Major Transportation Plans for Beit Shemesh: Rail, Roads, and Bus Services Take Center Stage

Transportation improvements, railway upgrades, road projects, and public bus services were the focus of a recent meeting that took place on Thursday July 9th between Transportation Minister Miri Regev and Beit Shemesh Mayor Shmuel Greenberg.

During the meeting, the city’s main transportation plans for the coming years were presented, with several major projects expected to improve travel and connectivity for residents.

Improvements Planned for Beit Shemesh Railway Station

Several railway projects were discussed, including the construction of a new pedestrian bridge over the railway tracks at the Beit Shemesh train station, as well as a new northern parking lot to provide additional parking for passengers.

The meeting also included plans to double the railway track between Beit Shemesh and Ramla, a project aimed at increasing capacity and improving train service. Until the completion of the project, the minister requested that options be examined to increase train frequency in the near term.

Road 38 and Road 10 Upgrades

The meeting also covered progress on the Road 38 upgrade project between Givat Sharet and Tel Beit Shemesh, along with planned improvements near the BIG shopping area interchange and the addition of a dedicated public transportation lane along Road 38.

Nissim Peretz, CEO of Netivei Israel, said the work is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. Mayor Greenberg requested that efforts be made to shorten the timeline, due to the difficulties the ongoing work has caused for residents.

The meeting also addressed ongoing work on Road 10 as part of broader transportation improvements in the city.

Concerns Raised Regarding Tnufa Bus Services

During the discussion, Mayor Greenberg raised concerns regarding the performance of Tnufa, the company operating bus services in the city, and called on the Ministry of Transportation to take action regarding the company.

“The residents are suffering from the company. Routes are not running at all or are not arriving on time, and the level of service reported by residents is extremely poor,” the mayor said.

The mayor encouraged residents to continue reporting issues with Tnufa services to the Ministry of Transportation, noting that complaints help the ministry monitor and enforce service standards.

The Ministry of Transportation stated that it is taking administrative action with Tnufa and that the company has received fines totaling hundreds of thousands of shekels.

The transportation projects presented during the meeting are expected to bring significant improvements to Beit Shemesh’s transportation network in the coming years, from rail and road upgrades to better public transportation services.