Vienna U-Bahn

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U-Bahn Wien
U-Bahn Wien.svg
U-Bahn Wien.png
Vienna U-Bahn network
Background
Locale Vienna
Transit type Rapid transit
Number of lines 5
Number of stations 90
Daily ridership 1,300,000
Website www.wienerlinien.at
Operation
Began operation 1976
Operator(s) Wiener Linien
Technical
System length 74.6 km (46.4 mi)
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Electrification 750 V DC Third rail and Overhead lines

The Vienna U-Bahn (an abbreviation of Untergrundbahn, or underground railway) is a rapid transit (metro) system consisting of five lines. It is the backbone of one of the best performing public transport systems worldwide according to UITP (International Association of Public Transport) in June 2009.[1] More than 1.3 million passengers use the Vienna U-Bahn every day.[1] The network is undergoing expansion and rolling stock renewal. Since 1969, 200 million euro have been invested annually into the extension of the Vienna U-Bahn.[1]

The first section of the modern U-Bahn opened on 8 May 1976, but two of the lines extended and later designated as U-Bahn (U4, U6) date back to the Stadtbahn ("city railway") system, which first opened in 1898. Parts of both the U2 and U6 originate from premetro tunnels built to accommodate earlier tram lines. Only the U1 and U3 were built wholly as new subway lines.

Lines are designated merely by a number and the prefix "U" (for U-Bahn) and identified on station signage and related literature by a colour. There are currently five lines; U1, U2, U3, U4 and U6. There have been numerous suggestions for a line U5 but all these projects have been shelved. Stations are often named after streets, public spaces or districts, 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.

Ticketing for the network is integrated under the Wiener Linien umbrella brand with all means of public transport in Vienna, including trams and buses. Local tickets are valid on S-Bahn suburban rail services and other train services but these are operated by the state railway operator, ÖBB. Tickets are not valid on bus services operated by Vienna Airport Lines and the City Airport Train express train.

Vienna U-Bahn trains of both types leaving Längenfeldgasse station: left, standard train on line U4 with third rail power; right, T-cars train on U6 powered by overhead lines

Contents

[edit] History

Compared to other underground railways worldwide, the Vienna U-Bahn is young. The question of whether to build a Vienna U-Bahn was the subject of heated debate for over one hundred years. From 1844 to the 1960s, numerous mass train transport plans were discussed, ignored or simply rejected.[citation needed]

U4 train of the Vienna U-Bahn running on track of the former Stadtbahn; Hofpavillon Hietzing station designed for the Imperial family in 1899 by Otto Wagner
Pavilion formerly used as entrance to Karlsplatz Stadtbahn station, in Jugendstil style by Otto Wagner

The first system to be constructed was a 4-line Stadtbahn railway network (originally projected as 3 main and 3 local lines) using steam trains. Ground was broken in 1892, and the system was opened in stages between 11 May 1898 and 6 August 1901. At Hütteldorf, the Stadtbahn connected to railway service to the west, and at Heiligenstadt, to railway service on the Franz Josef Line, which then ran eastwards within the Austro-Hungarian Empire to Cheb. Some of the Jugendstil stations for this system designed by Otto Wagner are still in use. However, the Stadtbahn proved inadequate for mass transport, less successful than the tramway. Starting in 1910, plans were considered for an underground system, but were interrupted by the First World War, which also necessitated closing the Stadtbahn to civilian use. After the war, the economic situation of a smaller and poorer country ruled out continuing with the plan. However, starting on 26 May 1924 the Stadtbahn was electrified, something that many had called for before the war, and from autumn 1925 it was integrated with the tramway rather than the railways. The frequency of trains tripled. Plans for a U-Bahn dating to 1912–14 were revived and discussions took place in 1929, but the Great Depression again necessitated abandoning planning.

Both in 1937 and after the Anschluß, when Vienna became the largest city by surface area in the Third Reich, ambitious plans for a U-Bahn, as well as a new central railway station, were discussed. Test tunnelling took place, but these plans, too, had to be shelved when the Second World War broke out.

