Israel Railways Offers Free Rides on Election Day
Translated & summarized from Ice by baba
Israel Railways will offer free train travel on Election Day, October 27, 2026, to help citizens reach polling stations. The free service runs from Monday evening until Wednesday morning, requiring paper tickets obtained from station machines. Service will be increased on the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem line, with advance booking needed due to capacity limits. Over 7.33 million voters are eligible in the 26th Knesset elections.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Israel Railways will offer free train travel on Election Day, October 27, 2026.
- Free travel is valid from Monday evening, October 26, until Wednesday morning.
- Passengers must use paper tickets obtained from station machines for free rides.
- Service will be significantly increased on the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem line.
- Advance booking is required for the Jerusalem line due to capacity limits.
- Over 7.33 million Israelis are eligible to vote in the 26th Knesset elections.
Israel Railways will provide free train travel to all passengers on Election Day, Tuesday, October 27, 2026, for the 26th Knesset elections. The free service aims to facilitate citizens' access to polling stations and encourage democratic participation. The free travel will be valid from Monday, October 26, 2026, at 8:00 PM until the end of public transportation services on Wednesday morning. Passengers must obtain paper tickets from automated machines at stations and avoid using Rav-Kav cards or payment apps, which will incur regular fares.
To manage expected high demand, particularly on the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem line, train frequency will be increased. Three trains per hour will run in each direction between Jerusalem's Yitzhak Navon station and Tel Aviv between 12:00 PM and 8:00 PM. The third train each hour on this route will originate and terminate at Tel Aviv HaHagana station. Despite the increased service, passengers on the Jerusalem line are reminded that capacity is limited by police regulations, and advance booking of a specific train slot is required.
The election day preparations by Israel Railways coincide with the significant scale of the 26th Knesset elections. Over 7.33 million eligible voters are registered, an increase of over half a million since the previous election. More than 12,000 polling stations will be open nationwide, alongside special stations in hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, and prisons. As Election Day is a national holiday, many Israelis are expected to travel for leisure, potentially causing heavy traffic and further straining public transport.
Israel Railways advises passengers to arrive at stations early and check schedules and service updates via their website, app, customer service hotline at *5770, or official WhatsApp channel.
