Last construction work for Vienna's public transport: U4 and new line 27!

Last construction work for Vienna's public transport: U4 and new line 27!

There is a lot going on in Vienna in the hustle and bustle of the last days of the summer vacation. Construction workers are in full use to prepare the subway and tram lines for punctual operation. Especially in the city center, on the Praterstern and along the U4, which has been renovated bit by bit for years, work is being carried out vigorously. Vindobona reports that the theses for the construction projects in front of the parliament building, which affect four tram lines, should end on Sunday. This track renewal was urgently necessary, as project manager Stefan Geiger from the Wiener Linien explains, due to the high volume of traffic.

The U4, a central part of Vienna's transport network, has also completed its renovation work. The tunnel girders, which were at the end of their service life, were modernized and partly rebuilt - including ten new double girders between the Friedensbrücke and the Schottenring, as well as 15 renovated girders. From September 1st, the U4 trains will again run continuously from Hütteldorf to Heiligenstadt.

Current restrictions and new projects

The remodeling of the tracks continues in Floridsdorf. Here, the tram lines 25 and 26 have to drive to a maximum of 15 km/h due to the construction work and the associated speed restriction. This renovation takes place during normal operation and is a reaction to the simultaneous closures of the ÖBB S-Bahn main line, the work of which will take until September. The Viennese lines also plan the introduction of a new tram line 27, which is scheduled to go into operation in autumn 2025. This line will be important to relieve existing lines and shorten the intervals. The new route will lead from Strebersdorf to the U2 station Aspern Nord and connects Floridsdorf with Donaustadt. Around 34,000 residents: Inside, this line should benefit and thus also avoid CO2 emissions of up to 1,600 tons annually.

In addition to the ongoing work, the Viennese Greens recently presented an ambitious plan for the expansion of the public network. The plan provides for expanding the tram network in the outdoor districts by 68 kilometers of new tracks within ten years. Mine reports on 17 new tram lines as well as the extension or relocation of existing lines. Estimated construction costs are between 1.7 and 2 billion euros. The aim is to reduce the proportion of car journeys to 15% by 2030, while currently 26 to 27% of journeys are made by car.

A look into the future

The city is also planning new cross -connections to further reduce car traffic. The focus is on the reactivation of tram line 8 and the introduction of new lines in the north of the city and a express bus line along the Danube. The so-called "2-3-5 model" is aimed at leaving subway trains every two minutes and buses every five minutes. These measures should not only increase public transport efficiency, but also increase the quality of life in Vienna. Thanks to the planned introduction of a 365 euro annual ticket without price increase, the Viennese could switch to public transport even more easily by 2030.

The Viennese lines are in the middle of the hot phase of work and preparation for a sustainable turnover in the capital. It remains exciting to see how the network will develop in the coming months.