Intercity bus prices to fall in Israel on Sunday, Minister announces no congestion charge for Tel Aviv

Intercity bus prices to fall in Israel on Sunday


Following the reductions in monthly bus ticket prices at the beginning of April the Minister of Transport in Israel, Israel Katz has announced that from this Sunday April 17, intercity bus ticket prices will be reduced by as much as  30%. 


The aim of the reduction - according to the Transport Ministry - is to encourage more people to use public transport especially at a time when gasoline prices are at their highest ever price, and had been brought forward to before Pesach to help families during the holiday.  


The new bus fares will be see a maximum intercity bus fare (except to and from Eilat) falling from 63 Shekels to 45 Shekels.  Routes include Kiryat Shmona or Tzvat to Jerusalem or Tel Aviv.

While bus fares currently at:


51-56 Shekels will fall to 42 Shekels.  Routes include Karmiel to Tel Aviv or the Golan Heights to Jerusalem.
42-48 Shekels will fall to 40 Shekels.  Routes include Tiberias, Haifa or Bet Shean to Jerusalem. 
37-42 Shekels will fall to 36 Shekels.  Routes include Dimona or Afula to Jerusalem.  




Minister announces no congestion charge for Tel Aviv


The Minister of Transport in Israel, Israel Katz has announced that he has no intention of introducing a new congestion charge for the amount of distance motorists drive in Tel Aviv.

Monthly Bus Tickets reduced by 10% from April

The Transport Minister of Israel, Israel Katz has announced that all monthly 'hodshi-hofshi' bus tickets will be reduced by 10%, in order to encourage greater use of public transport.

In Jerusalem the monthly bus tickets will cost 227 Shekels, 252 Shekels in Haifa.  In Tel Aviv the monthly Egged ticket will cost 200 Shekels and the monthly Dan ticket will cost 324 Shekels.

The prices for monthly bus tickets in other cities will be:

Ber Sheva - 144 Shekels

Bet Shemesh - 113 Shekels

Modiin - Prices can be found on the Connex website

Nazareth - 99 Shekels

The Sharon - 159 Shekels

The price of inter-city monthly tickets will be announced in the next few days following agreements with the different bus operators.  The Israel Transport Ministry is also trying to reach agreement with the different bus operators throughout Israel to install an 'interoperable smart card reader' on all buses.  

Bus and Train Fares Cut - Monday 21 February 2011

The Cabinet yesterday formally agreed a cut in the cost of public transport fares for passengers in Israel.  Prime Minister Benjamin Netenyahu said that this is a way of the Government encouraging further use of public transport as an alternative to the car.

Bus passengers will see monthly tickets fall by 10% and will also be able to puchase a 'transfer' ticket on inter-city routes which they will than be able to use on another bus within an hour and a half for no additional fee.  While for rail passengers their monthly tickets will fall by 11.5%.

Fares in the periphery will also be cut by an average of 10%.

It is expected that the cost of these price reductions will cost the Government budget an extra 300 million Shekels, which will be covered by other departmental budgets being cut by 1%.

How to save money on your bus journey in Israel

If you are travelling around Israel by bus it is likely that at some point you will use an Egged bus,the main bus company in Israel.  You can save money on your journey by purchasing:

- a Kartisiya - a ticket which can be used multiple times, which saves 20%.
- a 2-trip ticket, which allows for 2 journeys either on 1 bus by 2 people or 1 person on 2 journeys, which saves 15%.
- a Hodshi-Hofshi monthly ticket, which has different prices for various areas and routes covered by Egged.
- a Hofshi Yom one day pass for certain routes which can be used after 9am.
- a continuing ticket which allows for 1 journey on an intercity bus followed by a journey within a city.
- a Rav-Kav card (using RFID technology) for use on certain routes.

Discounts are also available for children, youth and pupils, students, the disabled and senior citizens.