To mark Blindness and Visual Impairment Awareness Day in Israel, Israel Railways has released updated statistics that reflect something quietly inspiring: thousands of blind and visually impaired individuals are traveling by train—and the numbers are growing.
A Growing Community on the Move
In May 2025 alone, passengers with disabilities took 7,304 train trips.
Between June 2024 and May 2025, nearly 19,000 trips were made by passengers with visual impairments. That’s an 11% increase over the previous year, when 17,000 trips were recorded.
Each one of those journeys represents someone who chose to step out into the world, to commute, to visit family, to get to work or school—or just to travel freely.
What’s Available: You Won’t Be Alone
Israel Railways has been investing in real, meaningful accessibility. Every train includes an accessible car. At around 70 stations across the country, full accessibility has been completed.
Perhaps most importantly, you don’t have to navigate the system on your own. From the moment you arrive at the station to the moment you’re on board, trained staff are available to escort you—step by step. This includes a phone hotline and in-person assistance.
About 2,500 railway employees—station attendants, cashiers, managers, and inspectors—are now trained to understand your experience. Part of their preparation includes walking escort paths while blindfolded, so they can better serve you with patience, respect, and real awareness.
Whether you’ve traveled by train before or you’re thinking about it for the first time, know this: you are not just welcome—you’re expected. And the system is becoming more equipped than ever to meet you with dignity.
