Israel Railways to cut Modi'in service this weekend to connect new 431 line to rail network

AUGUST 31, 2026 19:21Modi'in's two train stations will face service disruptions this weekend as part of efforts to connect the new Track 431 project to the existing railway network, according to the Israel Railways website on Monday.The service cuts affecting the Modi'in Center and Pa'ate Modi'in railway stations mirror disruptions in recent weeks as Israel Railways pushes ahead with the project, intended to connect Rishon Lezion to Modi'in and Jerusalem.As part of the planned service disruptions, trains will not run between Modi'in and Ben-Gurion Airport from Thursday at 10:00 p.m. until Sunday at 4:00 a.m. The railway noted that the line between Modi'in Center and Jerusalem Yitzhak Navon will run normally on Thursday night and Friday, while a free shuttle service will run between the Modi'in stations and Ben-Gurion Airport; the schedule is available here.In addition, the Modi'in stations will be closed entirely on Saturday night, meaning the Modi'in-Jerusalem line will also not run, the railway said, though it was unclear if the closure is related to the Track 431 project.Modi'in Center railway station. (credit: Wikimedia Commons)Project completes rail ring around Gush Dan, includes longest bridge in IsraelThe project runs largely inside the right-of-way of Highway 431, from which it gets its name. Upon its expected completion in 2028, Track 431 is anticipated to connect Jerusalem directly to the Shfela region and Israel's southern coast, as well as Rishon Lezion to Modi'in, at a cost of NIS 3.5 billion.Once completed, it will join the existing Track 531, a loop line that connects Herzliya to Rosh Ha'ayin and Bnei Brak via Ra'anana and Petah Tikva, forming a complete railway ring around the congested Gush Dan region. The Eastern Rail Line, which was partially opened on June 28, connects the eastern end of the Track 531 loop to Israel's North and, eventually, South, bypassing the congested Tel Aviv Ayalon rail corridor.Regarding the Ayalon corridor, a fourth track is being built to further increase railway capacity, with the projects complementing one another to strengthen Israel's rail system.The 30 km line includes several station renovations and the addition of two new stations. One of these stations, Rishon LeZion - Tashach, will be located along a 3.5 km. bridge, the longest in Israel.Existing Rishon Lezion stations under renovation, Ramle receives new stationThe existing Rishon Lezion stations are being renovated to accommodate the new line, while a second Ramle station is being built south of the city to complement the existing station near the Ramle central bus station, which lies on the Beersheba-Lod-Tel Aviv line.In February, the project reached a major milestone with the breakthrough of the Mevo Ayalon Tunnel, which connects the new Rishon LeZion - Tashach station to the coastal track, allowing trains to continue to Rishon Lezion - Moshe Dayan station and beyond.The tunnel, which passes under Highway 20, stretches 400 meters and is one of two tunnels in the project; the other, the Ramla South Tunnel, has already been completed.Track 431 is part of Israel Railways' "Connecting Israel" master plan for a rail service spanning from Kiryat Shmona in the North to Eilat in the South, with annual ridership expected to reach 300 million by 2050.Follow us on Google