Jerusalem Light Rail

The Jerusalem Light Rail (Hebrew: הרכבת הקלה בירושלים, HaRakevet HaKala Birushalayim, Arabic: قطار القدس الخفيف, Qiṭār Al-Quds Al-Khafīf) is a light rail system in Jerusalem. Currently, the Red Line is the only one in full operation, and the Green Line is partially operational (11 out of 35 planned stations), with several more light rail lines planned in Jerusalem. Construction on the Red line began in 2002 and ended in 2010, when the testing phase began. It was built by the CityPass consortium, which operated it until 2019. The project required construction of the Jerusalem Chords Bridge as well as other renovation projects around Jerusalem. After repeated delays due to archaeological discoveries and technical issues, service began, initially free of charge, on August 19, 2011. It became fully operational on December 1, 2011. The line is 22.5 kilometers (14.0 mi) long with 35 stops. The last extensions to the red line were opened in February 2025 to the Israeli settlement of Neve Yaakov and to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital to the southwest. With a total estimated cost for the Red Line's initial section of ₪3.8 billion (approx. US $1.1 billion), the project was criticized for budget overruns, for its route serving Jewish settlements in East Jerusalem and for contributing to air and noise pollution during construction. The Green line's plans have been approved by the city of Jerusalem, with right-of-way clearing works underway. Construction tenders, including those for the red line extension, were awarded in August 2019 to TransJerusalem J-Net Ltd., owned by CAF and Shapir Engineering, and the first phase became operational in August 2026. The Blue line has been approved and works on it have started in several locations.