Severe war damage caused the Stadtbahn system to be suspended in some areas until 27 May 1945. The redevelopment of stations took until the 1950s. Meanwhile, Vienna was occupied by the four allied powers until 1955, and in 1946 had returned three quarters of the pre-war expanded Greater Vienna to the state of Lower Austria. Two proposals for U-Bahn systems were nonetheless presented, in 1953 and 1954. Increasing car traffic lead to cutbacks in the S-Bahn network that were partially made up for by buses. There was also an unfortunate politicisation of the U-Bahn issue: in the 1954 and 1959 city council elections, the conservative Austrian People's Party championed construction of a U-Bahn, but the more powerful Social Democratic Party of Austria campaigned for putting housing first. The city council repeatedly rejected the U-Bahn idea in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

Extensions of the Stadtbahn system had always been discussed as an alternative to building a new U-Bahn. But it was not until the late 1960s, when the Stadtbahn and the Schnellbahn were no longer able to adequately serve the ever-increasing public traffic, that the decision to build a new network was taken. On 26 January 1968, the city council voted to begin construction of a 30 km basic network (Grundnetz). Construction began on 3 November 1969[2] on and under Karlsplatz, where three lines of the basic network were to meet, and where central control of the U-Bahn was initially located. Test operation began on 8 May 1976 on line U4, and the first newly constructed (underground) stretch of line opened on 25 February 1978 (five stations on U1 between Reumannplatz and Karlsplatz).

The construction of the Vienna U-Bahn network can be divided into several stages[1]:

[edit] Initial construction (1969–1982): Basic network (Grundnetz)

U-Bahn construction at Karlsplatz and Kärntner Straße, 1973; tram running on temporary trestle

First, the basic network (Grundnetz) was chosen from the various network designs. During 1967, plans for the U2 were radically reduced and the U3 completely deleted, and the approved basic network was described as a 'closer basic network'.[1] This closer basic network, consisting of the U1, U2 and U4 lines, included:

  • New route between Reumannplatz and Praterstern
  • U2 between Karlsplatz and Schottenring
  • U4 between Hütteldorf and Heiligenstadt, consisting almost entirely of modification and adaptation of the existing Stadtbahn line

Construction began on 3 November 1969. On 25 February 1978, the first Vienna U-Bahn route between Karlsplatz and Reumannplatz, the U1, went into operation. With a total of twelve partial commissionings, the Vienna U-Bahn basic network was completed on 3 September 1982.

[edit] 2nd expansion phase (1982–2000): Lines U3 and U6

The second phase involved the expansion of the U3 and U6 lines (about 61 km, (37.9 mi)). The groundbreaking ceremony for this phase took place on 7 September 1983 on Pottendsdorfer Street at the Philadelphia Bridge and after 6 years, the central section of the U6 between Philadelphia Bridge and Heligenstadt/Friedensbrücke went into operation.

By mid-1990, the U6 had been extended from Siebenhirten to Floridsdorf and the U3 from Simmering to Ottakring constructed.

[edit] 3rd expansion phase (2001–2010): The first extensions of U1 and U2

In 1996, a new U-Bahn contract, known as the "30 billion package", was settled. For the first time in Europe, a U-Bahn project had to undergo a costly and lengthy environmental impact assessment, as the U2 extension showed a length of more than 10 km (6.2 mi).[1] This expansion phase involved:

[edit] U1 extension to Leopoldau

On 19 October 2001, the groundbreaking ceremony for the extension of U1 was held, for which the two districts had been waiting for 20 years.[1] After five years of construction, the 4.6 km (2.9 mi) long extension of the U1 was opened on 2 September 2006.

[edit] U2 extension from Schottenring to Stadium

On 12 June 2003, the groundbreaking ceremony took place outside the Stadion (stadium). Due to the 2008 European Football Championships in Austria, there was enormous pressure to complete the construction on time. The Wiener Linien met the deadline, and on 10 May 2008 the U2 extension to the stadium was opened.

