Red Line (Jerusalem Light Rail)
Light rail line in East Jerusalem From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Red Line is the first section in operation of the light rail system in Jerusalem, Israel, known as the Jerusalem Light Rail. It became fully operational on December 1, 2011. The original line is 13.9 kilometers (8.6 mi) long with 23 stops. Extensions to the Red Line to the north of Neve Yaakov and to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital to the southwest were completed in February 2025 extending the line's length to 22.5 km (14.0 mi).[2]
 | This article needs to be updated. The reason given is: This Article is very out of date. (December 2023) |
| Red Line (Jerusalem Light Rail) הרכבת הקלה בירושלים | |
|---|---|
Red Line train CAF Urbos 100 in the French Hill neighbourhood. | |
| Overview | |
| Status | Opened |
| Owner | Cfir |
| Locale | Jerusalem, Ora |
| Termini |
|
| Stations | 35 |
| Website | www.cfir.co.il |
| Service | |
| Type | Light rail |
| System | Jerusalem Light Rail |
| Services |  |
| Operator(s) | Cfir |
| Depot(s) | French Hill depot |
| Rolling stock | 23 of Alstom Citadis 302 CAF Urbos 100 |
| Daily ridership | 130,000 (2013)[1] |
| History | |
| Opened | August 19, 2011 (free trial service) December 1, 2011 (full revenue service) March 2025 (extensions to Neve Yaakov to Hadassah Ein Kerem) |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 22.5 km (14.0 mi) |
| Number of tracks | 2 |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
| Electrification | 750 V DC OHLE |
| Operating speed | 50 km/h (31 mph) maximum |
With a total estimated cost for the initial section of the line of 3.8 billion NIS (approx. US $1.1 billion),[3][4] the project was criticized for budget overruns, for its route serving east Jerusalem and for contributing to air and noise pollution during construction.[5]
Stations
| Station[9][10] | Street | Location | Neighborhood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hadassah Ein Kerem הדסה עין כרם |
Kalman Yaakov Man Street | Ein Kerem Medical Center | |
| Medical School בית הספר לרפואה |
Near the entrance of the Hebrew University Ein Kerem Campus. | ||
| Ora Junction צומת אורה |
Henrietta Szold Street | At the end of Henrietta Szold Street and near the entrance of the moshav Ora. | Kiryat Menahem |
| Kiryat Menahem קרית מנחם |
|||
| Henrietta Szold–East הנרייטה סולד – מזרח |
|||
| HaMifletzet Playground גן המפלצת |
Arthur Hantke Street | Border between Arthur Hantke Street and Henrietta Szold street. | Kiryat HaYovel |
| Kiryat HaYovel–West קרית היובל – מערב |
|||
| Shmaryahu Levin שמריהו לוין |
|||
| Mount Herzl הר הרצל |
Herzl Boulevard | Corner of HaPisga Street | Bayit VeGan |
| Yefeh Nof יפה נוף |
Corner of Shmuel Bait Street | Beit HaKerem | |
| Denia Square כיכר דניה |
Corner of HaArazim Street at Denia Square | ||
| He-Haluts החלוץ |
Corner of HeHaluts Street | ||
| Kiryat Moshe קריית משה |
Corner of HaRav Zvi Yehuda Street | Kiryat Moshe | |
| Central Station התחנה המרכזית |
Jaffa Road | Located between the Central Bus Station and Navon railway station | Romema[11] |
| Ha-Turim הטורים |
Near Nordau Street | Mahane Yehuda | |
| Mahane Yehuda מחנה יהודה |
Near Mahane Yehuda Market | ||
| Ha-Davidka ה"דוידקה" |
Corner of Street of the Prophets at Davidka Square | City Center | |
| Jaffa–Center יפו – מרכז |
Corner of King George and Straus Streets | ||
| City Hall העיריה |
Near Safra Square | ||
| Damascus Gate שער שכם |
Heil HaHandassa Street | Corner of Sultan Suleiman Street | |
| Shivtei Israel שבטי ישראל |
Corner of Shivtei Israel Street | Beit Yisrael | |
| Shim'on Ha-Tsadik שמעון הצדיק |
Haim Bar Lev Boulevard | Corner of Shimon HaTsadik Street | Sheikh Jarrah |
| Ammunition Hill גבעת התחמושת |
Corner of Levi Eshkol Boulevard | French Hill | |
| Giv'at Ha-Mivtar גבעת המיבתר |
Shuafat Road | Corner of Sheshet HaYamim Street | Givat HaMivtar, French Hill |
| Es-Sahl א-סהל |
Corner of Umm Al-Amed Street | Shuafat | |
| Shu'afat שועפאט |
Corner of Ben Rabah Street | ||
| Beit 'Hanina בית חנינא |
Yekutiel Adam Street | Corner of Beit Hanina Street | Beit Hanina |
| Yekuti'el Adam יקותיאל אדם |
Corner of Moshe Dayan Boulevard | Pisgat Ze'ev | |
| Pisgat Ze'ev Center פסגת זאב מרכז |
Moshe Dayan Boulevard | Near Hapisga Mall | |
| Sayeret Dukhifat סיירת דוכיפת |
Corner of Sayeret Dukhifat Street | ||
| 'Heil Ha-Avir חיל האויר |
Corner of Heil HaAvir Street | ||
| Moshe Dayan משה דיין |
|||
| Mazal Kashat מזל קשת |
Corner of Moshe Dayan Boulevard and Neve Yaakov Boulevard | ||
| Itzhak Tavenkin יצחק טבנקין |
Neve Yaakov Boulevard | ||
| Neve Yaakov נווה יעקב |
Neve Yaakov |
Extensions
Summarize
Perspective
Initial extensions to the Red Line were planned to the neighborhoods of Neve Yaakov in Northeast Jerusalem and Ein Karem (near Hadassah Hospital) in the Southwest. Former mayor Uri Lupolianski stated that they would be completed at the same time as the rest of the line. In 2008, French company Egis Rail won an 11.9 million Euro contract to carry out some of the design work. However, in March 2009, CityPass turned down implementing the project.[12] In May 2010, the Jerusalem Municipality announced that the extensions would be built by the state authorities rather than a private company. The extension to Hadassah Hospital from Mount Herzl was particularly challenging and involved a complex path with complicated bridging works. The line's terminal station next to Hadassah's inpatient building was built during the construction of the inpatient building in order not to disrupt hospital operations later after the new building was be completed.[2] At one point, branches to the Red Line were planned that would create a "campus line" connecting the Mount Scopus and Givat Ram campuses of the Hebrew University,[13] but it was decided that this function will be accomplished by the future Green Line.
The Red Line extension of the Jerusalem Light Rail, intended to reach Hadassah Hospital and Neve Yaakov, has faced several delays. Initially set for completion in July 2023, the project’s timeline has been extended, with the new expected start of operations being no earlier than November 2024. The delay has been attributed to budgetary issues, infrastructure challenges, and a shortage of manpower. Infrastructure works are completed in certain segments, with others still under construction.
Eventually, the extensions of the Red Line to Neve Yaakov and Hadassah Ein Kerem opened on February 25, 2025.
See also
References
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