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Jerusalem trams now run directly from Malha to Damascus Gate

Since 10 November, passengers from Malha have been able to reach Mahane Yehuda Market, Jerusalem City Hall or Damascus Gate without changing trams.

La rédaction2 min read

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Translated from French. Read the original.

A Red Line tram on Jaffa Road in Jerusalem, 23 April 2019 (archive photo).
A Red Line tram on Jaffa Road in Jerusalem, 23 April 2019 (archive photo).. Photo: Bahnfrend, CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/), via Wikimedia Commons.
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Passengers leaving Malha in Jerusalem can now stay on the tram all the way to Damascus Gate, at the entrance to the Old City. Until Tuesday 10 November 2026, the L3 line ended at HaTurim. That morning, tram operator Cfir confirmed that services were running the full length of the route between Malha and the new terminus. 1234

From the south of the city to the market

For Malha residents who shop at Mahane Yehuda Market, the difference is at HaTurim. They used to have to get off there and wait for an L1 tram into the city centre. Now they can make the whole journey on one tram. The same goes for passengers heading to City Hall on Safra Square or to the Mamilla shopping district. 124

Five stops the two lines share

The five stops added to the L3 route were already on the L1, which runs from Neve Yaakov to Hadassah Hospital in Ein Kerem. On Jaffa Road, passengers heading for one of the shared stops can board either line as long as the tram is going their way. For the journey back to Malha, they need an L3. The line number appears on station displays and on the trams themselves. 12345

Another line is still undergoing tests

Tram service to Gilo, in southern Jerusalem, is part of a separate project. On 10 November, the L4 line was in its final round of testing. It still needs safety clearance before it can carry passengers. When the authorities announced the L3 extension, they gave no firm opening date for the L4. 145

What this tells us

For passengers from Malha, the clearest benefit is the change of tram they can now avoid. For those boarding in the city centre, the advantage is that two lines now serve the same stretch of Jaffa Road. The authorities expect passengers to spread out more evenly across the trams. The effect on rush-hour crowding has yet to be measured. 124

Sources

  1. Rami Shani et la rédaction, « Jerusalem’s L3 light rail line extended to Damascus Gate, stops added in downtown area », The Jerusalem Post, 10 novembre 2026, https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-914417
  2. Ynet, « Transportation Ministry: Jerusalem Light Rail Line L3 to Be Extended Starting Today », 10 novembre 2026, https://www.ynetnews.com/article/ya7it00ih
  3. Cfir, avis public aux voyageurs sur le rétablissement du service entre la porte de Damas et Malha, 10 novembre 2026 à 07 h 00 UTC, https://t.me/s/cfirjer/1921
  4. Rafi Gamish, « ממלחה וצומת פת עד כיכר ספרא: הרכבת הקלה בעוד הארכה משמעותית », Kol Haïr, 10 novembre 2026, https://www.kolhair.co.il/jerusalem-news/272253/
  5. Kipa, « בשורה לירושלמים: השינוי המשמעותי ברכבת הקלה יוצא לדרך », 10 novembre 2026, https://www.kipa.co.il/%D7%97%D7%93%D7%A9%D7%95%D7%AA/%D7%AA%D7%97%D7%91%D7%95%D7%A8%D7%94/1235988-0/

The story in 30 seconds

Read the main facts at a glance and share the link.

  1. On 10 November 2026, Jerusalem’s L3 tram line was extended from its former terminus at HaTurim to Damascus Gate.
  2. Passengers from Malha can now reach Mahane Yehuda Market, City Hall and the entrance to the Old City without changing trams.
  3. The L3 now serves five more stops, all shared with the L1. Both lines run along Jaffa Road.
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