Vienna U-Bahn

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U-Bahn Wien
Locale Vienna
Transit type Rapid transit
Began operation 1976
System length 69.5 km (43.2 mi)
Number of lines 5
Number of stations 84
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8½ in)
Operator(s) Wiener Linien

The Vienna U-Bahn is a rapid transit (Metro) system consisting of five lines mostly running underground, except for the central section of line U6, which runs above ground on the viaduct of the old Vienna Stadtbahn. The first section of the modern U-Bahn opened on 8 May 1976, but two of the lines (U4, U6) go back to the Stadtbahn system, which first opened in 1898.

The network is interconnected with the S-Bahn system. All means of public transport in Vienna, including trams, buses and railways, can be used with the same ticket. The stations are often named after streets or city areas, and in some special cases after prominent buildings at or near the station, although the official policy of the Wiener Linien states that they prefer not to name stations after buildings.

The lines do not have any specific names. They merely have a number and the prefix "U" (for U-Bahn). Additionally, each line can be identified by a colour. There are currently five lines, U1, U2, U3, U4 and U6. There have been numerous projects for a line U5, with a variety of suggested routes, but all these projects have been shelved, and it is unlikely to be built in the near future.

The Vienna U-Bahn has three origins: Conversion from the 1898 Stadtbahn (lines U4 and most of U6), conversion from a premetro (parts of U2 and parts of U6), and newly-built subway (U1, U3, parts of U2 and U6).

Vienna U-Bahn network
Vienna U-Bahn network

Contents

[edit] The network

The networks total length is 69.5 kilometers. Currently there are five U-Bahn lines (U1-U4 and U6) with 84 stations, including nine transfer stations. The U-Bahn runs between 5 am and around 1 am. Intervals are between two and five minutes during the day and, up to eight after 8 pm.

Each U-Bahn line has its own colour. Apart from the colour each line has its own characteristic design elements. Many U6 and some U4 station buildings have preserved the design of Vienna's Jugendstil architect Otto Wagner.


[edit] U1

Leopoldau-bound U1 train at Kagran
Leopoldau-bound U1 train at Kagran
U1 (Reumannplatz - Leopoldau)
Colour: red

Construction of line U1 began in 1969 and was completed in 1982, with the first section between Reumannplatz and Karlsplatz opening on 25 February 1978. The line was originally intended to run between Reumannplatz and Praterstern only, with a later extension across the Danube to Kagran. However, due to the 1976 collapse of the Reichsbrücke bridge, construction of this section started earlier than initially intended and was completed in September 1982. Construction began in 2001 for an extension to Leopoldau, which was opened on September 2, 2006. A southward extension to Rothneusiedl is scheduled to open in 2015.

Extension to the following stations is scheduled to open in 2015

  • Troststraße
  • Altes Landgut
  • Alaudagasse
  • Stockholmer Platz
  • Oberlaaer Straße
  • Rothneusiedl

[edit] U2

U2 (Stadion - Karlsplatz)
Colour: purple

The original line U2 consisted mostly of a converted tram tunnel that was built in the 1960s. Extensions were added at both ends so that this line ran from Schottenring to Karlsplatz. Due to structural limitations of the original tram tunnel and short station distances, this was the slowest line in the system. The station Lerchenfelder Straße (between Rathaus and Volkstheater) was closed in 2003 to allow the extension of the platforms of the other stations, as longer trains need to be accommodated for the line's extension to Stadion. The extension to Stadion opened in 2008, a further extension to Aspernstraße is scheduled to open in 2010, and an additional extension to Flugfeld Aspern is scheduled to open in 2013. A southward extension to Gudrunstraße is currently in the planning stages and is scheduled to open in 2019.

