New tram line 18: Prater connection will become a reality by 2026!

New tram line 18: Prater connection will become a reality by 2026!

The connection to the Vienna Prater will be significantly improved in the coming years. The expansion of tram line 18, which runs between the U3 Schlachthausgasse and the U2 Stadion, has received the green light. With an extension of 3.1 kilometers, the new section is scheduled to be completed by autumn 2026. This initiative is accompanied by a clear goal: a better connection to the popular leisure destination Prater and an improvement in the infrastructure for cyclists.

The new route will include a total of seven new stops. The construction work will begin in the Meiereistrasse area in front of the stadium and will extend from July 2025 to the U3 Schlachthausgasse and Ludwig-Koeßler-Platz. In the future, line 18 will run from the U2 station Stadion via Meiereistraße and Stadionallee to the U3 Schlachthausgasse and then to the U6 Burggasse-Stadthalle. This not only significantly expands the range of public transport options, but also creates direct transfer options.

Construction work and traffic restrictions

However, the construction work will not be without impact on traffic. From June 2025, private motorized traffic will be closed between Lusthausstrasse/Stadionallee and Meiereistrasse/Stadionbad. In addition, closures and diversions on Stadionallee are planned in sections from November 2025. This also affects bus routes 77A and 80A, which will have to be rerouted during construction. A new bus concept will be announced after line 18 goes into operation.

With this measure, it is estimated that around six million passengers per year will be able to benefit from the new tram line. The initiative could also lead to a shift in traffic from cars to public transport, thereby reducing CO₂ emissions by up to 1,300 tonnes annually.

Sustainable development and digitalization

The expansion of the tram line is part of a sustainable infrastructure strategy that is being implemented as part of the climate change. Digitalization plays a crucial role here, especially when it comes to the integration of various mobility offers. Initiatives such as the mobility concept “Mobility as a Service” (MaaS) promote bundled access to different transport options via a central app, which makes the use of public transport easier. This concept could be one of the keys to a more efficient and user-friendly transport landscape in Austria.

Since 1997, the transport associations in Austria have also mastered the challenges of public transport in the regions almost across the board. The Austrian Climate Ticket enabled uniform use by transport associations and private providers such as ÖBB and Westbahn. In the wake of these developments, it is important that local public transport is further modernized and expanded so that it continues to meet the needs of the Viennese in the future.

It remains exciting to see how the new tram line 18 fits into the existing network and what further progress is made in the city of Vienna's transport policy. Because one thing is certain: Something is happening in the Viennese mobility landscape, and we can be curious to see how everything will develop.

For more information on the topic you can visit the reports Today and ORF Vienna read up. Also the platform VCOE offers comprehensive insights into digitalization in public transport.