Rosh HaAyin–North Railway Station

The station is at the northeastern edge of the Rosh HaAyin area, between three and ten kilometers from residential and industrial zones in Rosh HaAyin and Kafr Qasem.[1] A 2017 report described it as serving both communities and workers in nearby employment and industrial areas. At that time, the report cited approximately 42,000 residents in established Rosh HaAyin, another 72,000 expected in new neighborhoods, and 23,000 registered residents in Kafr Qasem; these are historical figures rather than current population counts.[1]

Major highways and the Qesem Interchange create physical barriers between the station and surrounding neighborhoods. According to the conditions documented in 2017, reaching the station from nearby areas could take as long as 40 minutes despite the relatively short distances involved.[1]

Bus services connect the station to local communities, but they are subject to the same road congestion as private vehicles.[1] In 2017, while an additional parking lot was being prepared, Rosh HaAyin's mayor was asked how roughly 500 more cars arriving to park free would affect congestion. He replied: "Good question."[1]

In 2019, Israel Railways reported that 500 parking spaces had recently been added near the station, bringing the total to approximately 1,150 free spaces at that time.[2]

Rosh HaAyin–North station was built in 2003 alongside the railway line connecting Tel Aviv to Hod HaSharon.[1] Its construction coincided with the cancellation of a planned Rosh HaAyin South station; Israel Railways said the southern station had been dropped because it would have significantly lengthened the route.[1]

In the route described by Ynet in 2003, trains from Kfar Saba were to pass through Rosh HaAyin–North, continue through the Segula junction in Petah Tikva and Bnei Brak, and terminate near Tel Aviv University.[3] This placed Rosh HaAyin–North as an intermediate station on the Kfar Saba–Tel Aviv corridor.

Rosh HaAyin–North was incorporated into Israel Railways' Eastern Railway project and significantly upgraded as part of it.[4] The project was described as an approximately 65-kilometer route near Highway 6 with six stations, five of them newly constructed.[4] When the full route is completed, it is planned to continue past Ben-Gurion Airport to Lod, where it will rejoin the existing national network.[5]

The initial section of the Eastern Railway began partial operations on June 28, 2026, running from the coastal railway north of Hadera south to Rosh HaAyin.[5] During this phase, Rosh HaAyin–North serves as the interim southern terminus and transfer point. Passengers from Hadera East, Shomron–Tayyiba, and Kokhav Yair–Tira travel to Rosh HaAyin–North and transfer to existing services toward Tel Aviv and other destinations, with an approximately seven-minute connection.[5][6]

Reported journey times to Rosh HaAyin–North were 32 minutes from Hadera East, 18 minutes from Shomron–Tayyiba, and 11 minutes from Kokhav Yair–Tira. The reported journeys onward to Tel Aviv took approximately 60, 46, and 39 minutes respectively, including the transfer.[6]

At launch, the service operated two trains per hour in each direction, Sunday through Thursday, from approximately 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Diesel trains were initially used while electrification work continued.[5][6] Service was expected to expand with the completion of the full route to Lod, including the addition of Shoham–Aviation and Elad stations.[5][6]

Rosh HaAyin–North is served by trains on the Ra'anana–Ashdod line and by the Eastern Railway service to Hadera East.[7][8] An Israel Railways frequency announcement said that peak service on the Ra'anana–Ashdod line would increase to three or four trains per hour, including service at Rosh HaAyin–North.[7]

For Yom Kippur service in September 2026, trains were scheduled to operate until 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 20, with increased service on the Hadera East–Rosh HaAyin–North line, and to resume on Tuesday, September 22.[8]

The Eastern Railway project is expected to increase Israel's national rail-network capacity by approximately 30% and includes 47 new bridges.[4] By serving as the interim southern terminus and transfer hub during the first operating phase, Rosh HaAyin–North extends rail access to communities in the central Sharon region, including Arab communities such as Tayibe and Tira that previously lacked direct train service.[5][6]