Israel Launches 'Menashe Railways' to Connect Harish and Surrounding Areas to National Network

On August 4, 2026, Israel's National Planning and Building Council approved the "Menashe Railways" project, a major national infrastructure initiative designed to connect the new city of Harish, the Baqa-Jatt area, Menashe settlements, Alona, and Emek Hefer to the national railway network for the first time. The project includes constructing approximately 50 kilometers of double-track railway, upgrading and expanding highways 574 and 581, and completing the regional longitudinal corridor 444 between Bat Hefer, Harish, and Highway 65.

The new rail line will run alongside Highway 6, linking in the south to the Eastern Railway and in the north to the Jezreel Valley Railway, Haifa, and the planned Galilee Railway extending to Tiberias. This connection aims to reduce travel times to central Israel, improve public transport access for workers in employment zones, and facilitate freight transport from Haifa port and the northern metropolitan area without using the coastal railway. It will also enhance passenger train frequency and service between Haifa and Tel Aviv.

As part of the plan, three new train stations will be built in Bat Hefer, Baqa al-Gharbiyye, and Harish, providing residents with direct and rapid access to the national rail system and improving connectivity to commercial and employment centers. Environmental preservation is a key focus, with about one-third of the railway route planned to be tunneled, including beneath the Megiddo Biosphere Reserve, to protect open spaces, stream channels, and unique natural values.

Rafi Almaliah, CEO of the Planning Administration, described the project as a decisive step toward strengthening Israel's periphery and connecting it to the center, reducing road congestion, shifting freight from trucks to rail, and providing fast, efficient, and safe access for residents. Yael Solomon, Deputy Director of Infrastructure at the Planning Administration, highlighted the project's complexity, requiring close coordination across rail, road, electricity, and water systems, and praised the advanced tunneling solutions that balance national development with environmental protection. The plan also ensures optimal connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists to the new stations, emphasizing public transport prioritization.