Rav-Kav smartcards to be used as the card holder pleases throughout the country, on all bus companies and Israel Railways, regardless of where the card was loaded.
By SYBIL EHRLICHUpdated: JULY 10, 2016 14:34The Rav Kav smartcard(photo credit: ERICA SCHACHNE)
As of July 1, Rav-Kav smartcards for use on public transportation can be loaded with a sum of money – NIS 30, NIS 50, NIS 100, NIS 150 or NIS 200 – to be used as the card holder pleases throughout the country, on all bus companies and Israel Railways, regardless of where the card was loaded. The arrangement is called erech tzavur (pay-as-you-go).A Rav-Kav card can hold pay-as-you-go cash simultaneously with a daily, weekly or monthly unlimited pass. Using pay-as-yougo gives discounts: NIS 30 is worth NIS 37.50; NIS 50 is worth NIS 62.50; NIS 100 is worth NIS 125; NIS 150 is worth NIS 187.50; and NIS 200 is worth NIS 250. Senior citizens and those under 18 will receive twice the value of the amount they load on their cards (i.e., half-price travel as before) with no additional discount.Passengers who want to use pay-as-you-go should tell the driver when they board the bus, so that the sum is deducted appropriately.The Jerusalem Light Rail is not yet included for technical reasons; but it is expected that within three months, pay-as-you-go will be extended to cover the light rail as well.