Starting tonight, free travel goes into effect on Israel’s public transit ahead of tomorrow’s Knesset elections. The benefit will let the public travel at no cost on Israel Railways and certain intercity bus lines—whether to reach polling stations or to take advantage of the day off to travel between cities.
Under a decision by the Central Elections Committee, travel on Election Day will be free on all Israel Railways lines and on intercity bus routes longer than 15 kilometers. The benefit is available to the general public, though access differs between trains and buses.
How to Ride for Free
On intercity buses included in the arrangement, travel is free without a ticket or ID. Still, check in advance that your route is included in the benefit. On Israel Railways, free travel will be available using paper tickets only. Passengers can get the tickets at no charge from ticket machines at train stations. Riders planning to use the benefit are asked not to validate travel passes loaded on Rav-Kav cards or public transit apps.
Boosted Service Between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv
Alongside the free rides, Israel Railways will increase service on the Jerusalem Yitzhak Navon-Tel Aviv line to meet expected demand on Election Day. Between 12:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., the line will run three trains per hour in each direction, up from the usual two. The additional train will depart from Jerusalem Yitzhak Navon station and end its journey at Tel Aviv HaHagana station, operating the same route in the opposite direction. The boost is designed to ease expected crowding and help the public travel between the cities on the day off.
Beyond the cost savings, keep in mind that Election Day may bring crowds at stations and on popular routes. Plan your trip, check schedules and benefit terms, and leave with enough time to reach your polling station or destination without stress.