The Jerusalem Light Rail: Lines, Key Stops, Hours, Fares and How to Pay

25 Sept 2026 · 4 min

Two lines, one card, ₪8 a ride. Everything you need to ride Jerusalem's light rail, from the stops you'll actually use to what happens on Shabbat.

Short answer: Jerusalem has two light rail lines. The Red Line runs about 22 kilometres from Neve Yaakov in the north through the city centre along Jaffa Road to Mount Herzl and Hadassah Ein Kerem in the west. The Green Line, opened on 21 August 2026, runs from Jaffa Road past the central bus station to Givat Ram and Malha. A ride costs ₪8 and includes transfers for a limited time. Pay with a Rav-Kav card or an approved app, tap every time you board, and remember that nothing runs on Shabbat or on chagim.

The stops you will actually use

Red Line

Central Station (Tachana Merkazit). Intercity buses, and the fast train to the airport and Tel Aviv at Yitzhak Navon station across the road.
Mahane Yehuda. The shuk, and the bars around it at night.
Jaffa Center and City Hall. The pedestrian centre, Ben Yehuda Street, and the walk down to Mamilla and Jaffa Gate.
Damascus Gate. The closest stop to the Old City's Muslim and Christian quarters.
Mount Herzl. For Mount Herzl and Yad Vashem, a short walk away.
Hadassah Ein Kerem. The western end, at the hospital, close to Ein Kerem village.
Ammunition Hill, French Hill, Pisgat Ze'ev and Neve Yaakov. The northern neighbourhoods.

Green Line

From Jaffa Road (Turim, where you change lines) past the central bus station and Yitzhak Navon to the Government Quarter and the Hebrew University at Givat Ram, then Givat Mordechai, Pat, Teddy Stadium and Malha Mall. Branches to Gilo and Mount Scopus are due from December 2026. The Green Line guide has the details.

Hours and Shabbat

Sunday to Thursday: from early morning until around midnight, every few minutes at peak.
Friday and the eve of a chag: service ends in the early afternoon, well before candle lighting.
Shabbat and chagim: no service at all. Service restarts on Saturday night, roughly an hour after Shabbat ends.
Chol hamoed: trains run, and they are packed on big event days. See our Sukkot guide for this year's dates.

Shabbat times for the coming week are on our Shabbat page.

Fares and paying

₪8 a ride. The same price as a city bus since the 2025 fare changes, with transfers to buses and the other line included for a limited time after you first tap.
Rav-Kav. The contactless transit card. An anonymous card can be bought and loaded at machines and service points; a personal card, with your photo, carries discounts for students, seniors and other groups. The getting-around guide explains both.
Apps. Several approved apps let you pay from your phone, including the official Rav-Kav app on phones with NFC. You still have to scan or tap as you board.
Bank cards. A pilot for paying with a bank card or phone wallet started on some Jerusalem buses in January 2026. On the light rail, use a Rav-Kav or an app unless the validator clearly shows the bank-card symbol.
Tap every time. Inspectors check often, and an untapped card is a fine, even if you meant to pay.

Tips from riders

Trains stop at every stop. Board through any door.
Peak crowding is on weekday mornings and afternoons and on Friday mornings. With a pram or luggage, wait for the next train rather than squeeze in.
The stops show live arrival times; Moovit shows them too, and plans the bus connections.
Keep bags with you. Unattended bags are treated as a security threat and can stop the line.
Arriving from the airport? The train brings you to Yitzhak Navon, next to the Central Station stop. Airport to Jerusalem explains.

Common questions

How much does the Jerusalem light rail cost?

₪8 a ride, the same as a city bus, with transfers included for a limited time after you first tap. Discounts apply to students, seniors and other groups with a personal Rav-Kav.

How do I pay for the light rail in Jerusalem?

With a Rav-Kav card, bought and loaded at machines and service points, or with an approved payment app. Tap on the validator every time you board.

What are the Jerusalem light rail hours?

From early morning until around midnight Sunday to Thursday, ending in the early afternoon on Friday. There is no service on Shabbat or chagim; it restarts on Saturday night.

How many light rail lines does Jerusalem have?

Two: the Red Line from Neve Yaakov to Hadassah Ein Kerem, and the Green Line from Jaffa Road to Malha, opened in August 2026, with more sections to come.