Poll: Optimism rises among Israeli Jews ahead of Rosh Hashanah

Israel Railways has announced a special train schedule for Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, which begins on Friday, September 11. From the eve of the holiday, trains will run between 6:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., with enhanced service on the Haifa-Tel Aviv line. Following the holiday, service will return on Sunday, September 13, starting at around 9:30 p.m. Additionally, during the Selichot days on Tuesday and Wednesday, September 8 to 9, and September 15 to 16, 2026, nighttime train service will extend to Jerusalem's Yitzhak Navon Station.

Recently, it was disclosed that Gush Dan metro trains, which are planned to be fully automated and driverless, could run on weekends or holidays like Rosh Hashanah, potentially reducing Shabbat violations. However, security and operations staff would still be necessary on Fridays and Saturdays. While an NTA official mentioned that weekend service is technically feasible, the ultimate decision rests with the political leadership.