Free Train Rides Election Day: 3/Hour to Jerusalem

Israel Railways announced Tuesday that train travel will be free for all passengers on election day, 27 Cheshvan 5786 (October 27, 2026), in line with a decision by the Central Elections Committee.

The free-travel period begins Monday evening, 26 Cheshvan, at 8:00 PM, and runs through the end of public-transport service on election day. Passengers must collect paper tickets from the ticket machines at train stations; the discount does not apply to Rav-Kav cards or mobile-app passes loaded with monthly or multi-ride contracts. Israel Railways is asking passengers not to use pre-loaded passes during the free-travel window, and to print paper tickets at the station instead.

To handle expected demand, the company will run an enhanced schedule on the Jerusalem Yitzhak Navon–Tel Aviv line. Between noon and 8:00 PM on election day, three trains an hour will run in each direction, up from the usual two. The third train each hour will begin and end its route at Tel Aviv HaHagana station.

Israel Railways notes that police have imposed a cap on the number of passengers traveling to and from Jerusalem. Passengers are required to print a travel voucher for each rider before boarding, matching the specific train they plan to take.

The railway's election-day arrangements are part of the broader public-transport plan set for the vote, aimed at making it easier for the public to reach polling stations across the country.