Israel Railways said train service between four Haifa-area stations — Hof HaCarmel, Bat Galim, Merkaz HaShmona, and Merkazit HaMifratz — was halted after metal fragments fell on the track. The disruption stops traffic between Haifa and the north and central Israel in both directions; passengers are advised to use alternative transport.
Israel Railways halted service for a second time within hours on Thursday morning, after metal fragments fell on the tracks between four Haifa-area stations. The disruption, announced at around 05:34 Jerusalem, stops all rail traffic between Haifa and both the north and central Israel; passengers are advised to use alternative transport. The cause of the metal fragments has not been stated by Israel Railways, and no link has been confirmed to the earlier incident.
This is the second disruption in the Haifa area on Thursday morning. At 04:09 Jerusalem, The Zioneer first reported that metal debris from a freight car had fallen near Haifa Merkaz HaShmona station, damaging the track and halting services. A follow-up bulletin at 04:09 Jerusalem confirmed that Israel Railways was investigating the incident and working to restore the line, and by 05:34 Jerusalem the service was reported as having resumed. The new incident of metal fragments falling on the tracks has prompted a fresh suspension.
Earlier this month, as The Zioneer reported, large-scale Haredi protests over draft-related arrests caused hours-long disruptions to train services and highways across central Israel on Wednesday evening, June 11. Separately, sirens were reported across Jordan around 05:42 Jerusalem on Thursday; no link has been established between the siren reports and the Haifa rail suspensions.
The precise origin of the metal fragments that caused the current suspension remains unconfirmed. Israel Railways has not stated whether the fragments are related to the earlier freight-debris incident or to any other cause.
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