Tel Aviv Metro Launches Major Autonomous Train Infrastructure Tenders

The Tel Aviv metropolitan area metro project has advanced as the operator, NTA, announced the pre-qualification process for the "Infra 2" tenders valued at approximately 30 billion shekels. This follows a strong international response to the earlier "Infra 1" infrastructure construction phase. The new tenders focus on selecting operators for the complex systems that will run the metro network, requiring cutting-edge technology including fully autonomous driverless trains using GoA4 technology. Additionally, the project mandates integration of Israeli cyber and security technologies.

The metro network will span about 150 kilometers with 109 underground stations, connecting 24 local authorities and is expected to handle over 600 million rides annually. The Israeli Finance Ministry estimates that traffic congestion costs the economy around 40 billion shekels per year, highlighting the metro's importance. NTA Chairperson Yodfat Afek-Erez emphasized the project's significance beyond transportation, calling it a growth infrastructure for Israel. NTA CEO Itamar Ben Meir noted the project's global complexity and the search for top international partners to deliver a reliable, advanced, and secure metro system meeting the highest standards worldwide.

The metro is considered the most complex infrastructure project in Israel's history and is seen as a key solution to the region's traffic congestion crisis. The tender process marks a critical step toward operationalizing the network with state-of-the-art autonomous technology and Israeli cybersecurity integration.