National Rail Project Connects Harish to Israel's Rail Network, Boosting Regional Growth

The National Planning and Building Council approved the "Menashe Railways" plan on Tuesday, a major infrastructure project that will link the city of Harish, the Baka-Jatt area, Menashe settlements, and Alon Emek Hefer to Israel's national rail network for the first time. The plan includes constructing a double-track railway approximately 50 kilometers long, upgrading and expanding Highways 574 and 581, and completing the regional longitudinal corridor Route 444 between Bat Hefer, Harish, and Highway 65. The railway will run alongside Highway 6, connecting in the south to the Eastern Railway and in the north to the Jezreel Valley line, Haifa, and the planned Galilee line extending to Tiberias. This connection will reduce travel times and allow residents to reach central Israel without transferring in Haifa.

The project will establish three new train stations in Bat Hefer, Baka al-Gharbiyye, and Harish. About one-third of the railway route will be tunneled to preserve open spaces along the stream channels. Previously, two route alternatives were considered: a western route distant from Harish and an eastern route tunneling through Harish. Two years ago, the council approved a new eastern alignment following Highway 6, which is now being formally submitted for public review.

Harish has experienced the highest residential growth in Israel over the past decade, expanding from 308 housing units in 2015 to 11,789 by 2025. By the end of 2024, its population reached approximately 41,000 with an annual growth rate of 4.68%, down from 23.3% in 2022. The improved rail connectivity is expected to revitalize Harish's growth by enhancing access to central Israel.

Rafi Almaliah, CEO of the Planning Administration, described the plan's approval as a critical step in strengthening Israel's periphery and connecting it to the center. He emphasized that the new transport artery will reduce road congestion, shift freight transport from trucks to rail, and provide residents with fast, efficient, and safe access across the country. Almaliah called the project transformative for the area's transportation and economic landscape.