Free intercity public transportation is available across Israel on Tuesday, Election Day for the 26th Knesset, with the benefit extending to all passengers, not just eligible voters, according to Walla. The service is funded by the Central Elections Committee.
Free travel began at 8 p.m. on Monday and will continue until public transportation services conclude Tuesday night.
The benefit applies to about 660 intercity bus routes longer than 15 kilometers, up from 600 routes during the 2022 elections, as well as all Israel Railways lines.
However, city buses, light rail services, the Metronit bus rapid transit system, and Haifa's Carmelit underground railway will continue to charge regular fares.
Passengers can check whether a specific intercity bus route is included in the arrangement by calling the Transportation Ministry's information hotline at \*8787.
How can passengers travel for free?
Intercity buses: Passengers can board eligible buses free of charge without presenting identification, obtaining a ticket, or validating a Rav-Kav public transportation card.
Israel Railways: Passengers must obtain a special paper ticket from station ticket counters or ticket machines. To avoid unnecessary charges, they should not use tickets or passes loaded onto their Rav-Kav cards or public transportation apps.
Additional trains on Jerusalem-Tel Aviv route
Due to anticipated demand, Israel Railways will run three trains per hour in each direction between Jerusalem's Yitzhak Navon Station and Tel Aviv from noon until 8 p.m. Tuesday, up from the usual two trains per hour.
Some of the additional services will begin and end at Tel Aviv's HaHagana Station.
In addition, police have restricted the number of passengers traveling to and from Jerusalem. Passengers are therefore required to obtain a personal travel voucher in advance for their selected train.
Due to expected congestion, railway staff will enforce the voucher requirement. Vouchers can be obtained free of charge through the Israel Railways website.
Will travel to Eilat also be free?
Different eligibility requirements apply to passengers traveling to and from Eilat.
Free travel on these routes is subject to an eligibility check based on the passenger's registered residential address and advance registration through Egged's information center at \*2800.
Rail passenger numbers could break 2022 election record
During the previous elections for the 25th Knesset on November 1, 2022, Israel Railways recorded a roughly 33% increase in passenger numbers, rising from 249,146 on a typical weekday to 331,706 on Election Day.
That record is expected to be broken this year.
The free transportation initiative is estimated to cost NIS 3.5 million and will be funded by the Central Elections Committee through the Transportation Ministry.
Passengers are advised to check updated schedules and service changes through the Israel Railways website, its official app, the \*5770 information hotline, or the railway's official WhatsApp channel.