Residents in Ober St. Veit are loudly protesting against new bus routes!

Residents in Ober St. Veit are loudly protesting against new bus routes!

In Ober St. Veit, the new bus routes for lines 53A, 54A and 54B have angered residents and led to a real outcry in the community. The changes have been in place since the end of August, but many citizens find the changes inconvenient and burdensome. The alternative routes of the lines were denounced in a petition that has already collected over 800 signatures. “We have the feeling that the old lines were much better,” said one affected resident MyDistrict.

The route had previously been organized according to a circular route. Lines 54A now run to the Hörndlwald stop and the 54B to St. Veiter Tor, while the 53A now runs from Hütteldorf train station via the U4 station Ober St. Veit to the new terminus Stock im Weg. With these changes, not only the route but also the stopping conditions have been reorganized. Especially at Wolfrathplatz, a very busy “bottleneck”, there are traffic jams, especially at peak times, which strongly supports the allegations of the residents.

Petition and concerns from residents

The criticism is diverse. Many residents say that the new stop regulations are simply unsuitable for the existing conditions in Grätzl. It was also noted that the connection to tram lines 10 and 62 was made more difficult. “You used to just get through, now you have to change trains several times,” complains an older gentleman who relies on the Hietzing Clinic. The new changes represent a major hurdle, especially for older people and children, which must now be incorporated into everyday school life. A local resident emphasizes: “It doesn’t really do us any good if we have to change trains more to get to the important destinations.”

Particular attention is paid to the line 54B stop at Veitingergasse/Einsiedelegasse, which was relocated due to traffic accidents, causing additional concerns among residents. Wiener Linien has emphasized that the change was made in coordination with the district and that waiting times were shortened, but the voices of the citizens are being heard by district leader Johanna Zinkl (ÖVP). She takes their feedback seriously and is in close contact with Wiener Linien.

Political reactions and future developments

A letter from MA 62 dated September 1, 2025 regarding the petition points out that the processing of the signatures was partially delayed. Critics complain that MA 62 did not immediately submit the petition to the Petitions Committee, as required by law. “We are ready for a statement and want to stand up for the rights of the citizens here in Ober St. Veit,” said one initiator of the petition. Many supporters are, as on OpenPetition to read about it, impatient and wish for a quick return to the old lines.

In the midst of these debates about bus routes, the people of Vienna will be confronted with a different challenge in the coming year: the annual ticket for public transport will increase significantly from January 1, 2026 and will be raised from 365 euros to 467 euros. This increase is already causing discussions and the first protest actions have been organized. It should be noted that people with low incomes in particular have to suffer from this price increase. More about this was recently published in courier reported where the first demonstration against this increase has already been announced.

The challenges for the residents in Ober St. Veit are diverse. Whether in relation to bus routes or the rising prices for public transport - it remains to be hoped that citizens' voices will be heard and positive changes will occur.