Jerusalem expands light rail network with new L3 extension

Jerusalem is set to expand its public transit infrastructure this week with the opening of a new segment of the L3 light rail line. Starting on Tuesday, the route will extend from HaTurim station to Damascus Gate, passing directly through the city center. This announcement was made jointly by the Finance Ministry, the Transportation Ministry, the Jerusalem Municipality, Transportation for Jerusalem, and Cfir Light Rail.

The primary goal of this extension is to provide passengers with direct access to downtown Jerusalem. By adding this new route, authorities aim to increase the frequency of light rail service along the busy Jaffa Street corridor. The new section will include five additional stations that are shared with the existing L1 line, which currently operates between Neve Yaakov and Hadassah Ein Kerem.

These new stops will connect commuters to several major destinations in central Jerusalem. Key locations accessible via the extension include the Mahane Yehuda Market, City Hall, the Mamilla shopping district, and the entrance to the Old City. This improved connectivity is expected to streamline travel for both residents and visitors in the heart of the city.

The expansion is also designed to alleviate congestion on the current network. Previously, passengers traveling to downtown Jerusalem often had to switch to the crowded L1 line. With the L3 extension, the passenger load will be distributed more evenly between the two lines, reducing wait times and overcrowding during peak hours.

While the L3 extension opens this week, the L4 line is also nearing completion. This line will connect the southern Jerusalem neighborhood of Gilo and surrounding areas to the broader light rail network. The L4 line is currently in the final phases of its testing period and is expected to open to the public in the near future, subject to the required safety approvals.

According to a master plan map published on the Cfir website, several additional lines and extensions are planned for the city's future. The L3 line is scheduled to eventually extend to the Hadassah University Medical Center on Mount Scopus. The upcoming L4 line will also serve this area, running along the under-construction Blue Line and joining the L3 near Malha.

The L4 route will include stops in downtown Jerusalem, the First Station, and Talpiot. It is one of two lines that will feature underground stations in the Mea Shearim area. The other line, L6, will run from Ramot to join the L4 before splitting off to serve the Har Homa area. It will then follow Hebron Road to terminate alongside the L6 in Gilo.

A new crosstown line, designated as L8, is also under development. This route is set to depart from Armon Hanatziv in East Talpiot and terminate at the Hadassah University Medical Center in Ein Kerem. The L8 line will run alongside the L1 and connect with lines L3, L4, L6, and L7 at various stations along its path.

Additional capacity will be added to the Hadassah Ein Kerem terminal with the introduction of the L2 line. This new service will run as a supplement to the L1 line, extending to HaTurim station to increase overall capacity on the crowded original route. The L5 line is also expected to run from Hadassah Mount Scopus to Har Nof, with infrastructure already in place to allow it to cross the Red Line near the Chords Bridge.

At the time of this report, it remains unclear when these future lines will officially open or if their final routes have been fully determined. However, the expansion of the L3 and the imminent launch of the L4 mark significant progress in the city's ongoing effort to modernize and expand its public transportation system.