Metropoline
Public transport operator in Israel, running bus and light rail services.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Metropoline is a public transport operator in Israel, mainly operating bus and light rail services in Beersheba and surrounding areas.
History
Metropoline was founded in 2000 by Tour Bus and two other transportation companies. The company entered Israel's scheduled public transport market in 2002, taking responsibility for intercity services linking Beersheba with Tel Aviv and other destinations in the Southern District. It also began operating local bus services in Arad. These early operations established the company's southern-Israel identity and provided the basis for later expansion through public transportation tenders. In 2010, Metropoline won the Southern Sharon tender. The concession covered most urban and regional routes in Ramat HaSharon, Herzliya, Hod HaSharon, Ra'anana, and Kfar Saba. During that year, seven routes were transferred to Metropoline from Dan. In early January 2011, the company also started operating routes transferred from Egged that were included in the same tender. The expansion marked a move from a primarily southern operator into the suburban and metropolitan markets north of Tel Aviv. Metropoline won the Negev tender again in 2012. The award covered all routes the company had been operating in the Southern District, reinforcing its position in the region and maintaining continuity across its existing network. A further expansion followed in July 2017, when Metropoline won the Sharon-Holon Regional tender. This concession brought together Netanya-Tel Aviv routes formerly operated by Nateev Express, all Egged bus routes in Southern Sharon, four Dan routes in northern Tel Aviv, and four Egged routes in Holon. Implementation took place in stages. In July 2018, Metropoline began running the Netanya-Tel Aviv routes. In March 2019, it started operating three additional routes previously assigned to Egged and introduced several new routes. The company's latest documented expansion began in March 2023, when it won the Ono Valley-El'ad Regional tender. The concession included routes in the Ono Valley and El'ad that had been operated by Kavim, three Dan routes in the same region, and all intercity routes from El'ad. In June 2023, Metropoline began local and intercity services in El'ad and introduced three routes from Ben Gurion Airport to destinations in Gush Dan. In October 2023, it began operating eight lines in the Ono Valley, and in January 2024 it took over the remaining lines under the tender. Metropoline's development has thus been shaped by successive route tenders and transfers from incumbent operators. Rather than selling a consumer product, it provides scheduled public mobility under government-authorized operating packages. Its network spans southern Israel, the Negev, the Southern Sharon and wider Sharon areas, parts of the Tel Aviv metropolitan region, Holon, the Ono Valley, El'ad, and airport-connected corridors.
- 2024
Ono Valley network completed
[1]The company began operating the remaining lines included in the Ono Valley-El'ad tender.
- 2023
Ono Valley-El'ad tender awarded
[1]Metropoline won the regional tender covering services in the Ono Valley and El'ad.
- 2019
Additional Egged routes added
[1]Three Egged routes and several new services entered Metropoline's network.
- 2018
Netanya-Tel Aviv operations begin
[1]Metropoline assumed Netanya-Tel Aviv routes formerly operated by Nateev Express.
- 2017
Sharon-Holon Regional tender awarded
[1]The company won a major tender combining services in Sharon, Netanya, northern Tel Aviv, and Holon.
- 2012
Negev tender renewed
[1]Metropoline won the Negev tender again, covering its existing Southern District routes.
- 2011
Egged route transfers implemented
[1]The company began operating Southern Sharon routes transferred from Egged.
- 2010
Southern Sharon tender awarded
[1]Metropoline won the Southern Sharon tender and expanded into several cities and towns north of Tel Aviv.
- 2002
Initial scheduled operations
[1]The company began operating intercity routes from Beersheba to Tel Aviv and other Southern District destinations, together with intracity service in Arad.
- 2000
Company founded
[1]Metropoline was established by Tour Bus and two other transportation companies.
Products and positioning
A concession-based Israeli bus operator focused on urban, regional, intercity, and airport-connected public transportation.
