New tram line in Israel halted after two days
In Jerusalem, less than two days after the launch of the new L3 tram line, a technical malfunction occurred, causing a complete halt to train operations. The problem was discovered in the evening in the Gonenim area. Service has been suspended on the section between the Torim and Minhat stations in the Malha area. The timeline for resuming operations has not been announced.
In Jerusalem, train operations on the newly opened L3 light rail line have been completely suspended. Problems arose less than two days after it began service. According to ICE, the cause was a technical malfunction discovered in the evening in the Gonenim area. Following this, a decision was made to halt service on the section between the Torim and Minhat stations in the Malha area. Passengers have not yet been informed when trains will resume normal operation. Restrictions will remain in effect until the malfunction is fixed and a separate notice of service restoration is issued. The situation has drawn particular attention because the L3 line only began carrying passengers last Friday. The new route is the first operational segment of the large-scale "Green Line" development project and one of the most notable expansions of Jerusalem's light rail system in recent years. The length of the opened section exceeds seven kilometers. There are 13 stations along the route, and the Torim station provides a transfer to the existing L1 line. L3 is expected to significantly improve transportation links between central Jerusalem and the Malha area. The route provides access to several major city facilities, including Teddy Stadium, the Arena sports complex, the Malha Mall, the Botanical Garden, and technology centers. The new infrastructure was also designed as part of the city's unified transportation system. Passengers are expected to be able to transfer between light rail lines, buses, and Israel Railways trains, including via the Yitzhak Navon railway station.