Disabled Passengers Face Major Accessibility Issues on Israel Railways

Disabled passengers traveling on Israel Railways report significant accessibility challenges, including broken elevators, the need to pre-arrange assistance, and overcrowded designated accessible train cars. These cars, intended for wheelchair users, are often cluttered with bicycles and electric scooters, blocking passage and access to accessible restrooms. Lawyer Liron Avli, specializing in accessibility and real estate, highlights that these conditions turn what should be a simple journey into a complex ordeal, especially on single-level trains with narrow aisles and no proper wheelchair securing mechanisms.

Passengers also face difficulties before boarding, as ticket machines and validators are not always accessible to wheelchair users or shorter individuals, sometimes requiring outside help. Despite Israel Railways announcing in 2019 a ban on securing bikes and scooters in accessible cars, the problem persists. Avli submitted a detailed proposal to Israel Railways management, based on disability rights laws and public transport accessibility regulations, demanding dedicated accessible cars free of bikes and scooters, reliable assistance coordination, functional boarding equipment, staff presence during trips, and accessible ticketing machines.

Although a public roundtable was held over a year and a half ago where the company’s CEO promised to implement these changes by early 2026, no progress has been made. Avli vows to continue advocating until travel experiences are genuinely equitable. Israel Railways responded by emphasizing it is the most accessible public transport option in Israel, noting a record 8,800 disabled passengers traveled in July. They urge passengers requiring assistance to arrange it in advance and said a recent elevator malfunction was quickly fixed, with alternative services like special taxis offered when needed.