Jerusalem Light Rail Red Line Halts Service After Power Cable Tears
Translated & summarized from Calcalist by baba
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Jerusalem's Red Line light rail halted due to a torn power cable.
- Alternative bus services are operating for affected passengers.
- This incident is the latest in a series of light rail malfunctions.
- Discussions about replacing the operator, Kfir, have occurred previously.
- Heavy rail services were also disrupted by a suspicious object.
The Red Line (L1) of Jerusalem's light rail system experienced a temporary service suspension on Monday morning due to a torn power cable in the Neve Yaakov area. The Ministry of Transport, Jerusalem Municipality, and the Jerusalem Transportation company are working with Kfir, the line's operator, to repair the fault and restore service. Alternative bus services have been provided for passengers. The Ministry of Transport stated that Kfir was informed the situation is unacceptable and does not meet the expected service standards. Passengers are advised to contact Kfir for service updates. The Red Line connects Pisgat Ze'ev in the north to Mount Herzl in the southwest, passing through the city center, and is a crucial public transport artery. This incident adds to a series of disruptions affecting the light rail over the past 18 months. Previous issues include signal and infrastructure failures in March 2025, a line shutdown in May after a tractor damaged power infrastructure, and another disruption that same day due to a traffic accident. In June, the Ministry of Transport's Director General, Moshe Ben-Zaken, called an urgent meeting to discuss potentially replacing Kfir as operator following repeated malfunctions, including one caused by a vehicle hitting a lighting pole. The disruptions occur as Jerusalem expands its light rail network. The Red Line began operation in 2011. The first section of the Green Line (L3) opened in August, connecting Jaffa Road to Malha. Other sections of the Green Line are under construction, with completion of some segments delayed until late 2027. The Blue Line, planned to be about 31 km long and include an underground tunnel, is expected to open in the early 2030s. Separately, disruptions also affected heavy rail service on Monday. A suspicious object near the tracks in the Gannot area led police to halt train traffic between Tel Aviv HaHagana and Lod stations, causing delays for passengers traveling to and from Tel Aviv. Train services will resume after police clearance.
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