Tel Aviv Metro Project Advances to Selecting Autonomous Train and Systems Providers

The Tel Aviv Metropolitan Area Metro project, managed by NTA (Metropolitan Mass Transit System Ltd.), has entered its next phase, Infra 2, which involves selecting companies to supply autonomous trains, signaling, electrical systems, and station infrastructure. This phase follows the initial Infra 1 stage, focused on infrastructure construction, which attracted 20 consortiums comprising 33 local and international companies competing for contracts worth approximately 65 billion shekels.

Infra 2 contracts, valued at about 30 billion shekels, will cover the provision of fully automated driverless trains using GOA4 technology, the highest level of rail automation globally. The selected companies will also provide integrated signaling, control, power, station systems, and operational maintenance services. The system is designed for real-time smart control, high operational precision, and advanced safety, with all subsystems connected to ensure continuous and reliable network operation.

NTA emphasized that standards were set in coordination with Israeli emergency services, and the winning firms will collaborate with Israeli cybersecurity and information security specialists. Over the past year, NTA, along with the Ministries of Transport and Finance and the Metro Authority, engaged with dozens of international companies expressing interest in the project.

The metro network will span approximately 150 kilometers with 109 underground stations, connecting 24 municipalities in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area. Preliminary works are underway in 2026, with main infrastructure construction scheduled to begin in 2028 and last about five years. The metro is expected to start operating in roughly 11 years, serving over 600 million trips annually, and combined with the light rail network, exceeding 800 million trips per year.

Key figures include NTA Chairman Moshe Cohen, who highlighted the transition from tunnels and stations to trains and systems, and Transportation Minister Miri Regev, who supports the project’s progress.