AUGUST 29, 2026 18:55

Residing in central Jerusalem often means dealing with the market, constant sounds, and naturally the light rail system.

Almost one year after noting the short-term closure of the Haturim stop, the reward has come as the L3 portion - the initial segment of the wider Green Line effort and now marked in yellow - welcomed riders this week from Haturim all the way to Malha Mall.

Officials embraced full yellow theming including balloon arches at stops, matching signs, and citrus popsicles to celebrate the debut.

The event featured key figures from Jerusalem transport circles and drew praise from Transportation Minister Miri Regev, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Mayor Moshe Lion, and Cfir CEO Oren Cohen.

Spanning seven kilometers, the L3 path travels from Haturim station westward past the Central Bus Station and Navon rail hub, then southward by the Knesset and Hebrew University Givat Ram site. It continues to Teddy Stadium and Pais Arena before concluding near Malha Mall and the growing Gav Yam tech area. This addition brings 12 new stops plus the existing Haturim interchange and Central Bus Station/Navon hub.

The key gain is that Jerusalem residents can now switch between light rail lines for the first time, finally seeing the results of all the prior building work and sounds.

"It runs dependably and smoothly, and I never fear missing my connection since it arrives as scheduled," one rider noted after launch. "Travel to Malha feels simple now."

Red Line Sees Recent Growth

The Red Line, Jerusalem's original light rail path, has run for 15 years and recently grew to link Neve Yaakov with Hadassah Ein Kerem while serving 200,000 passengers each day.

Yet like many global transit efforts, the launch encountered major setbacks. Reports indicated the Green Line L3 phase arrived a decade behind schedule, while prior plans aimed for full completion by 2025.

Recent delays grew worse due to conflicts with Iran that halted work and extended timelines further.

The project gained city approval in 2016 with bids following soon after, and building lasted nearly ten years. The Green Line mirrors past patterns as Red Line extensions, once due in 2023, faced repeated shifts before service began.

Those living along the path endured years of building sites, route changes, and limited street or shop access in spots such as Givat Mordechai, Pat, and Jaffa Road.

Whether the waits lasted a decade or just months, the L3 has arrived and leaders have highlighted the Green Line as a shift for Jerusalem even as some riders felt less impressed.

"It carries a fresh plastic scent and somehow looks unclean already, which comes as no shock," one passenger remarked.

Mayor Moshe Lion views the debut as a shift in city transit. "Jerusalem moves from having a light rail to possessing a full light rail network," he stated, adding that L3 starts the path to a linked transit grid.

"Paired with growing park-and-ride spots, this will form the city's main transport system, alter its look and daily life, link neighborhoods with job sites and key institutions, and let drivers skip cars to cut congestion and pollution. L3 is not the end. The network will grow with more lines, reach additional areas, and make Jerusalem as connected as major world capitals."

Transportation Minister Miri Regev, who reviewed the line with Lion before opening, also described it as part of a larger transport change in the capital.

"Jerusalem leads Israel's public transport progress and shows the path for major cities with quick, effective, linked, and open mass transit systems," Regev said.

"L3 launch advances our goal of linking the country so all residents reach places fast, easily, and securely."

The next step arrives in December when L4 will connect the Central Bus Station to Gilo in the south, aiding over 100,000 residents with better rail access.

After that the Green Line should reach north to Hebrew University Mount Scopus campus by June 2027 via French Hill, finally joining the university sites by rail as long planned.

Ahead, building has started on the Blue Line covering 24 km from Ramot north to Gilo south with 40 fresh stops.

That stage is not due before 2029 or 2030, and work will bring further street disruptions like those from the Green Line.

Hopefully the city will enjoy similar relief at that future opening.

Last week's start shows Jerusalem's progress with surface light rail unlike the harder and pricier work on Tel Aviv's large underground metro still years from finish.

While building started with a ceremony in December 2025, actual tunnel bids are only now advancing and service is not expected until the early or mid 2030s.

Pride matters but the issues run deeper.

The light rail may one day carry up to 400,000 riders daily and ease traffic woes that rank among the worst in the OECD.

In Jerusalem a real rail network shifts where people can live while staying tied to the city core.

"Knowing I need not reside in the center to enjoy good transport will ease long-term life in Jerusalem," another rider said.

One week later the new stops feel familiar as riders check fresh timetables. Balloon arches are gone yet trains continue.

For a city that waited nearly a decade, the real win was not the ceremony but the simple daily use of a new choice.

The next check comes in December as the line extends to Gilo. For now Jerusalem has what it lacked a week ago: a network instead of just one line.