Jerusalem Green Line Light Rail to Open First Section in May 2026

Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion has confirmed that the first section of the city's Green Line light rail, running from Malha to HaTurim, will open to passengers in May 2026. The announcement marks a major milestone for the capital's expanding public transit network, which already handles approximately 260,000 daily passengers on the existing Red Line. The Green Line, stretching 19.6 km in total, will eventually connect Mount Scopus in the north to the Gilo neighborhood in the south. Following the initial May opening, the line will extend to Gilo by July or August 2026, with the complete route to be finished by the summer of 2027. Upon full completion, the Green Line is expected to carry 400,000 passengers daily. The network will connect both Hebrew University campuses, three major hospitals, several of Jerusalem's largest neighborhoods, and key landmarks including the Government Precinct, the Biblical Zoo, Malcha Mall, and the Teddy Stadium. The project represents one of the largest urban transit investments in Jerusalem's history and is central to the Transportation Ministry's vision of making Jerusalem the first Israeli city where residents can live comfortably without a private car by 2030. Meanwhile, construction on the 31 km Blue Line has advanced rapidly, with utility and surface-infrastructure work proceeding along King George Street, the alignment's most constrained segment. The Blue Line, connecting Ramot to Gilo, is expected to be completed by 2030. As part of the recently approved 2026 transport budget, an extension of the Blue Line's eastern branch from Talpiot to Armon HaNatziv was also greenlit, adding three kilometers and five new stations.