Israel's Public Transport to Halt for Yom Kippur Holiday
Public transportation across Israel, including trains, buses, and the light rail, will gradually cease operations in advance of Yom Kippur, which begins on Sunday evening, September 20, and concludes on Monday evening, September 21. Passengers planning travel on the afternoon before the fast are advised to account for reduced service and eventual suspension.
The light rail is expected to stop running around 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM on Sunday. Regular service will not resume until after the holiday, with a gradual return to operation starting around 9:30 PM on Monday evening.
Bus services, both urban and intercity, will also wind down, with most lines ceasing operation between 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM on Sunday. The exact times for the final departures may vary by route, and travelers are urged to verify schedules beforehand.
Israel Railways will operate an increased schedule until 1:00 PM on Sunday, similar to Friday timetables. This includes enhanced service on the Haifa-Tel Aviv line, with two trains per hour instead of one, and service on the Hadera East-Rosh Ha'ayin North line. No trains will run on the night of Yom Kippur itself. Regular train service, including night trains, will resume on Tuesday, September 22, with the light rail also gradually returning to service around 9:30 PM on Monday.