Israel Railways will reduce service on its Sharon Ring Line in central Israel "during peak hours only" from October 28 to 29, according to an announcement released on the company's website on Sunday.
As part of the service changes, train frequency will be halved to two trains per hour in each direction during peak hours, down from the usual four. Given the line's high ridership and central location, the midweek service reduction is likely to cause significant crowding at stations and onboard trains, as well as increased traffic congestion for those who choose to take private cars instead.
The popularity of the Sharon Ring Line is further evident in its standard peak-hour frequency relative to other popular lines, such as the Herzliya-Jerusalem Line, which runs at a maximum frequency of just two trains per hour, according to the Israel Railways schedule.
Peak hours for the Sharon Ring Line are approximately 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., with trains on the line running at a standard frequency of two per hour during off-peak times, according to the schedule.
Service cuts to allow for 'life-saving infrastructure work,' railway says
According to the railway, the service reduction will allow for "life-saving infrastructure work essential for travel safety in the Rishon Lezion area," which the affected rail line traverses along Israel's southern coast, serving Yavne, Ashdod, and Ashkelon. At the time of writing, the update is available only on the railway's Hebrew and Arabic websites, not on its English or Russian websites.
The Sharon Ring Line, named for its loop around the central Sharon region, serves several central Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv, Holon, Bat Yam, Bnei Brak, Petah Tikva, Hod Hasharon, Ra'anana, and Herzliya. The line further serves cities in Israel's northern Negev region, including Sderot, Netivot, Ofakim, and Beersheba.
Peak-hour work planned despite usual practice of off-peak work
The national railway company, overseen by Miri Regev's Transportation Ministry, generally plans major infrastructure work during off-peak hours or on weekends (excluding Shabbat) to avoid serious service disruptions.
For example, similar work planned for this week in the Yavne area will affect trains only from 10:00 p.m. on Tuesday to 4:30 a.m. on Wednesday, according to the Israel Railways website, with no disruptions to peak-hour trains.
It was not immediately clear why the railway chose to do the October 28-29 infrastructure work during peak hours, including rush hour, on two consecutive workdays immediately after Israel's October 27 elections.
The railway noted that some trains on the Beersheba-Herzliya Line will stop at the Holon and Bat Yam stations to alleviate disruptions.