Jerusalem’s Green Light Rail Line Opens Tomorrow After Nearly a Decade of Delays

Safety officials completed the required inspections on Thursday evening for the first segment of Jerusalem’s Green Light Rail Line, which is set to open to passengers for the first time tomorrow. After several weeks of trial runs, the new L3 line will begin commercial operations, marking a milestone nearly 15 years after Israel’s first light rail line opened and almost a decade after this line was originally planned.

The Green Line stretches approximately 7 kilometers and includes 13 stations, 12 of which are new. It serves southwest Jerusalem, connecting neighborhoods such as Malha, Gonenim, Pat, and Givat Mordechai with the city center. Key landmarks along the route include Teddy Stadium, the Arena, Malha Mall, the Botanical Garden, Givat Ram campus, the Government Complex, and the Central Bus Station.

Passengers can transfer to the Red Line at the Tzurim station and near the Central Bus Station. The Central Bus Station also offers a connection to Israel Railways’ Yitzhak Navon station, though passengers must switch between systems. Future plans include linking the line to a "Park and Ride" facility near Highway 16 to encourage commuters to leave their cars outside the city.

The project faced extensive delays due to construction challenges, infrastructure removal difficulties, labor shortages, impacts from the war, and disputes over work in ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods. The Bar Ilan area was a particular flashpoint, with violent protests by extremist ultra-Orthodox factions disrupting construction and causing significant damage, requiring increased security and repairs funded by the state.

Financially, the project remains unsettled. The concessionaires, Shapir and CAF, have demanded compensation from the government due to the prolonged timeline and rising costs.