Transport.
Considering the size of the country and how densely populated its center and north are, it can be argued that Israel Railways is considered a leading operator in passenger and freight transport. This one is especially in demand among the local population.
Passenger and freight trains run both in the suburbs and between cities of the country. But the railway is not connected to other states.
Tourist destinations are particularly popular, especially Ashkelon - Tel Aviv. This is the busiest route.
Freight transportation
Freight trains are considered the main means of transporting goods in Israel. Using them, they transport bulk substances - these are minerals found in and around the Dead Sea. Container transportation also plays a significant role. But freight transportation is small compared to passenger transportation.
Shabbat holiday in the country
The most important Jewish holiday, Shabbat is celebrated every week in Israel. It begins on Friday evening, after sunset. It lasts until Saturday evening.
At this time, all transport stops operating, and trains, unlike buses, stop running a couple of hours earlier. In winter, this happens around 15:00, and in summer - at 16-17 hours.
Advantages and disadvantages of railway transport
Israel's railway services, in particular passenger transportation, have a number of advantages. Compared to bus transport, trains move faster and strictly on schedule, since their movement is not affected by traffic jams, traffic lights, or speed limits that exist for cars. The fare for traveling by rail is higher compared to the cost of traveling by bus. But traveling by train will be more comfortable and safer.
One disadvantage is that the trains make few stops and are far from the city center. Also, trains do not go to the northernmost parts of the country.
When planning a trip to Israel, the schedule of buses, trains, and planes can be very useful.
How well you understand it and plan your movement around the country will determine whether you will enjoy your holiday in Israel. There is no need to neglect such “little things” as the schedule in Israel, in the hope that “I’ll figure it out on the spot.” Most often, there are no problems with transport. But there may be exceptions to this rule.
Remember that on Shabbat, from Friday evening to Saturday evening, there is no transport in Israel. And at this time you will have to travel by taxi.
Therefore, to save money, time and nerves, look at the schedule in Israel in advance and plan your trip.
Israel Bus Schedule
Egged buses transport passengers throughout the country. On the site www.egged.co.il You can choose the flight that suits you and even book a ticket online. You can get the ticket itself from special machines at the bus station. To do this, you will need to indicate your order number and passport number. There is no schedule in Russian on the website, but there is one in English.
Here is the bus schedule from Tel Aviv to Eilat and from Jerusalem to Eilat, taken from this site.
Be sure to check the bus schedule in Israel at www.egged.co.il
The schedule is available in Russian. On the website pages there is a diagram of railway lines and stations.
Israel Flight Schedules
www.elal.co.il ElAl airline schedule in Russian.
www.arkia.co.il Arkia airline schedule in English.
Israel Railways has a very clear website. I am giving you a link directly to the Russian version of the site.
The site is in Russian and is easy to use.
Let's, as an example, try to look at the ticket price and train schedule so that you can get from Ben Gurion Airport to Haifa.
The railway station at the airport is called: station "Ben Gurion Airport".
In Haifa, the railway runs through the city along the sea and there are several stations. The station you need is called "Haifa-Merkaz-Central". Word merk A h in Hebrew means center.
Select on the website destination station And departure station.
The site will give you a list of trains running from the airport to Haifa to your station between 18.00 and 20.00. That is, an hour before the time you specified and an hour later too.
There will also be two red buttons, by clicking on which you can see earlier and later trains. In Israel, trains usually run on schedule. You will also be able to see which trains go directly (you do not need to change trains) - this is written next to each train on the schedule.
Select the desired train.
You will receive a page containing the ticket price, train arrival time in Haifa, and duration of the trip.
You buy a ticket for an adult. Discount tickets for Israeli citizens.
Israel's railway network stretches throughout the country. Its length is 750 km. It connects the center with settlements in other areas. Israel's railways operate around the clock, ensuring uninterrupted movement of passenger and freight trains. The exceptions are religious holidays and Shabbat.
There are 45 stations for passengers in the country. Main route: Nahariya – Acre – Haifa – Netanya – Hadera – Tel Aviv – Beer Sheva – Dimona. The number of railway lines is growing steadily. Today, new high-speed lines are being built in many directions.
Brief description of the railway system
The sole operator of the Israeli railways is the state-owned company Rakevet Israel, which is headed by the Minister of Transport. The existing routes pass through the center, northern, southern and coastal regions of the country. In Israel, certain sections of roads are under construction and unused. The center of this entire system is Tel Aviv and the Lod hub station with a repair depot. On the country's railways, traffic is on the left.
The most important means of transportation are freight trains, used to transport bulk solids: minerals from the Dead Sea region and the Negev Desert. No less importance is attached to container and passenger transportation. About 410 trains pass per day on passenger lines.
More than 2 million people use Israel's railway services every month. The busiest routes are Ashkelon - Tel Aviv and Haifa - Tel Aviv. Diesel locomotives are used to move the trains. Comfortable double- and single-decker carriages are provided for passengers. On some sections, trains reach speeds of about 160 km/h.
Tickets and timetables
Service on Israeli trains corresponds to European standards. Passengers are offered only one class of carriages, which is similar to the second class of trains in Europe. Customers are guaranteed a comfortable journey and pleasant service. Tickets with a magnetic stripe are used to pay for travel. The passenger train schedule is on the Israeli Railways website - http://www.rail.co.il. Any changes in the schedule are recorded on this virtual platform. There are areas where train traffic is temporarily suspended. In such cases, passengers can use the free bus that follows the train route. Such buses leave the stations 10 minutes after the train arrives. Further from the first operating station, passengers continue to travel by train according to the schedule.