Public transportation · 2002
Urban bus services
Scheduled intracity bus operations serving communities within Metropoline's concession areas. Documented urban service areas include Arad, Southern Sharon communities, El'ad, and towns in the Ono Valley and surrounding regions. These routes provide local connections within municipalities and links to nearby regional transport networks.
Public transportation · 2010
Regional bus services
Regional routes connect neighboring towns and suburban areas across the Southern Sharon, Sharon-Holon, Negev, Ono Valley, and El'ad operating regions. The service portfolio has grown mainly through government tenders and route transfers from other Israeli operators.
Public transportation · 2002
Intercity bus services
Metropoline operates longer-distance scheduled services, including the company's original Beersheba-Tel Aviv and Southern District routes and later intercity routes from El'ad. These services connect regional communities with major employment, commercial, and metropolitan destinations.
Airport-linked public transportation · 2023
Ben Gurion Airport connections
In 2023, Metropoline began operating three routes from Ben Gurion Airport to destinations in Gush Dan. The routes extend the company's regional network into airport access and metropolitan travel.
Brand decisions
2023
Enter the Ono Valley-El'ad regional marketStrategyBackground
Israel's tender system opened a regional operating package covering routes in the Ono Valley and El'ad, including services formerly run by Kavim and Dan.
Action taken
Metropoline won the tender and began phased operations in El'ad, at Ben Gurion Airport, and across the Ono Valley.
Aftermath
The company added a substantial central-Israel network, with initial lines starting in 2023 and the remaining Ono Valley lines transferring in January 2024.
2017
Expand through the Sharon-Holon Regional tenderStrategyBackground
The tender consolidated routes in the Sharon, Netanya-Tel Aviv corridor, northern Tel Aviv, and Holon that had previously been divided among several operators.
Action taken
Metropoline won the tender and prepared to assume the included services in phases beginning in 2018.
Aftermath
The award broadened the company's presence in central Israel and added routes previously operated by Nateev Express, Egged, and Dan.
Recent events
- 2024
Remaining Ono Valley routes transfer to Metropoline[1]
Product generation
The company began operating the remaining lines covered by the Ono Valley-El'ad Regional tender in January.
- 2023
Metropoline wins the Ono Valley-El'ad Regional tender[1]
Other
The tender added routes in the Ono Valley and El'ad that had been operated by Kavim, three Dan routes, and intercity services from El'ad.
- 2023
Metropoline begins El'ad and Ben Gurion Airport services[1]
Product launch
In June, Metropoline started intracity and intercity services in El'ad and launched three routes from Ben Gurion Airport to destinations in Gush Dan.
- 2023
Metropoline expands operations in the Ono Valley[1]
Product launch
The operator began running eight lines in the Ono Valley in October as part of the regional tender implementation.
- 2019
Metropoline adds Egged routes and new services[1]
Product launch
The company began operating three routes previously run by Egged and introduced several additional bus routes.
- 2018
Netanya-Tel Aviv routes transfer to Metropoline[1]
Other
Metropoline began operating Netanya-Tel Aviv routes previously assigned to Nateev Express under the Sharon-Holon Regional tender.
- 2017
Metropoline wins the Sharon-Holon Regional tender[1]
Other
The award brought together routes in Southern Sharon, Netanya-Tel Aviv services, selected northern Tel Aviv lines, and selected Holon routes previously operated by other bus companies.
- 2012
Metropoline retains the Negev operating area[1]
Other
The company won the Negev tender again, covering the routes it operated in Israel's Southern District.
- 2011
Metropoline begins routes transferred from Egged[1]
Other
In early January, the company began operating routes included in the Southern Sharon tender that had previously been run by Egged.
- 2010
Metropoline wins the Southern Sharon public transportation tender[1]
Other
Metropoline was awarded the Southern Sharon tender, expanding its operations into Ramat HaSharon, Herzliya, Hod HaSharon, Ra'anana, and Kfar Saba. It also began taking over selected routes previously operated by Dan.
Sources2 sources
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