Israeli Rail Sees Sharp 20% Rise in Ultra-Orthodox Travel During Summer Break

Israel Railways reported a significant increase of about 20% in passenger trips at key stations serving ultra-Orthodox communities during the summer "bein hazmanim" break. The data, collected over three weeks from the 9th of Av to Rosh Chodesh Elul, showed an average daily ridership of approximately 322,000 trips. Notably, Beit Shemesh station experienced the largest surge with a 31% rise, totaling around 77,000 trips compared to the period before the break.

Jerusalem's Yitzhak Navon station also saw a substantial increase, with about 798,000 trips over the period, marking a 23% growth and making it the busiest station. Other stations with notable rises included Netivot with a 21% increase (around 71,000 trips), Kfar Chabad with an 18% rise (approximately 40,000 trips), and Ashdod Ad Halom and Bnei Brak stations each recording about a 10% growth.

Thousands of families preferred train travel over congested roads to reach vacation and tourism sites during the break. Israel Railways highlighted that these figures align with a continuing upward trend in ridership, following a record-breaking 72 million annual trips in 2025. To accommodate the summer demand, the company enhanced its service infrastructure by deploying guidance attendants at major stations, expanding customer service centers, and strengthening assistance for passengers with disabilities.