Israel without transportation on Rosh Hashanah: there is a serious problem

The celebration of Rosh Hashanah in Israel will lead to a halt of public transportation for more than 54 hours — from Friday evening until the end of the holiday on Sunday. Trains, light rail, and most buses will stop operating, significantly limiting residents' mobility, especially those planning trips to relatives or needing access to hospitals. Additionally, a reduction in the number of bus routes operating on Saturdays is reported.

The celebration of Rosh Hashanah in Israel will lead to a large-scale halt of public transportation. From Friday evening until the end of the holiday on Sunday, regular service of trains, light rail, and the vast majority of buses will be suspended for more than 54 hours. Residents who do not use private cars will be significantly limited in their movement between cities, especially those planning trips to relatives or needing access to medical facilities. The transportation pause will combine Shabbat and the two days of Rosh Hashanah into one extended period. Normal service will resume only after the holiday ends. The problem extends beyond the holiday schedule: the number of bus routes permitted to operate on Saturdays is decreasing. In June 2022, 493 routes had permits; by August 2024, 431; by the end of 2025, 410. At least 130 routes with formal permits do not operate Saturday services. Only about 16% of permitted routes run all of Saturday, primarily in Arab localities. Access to hospitals remains extremely limited: in Jerusalem, none of the 72 routes to the six largest hospitals operate on Saturday. In the center of the country, out of 256 routes to hospitals, only 12 have formal permits, but they do not actually run regular services. A similar situation exists at Soroka, Assuta Ashdod, Hillel Yaffe, Laniado, Ziv, and Poriya hospitals. An alternative exists in the form of the municipal project 'Na'im be-Sofshavua' in Tel Aviv and Gush Dan, but it covers a limited area and does not replace the national network.