Public transport in Israel will become free - details
The Central Elections Committee has ruled that train and intercity bus travel on routes over 15 kilometers will be free during the elections on October 27, 2026. The benefit will take effect on October 26 at 8:00 PM and will remain in effect until the end of transport operations on election day. Bus passengers will not need a ticket or ID; train passengers must obtain a special ticket at ticket offices.
The Central Elections Committee of Israel has ruled that train and intercity bus travel on routes over 15 kilometers will be free during the elections on October 27, 2026. The benefit will take effect on October 26 at 8:00 PM and will remain in effect until the end of public transport operations on election day. Bus passengers will not need to purchase a ticket or present an ID when boarding eligible routes. Train passengers will need to obtain a special ticket at ticket offices or machines at stations. Information on which bus routes participate in the program can be obtained by calling the Ministry of Transport hotline at *8787. The article also notes that Israeli public transport is in a difficult situation: passenger traffic is growing, but infrastructure and human resources are not keeping up with this increase. Carriers are expanding operations, updating fleets, and developing digital services, but still face a severe shortage of drivers. The railway system is also under additional pressure. Previously, "Cursor" reported that new data from the Central Bureau of Statistics for the first time allows assessing changes in public transport usage after the implementation of the "Transport Justice" tariff reform initiated by Transport Minister Miri Regev. For youth aged 18 to 26, fares were reduced by 33%, and demobilized soldiers were granted the right to free public transport for one year after service. Additionally, according to the latest CBS data, passenger traffic growth in 2025 slowed significantly: the number of bus trips increased by only 1.4% over the year, reaching 780.9 million.