2025-03-13 16:26:00

Major Changes Coming to Public Transportation in Gush Dan

Superbus Wins Bid to Operate Major Bus Routes

Superbus has emerged as the winner of a significant tender to operate 17 central bus lines in Southern Gush Dan for the next decade. The tender, valued at approximately 2.5 billion shekels, will see the introduction of two new routes alongside the takeover of existing lines previously operated by Egged and Dan. This decision marks a substantial shift in the public transportation landscape of cities such as Holon, Rishon Lezion, Bat Yam, and Tel Aviv-Jaffa.

Increased Service Efficiency and New Bus Models

As part of this new contract, Superbus is set to deploy 430 electric buses, including the introduction of route 199 connecting Bat Yam and Holon, and route 13 from Beer Yaakov to the industrial z- in Holon. The Ministry of Transport has indicated that the frequency of service on these lines will increase by over 10%. Superbus plans to start operations in approximately a year, initially managing eight routes currently serviced by Egged and Dan, with the remaining routes following in two years.

The Ministry emphasized that the selection process prioritized quality of service over the lowest bid, enabling Superbus to focus on enhancing public transport offerings. Notably, the tender marks the first time that suburban buses will be integrated into Israel’s public transport fleet, providing a more comfortable and accessible travel option for longer journeys.

Innovations in Bus Features

New city buses will feature several upgrades, such as:

• Boarding from all doors without the need for pre-ticketing
• A physical separation of the driver’s area for improved safety
• Enhanced service speed and a better customer experience
• Dedicated wireless internet, USB charging ports, and audio announcement systems.

Addressing Long-Standing Challenges in Public Transport

Despite these advancements, Israel continues to grapple with some of the poorest public transportation services among Western countries. This scenario persists despite considerable financial investments in the sector. The subsidization rate of public transport fares is expected to rise to 90% following the “Transport Justice Reform” spearheaded by Minister Miri Regev.

Sapphire Ifergan, a transport coordinator in the Budget Department of the Ministry of Finance, pointed out that the issue isn’t lack of funding—government subsidies have soared from 5 billion shekels in 2015 to an anticipated 16 billion shekels by 2024. However, public transport usage has only increased by 30%, closely paralleling population growth.

Structural Inefficiencies in Service

Ifergan highlighted that structural inefficiencies such as convoluted bus routes often result in underused services, with significant resources disproportionately allocated to intercity lines. Currently, 90% of bus travel occurs in major metropolitan areas, yet nearly half of the funding is directed toward intercity routes, leaving many buses running empty. Ineffective route planning has led to excessively long journey times; for example, a bus line that should connect Kfar Saba to Netanya can take over an hour and 25 minutes.

Expansion of Light Rail Services

In a related development, the Urban Transport Administration (NTA) announced that Egged Holdings has won a tender for operating two light rail lines in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area—the Green Line and the Purple Line. Valued at around 1.5 billion shekels, this tender will see Egged manage operations for the next decade, with the possibility of a ten-year extension.

The NTA stated that this marks - of the largest and most complex public transport tenders ever issued in Israel, reflecting confidence in local and international public transport markets.

Updated Timeline for Light Rail Expansion

The updated schedule anticipates the Purple Line starting operations in mid-2028 alongside the southern section of the Green Line, stretching from Rishon Lezion to Levinski Street in Tel Aviv. The remaining portion of the Green Line, linking southern Tel Aviv to Herzliya, is expected to launch by mid-2030. However, these timelines indicate delays from initial projections, likely due to historical patterns suggesting further setbacks may occur before launch.

Conclusion

As Gush Dan braces for these transformative changes, the emphasis on quality service aims to realign public transportation with the needs of its users, signaling a proactive approach to overcoming longstanding challenges in the sector.

Tags: Public Transport, Gush Dan, Superbus, Electric Buses, Egged, Transport Reform, Light Rail Services, Urban Transport