Project Profile: Haifa-Nazareth Light Rail Transit (Nofit)

The Haifa-Nazareth Light Rail Transit, officially named Nofit, is a critical infrastructure project designed to provide high-capacity, efficient transit between Israel’s northern metropolitan areas. This 41km tram-train system will integrate disparate communities across the Galilee, alleviating traffic congestion and fostering regional economic development.

Technical Specifications

The Nofit project is engineered as a hybrid tram-train system, enabling seamless operation on both dedicated inter-urban tracks and at-grade urban street alignments. The 41km route originates at the Merkazit HaMifratz transportation hub in Haifa and terminates in Nazareth, servicing ten municipalities including Kiryat Ata and Nof HaGalil. The infrastructure plan includes 20 stations—a mix of elevated and street-level designs—to serve diverse urban and suburban environments. A fleet of 30-40 Light Rail Vehicles (LRVs) will operate at headways of 4-10 minutes during peak periods, with a design capacity of 10,000 passengers per hour per direction. The project’s core civil works include the construction of an 85,000 m² maintenance and stabling depot in Kiryat Ata, which will feature a rooftop solar generation facility, alongside significant utility relocation and bridge construction.

Key Takeaways

• Strategic Regional Integration: The LRT provides a vital public transit spine connecting Haifa’s economic centers with Galilee communities, improving access to employment, education, and tourism.
• Advanced Engineering Model: The tram-train design represents a sophisticated solution to the challenge of providing both high-speed inter-city travel and accessible urban transit within a single, integrated system.
• Sustainable PPP Framework: By dividing the project into a civil works phase and a comprehensive Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for systems, rolling stock, and operations, the project leverages private sector efficiency while ensuring long-term financial and operational viability.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

When will the Haifa-Nazareth light rail open?

While Phase One civil works are significantly advanced, the full line is projected to become operational in stages. Initial operations are anticipated for the late 2020s, with full service along the entire 41km route expected by 2028-2029, pending the completion of the Phase Two PPP construction and systems integration.

Who is building the Haifa-Nazareth light rail?

The project is being delivered under the authority of Trans-Israel, a government-owned corporation. The project management and detailed design are led by a partnership between Israel’s Dana Engineering and Spain’s IDOM. Independent safety assessment is provided by Ricardo Certification. The primary construction, systems installation, and long-term operation will be executed by a private consortium selected through the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) tender for Phase Two.