Railway upgrades cause severe congestion as commuters face weekend travel chaos

Planned maintenance works on Israel’s railway network are causing unusually heavy congestion ahead of the weekend, with passenger numbers swelling significantly at busy transport interchanges. The upgrades and maintenance operations are being carried out in the Ganei Aviv and Kafr Chabad areas, affecting a major commuter corridor during peak travel times. Multiple passengers reported witnessing dozens of people crowded into narrow passageways as the network struggled to manage the increased demand caused by the reduced service.
The railway authority had previously announced these works in advance, giving commuters notice of the disruptions. However, the actual congestion appears to have exceeded expectations, with eyewitness accounts describing scenes considerably busier than normal Friday afternoon travel. The timing of the maintenance — immediately before the weekend — has compounded the impact, as many Israelis travel to and from Tel Aviv and surrounding areas on Fridays.
The bottlenecks at transfer points have created a domino effect across the network, as delayed passengers miss their usual connections and attempt to board subsequent services. Network operators are encouraging commuters to consider alternative routes or travel outside peak hours if possible. The maintenance is expected to continue through the weekend period, meaning Sunday commuters may also face disruptions as they return to work.

Source: Ynet — Original article in Hebrew.