Extension to the following stations is scheduled to open in 2010:

  • Donaumarina
  • Donaustadtbrücke
  • Stadlau (Under existing S-Bahn Station)
  • Hardeggasse
  • Donauspital
  • Aspernstraße

Extension to the following stations is scheduled to open in 2013:

  • An den alten Schanzen (preliminary work only; actual station will open sometime after 2013)
  • Hausfeldstraße
  • Flugfeld Aspern Nord
  • Flugfeld Aspern Süd

Extension to the following stations is scheduled to open in 2019:

  • Schwarzenbergplatz
  • Rennweg
  • St. Marx
  • Arsenal
  • Gudrunstraße

[edit] U3

U3 train arriving at Westbahnhof
U3 train arriving at Westbahnhof
Waiting for the next train
Waiting for the next train
Roman ruins on display at Rochusgasse
Roman ruins on display at Rochusgasse
U3 (Ottakring - Simmering)
Colour: orange

Line U3 opened in four phases between 1989 and 2000. All but two stations are underground.

[edit] U4

U4 (Hütteldorf - Heiligenstadt)
Colour: green
The U4 crosses the Wienfluss after departing Hütteldorf.
The U4 crosses the Wienfluss after departing Hütteldorf.
Another crossing of the Wienfluss, between Landstraße and Schwedenplatz stations
Another crossing of the Wienfluss, between Landstraße and Schwedenplatz stations
A train in a station (U4) (Hietzing)
A train in a station (U4) (Hietzing)

For line U4, Stadtbahn line WD (originally opened between 1898 and 1901) was modernized between 1976 and 1981. The first section between Heiligenstadt and Friedensbrücke opened on 8 May 1976. All stations except Stadtpark have been rebuilt on platform level, although several still use the original station buildings above ground.

WD stood for Wiental-Donaukanal, which is exactly the route of this line. It first runs parallel to the Wien River (from Hütteldorf to Landstraße), and after a left turn follows the Donaukanal upstream till Heiligenstadt.

[edit] U6

U6 (Floridsdorf - Siebenhirten)
Colour: brown

Line U6 is the longest line of the Vienna U-Bahn system. Between Längenfeldgasse and Spittelau it uses the original Stadtbahn viaduct. Unlike line U4, most stations were left in their original design, this being one of the reasons why line U6 uses different train stock than the other lines, and optical signalling. The southern section of line U6 from Siebenhirten to Philadelphiabrücke (opened in 1995) partly uses an elevated section built for an express tram in the late 1970s. The section from Philadelphiabrücke to Längenfeldgasse runs underground and was opened in 1989. The northern section from Spittelau to Floridsdorf, alternately above and below ground, opened in 1996.

Stadtbahn era
Stadtbahn era
  • Floridsdorf
  • Neue Donau
  • Handelskai
  • Dresdner Straße
  • Jägerstraße
  • Spittelau  U4 
  • Nußdorfer Straße
  • Währinger Straße — Volksoper
  • Michelbeuern — AKH (Allgemeines Krankenhaus)
  • Alser Straße
  • Josefstädter Straße
  • Thaliastraße
  • Burggasse — Stadthalle
  • Westbahnhof  U3 
    Old bridge near Gumpendorfer Straße
    Old bridge near Gumpendorfer Straße
  • Gumpendorfer Straße
  • Längenfeldgasse  U4 
  • Niederhofstraße
  • Philadelphiabrücke — Meidling
  • Tscherttegasse
  • Am Schöpfwerk
  • Alterlaa (southern terminus for some U6 trains)
  • Erlaaer Straße
  • Perfektastraße
  • Siebenhirten

[edit] Gallery

[edit] Sections under construction

The first section of the U2 extension, from Schottenring to Stadion, was completed on 10 May 2008, just in time for the 2008 European Football Championship games.[1] The further extension across the Danube river to Aspern will be completed by 2010, according to Wiener Linien.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ U2-Verlängerung in Betrieb gegangen, Der Standard, 10 May 2008

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

A map of Vienna's Schnellverbindungen (Fast Connections), consisting of underground lines, S-Bahn lines, the Lokalbahn Wien-Baden and the City Airport Train (CAT) is available in PDF format: www.wienerlinien.at

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