Jerusalem’s New Green Line Prepares to Carry Its First Passengers

by | Jul 8, 2026 | News

Jerusalem is on the cusp of a transportation milestone, as the first section of the city’s long awaited Green Line light rail prepares to open to the public this year. The new line marks the next major step in what city officials have called a historic transportation revolution for the capital.

The Green Line is the second light rail route in Jerusalem, joining the Red Line that has served the city since 2011. When fully complete, expected in 2027, it will stretch roughly twenty kilometers from the Gilo neighborhood in the south to the Mount Scopus campus in the north, linking the two campuses of the Hebrew University and passing through Malha, the city center, and the government complex along the way. The route will include dozens of stations and is projected to carry large numbers of daily riders.

The first segment, running between Malha and the HaTurim area, is set to begin service in 2026, offering residents and visitors an early taste of the expanded network. Additional sections will follow as construction continues across the city.

Building rail through Jerusalem is no simple task. Crews must navigate steep, hilly terrain, narrow historic streets, and dense archaeological layers that lie just beneath the surface, factors that have shaped the design and, at times, slowed progress. The ongoing work has brought disruption to major arteries, and the Red Line has faced periodic suspensions as new lines are built. City officials have acknowledged the inconvenience while urging patience, arguing that the finished network will transform daily life.

The stakes are significant for a growing city that draws residents, students, pilgrims, and tourists from around the world. Planners envision a connected system of Red, Green, and future Blue lines that will ease congestion, reduce pollution, and knit together neighborhoods long separated by traffic and geography.

For Jerusalemites who have lived through years of construction, the opening of the Green Line’s first stretch offers a tangible sign that the vision is finally taking shape, and that a smoother way to move through the ancient city is within reach.

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