[edit] U2 extension from Stadium to Aspern

On 2 October 2010 a further six stations were opened taking the U2 across the Danube via Donaustadtbrücke to Aspernstrasse in the twenty-second district (Donaustadt). An additional 4.5km extension to Aspern is expected to be completed in 2013.[3]

Volkstheater U-Bahn station (line U3), with mosaics by Anton Lehmden

[edit] Timeline

Date Opening Closure
1976-05-08 Heiligenstadt – Friedensbrücke
1978-02-25 Reumannplatz – Karlsplatz
1978-04-03 Friedensbrücke – Schottenring
1978-08-15 Schottenring – Karlsplatz (U4)
1978-11-18 Karlsplatz – Stephansplatz
1979-11-24 Stephansplatz – Nestroyplatz
1980-08-30 Karlsplatz – Schottenring (U2)
1980-10-26 Karlsplatz – Meidling
1981-02-28 Nestroyplatz – Praterstern
1981-08-31 Meidling – Hietzing
1981-12-20 Hietzing – Hütteldorf
1982-09-03 Praterstern – Kagran
1989-10-07 Philadelphiabrücke – Heiligenstadt
1991-04-06 Erdberg – Volkstheater
1993-09-04 Volkstheater – Westbahnhof
1994-09-03 Westbahnhof – Johnstraße
1995-04-15 Philadelphiabrücke – Siebenhirten
1996-05-04 Nussdorfer Straße – Floridsdorf Nussdorfer Straße – Heiligenstadt
1998-12-05 Johnstraße – Ottakring
2000-12-02 Erdberg – Simmering
2006-09-02 Kagran – Leopoldau
2008-05-10 Schottenring – Stadion
2010-10-02 Stadion – Aspernstraße

[edit] U-Bahn network

There are currently five U-Bahn lines (U1-U4 and U6) and 101 stations, including nine interchanges. The network's total length is 75 km (46.6 mi) with 101 stations.[1] Further extensions of the Vienna U-Bahn have been decided until 2019. Upon completion, there will be a total network of 90 km (55.9 mi) and 116 stations.[1] Some plans have been prepared to deal with the period beyond, although remain unfunded.

U-Bahn services run between 5 am and around 1 am at intervals between two and five minutes during the day and up to eight after 8 pm. Since 4 September 2010, there has been a 24-hour service operating at a 15 minute interval on Fridays, Saturdays and on Sundays if followed by a public holiday. The 24-hour U-Bahn is supplemented on these nights by Vienna NightLine bus services.

Line Colour Route Length Stations
U1 red Reumannplatz - Leopoldau 14.6 km (9.1 mi) 19
U2 purple Karlsplatz - Aspernstrasse 12.5 km (7.8 mi) 17
U3 orange Ottakring - Simmering 13.5 km (8.4 mi) 21
U4 green Hütteldorf - Heiligenstadt 16.5 km (10.3 mi) 20
U6 brown Siebenhirten - Floridsdorf 17.4 km (10.8 mi) 24

[edit] Stations

Reumannplatz station
Entrance to Donauinsel station under Reichsbrücke

[edit] Line  U1 

  1. Reumannplatz (25 February 1978)
    • First new station opened
  2. Keplerplatz (25 February 1978)
  3. Südtiroler Platz (25 February 1978)
    • Connection underground to S-Bahn and trams
  4. Taubstummengasse (25 February 1978)
  5. Karlsplatz (25 February 1978)
    • Connections to U2, U4, and local trains
    • U4 station on the site of 1898 Stadtbahn station and incorporating parts of it
    • Complex design because River Wien flows underground between the U2 and U4 platforms
    • Has more escalators than any other station in system
  6. Stephansplatz (18 November 1978)
  7. Schwedenplatz (24 November 1979)
    • Connection to U4
    • Formerly Stadtbahn station (1901)
    • Remnants of the ancient city walls visible
  8. Nestroyplatz (24 November 1979)
  9. Praterstern (28 February 1981)
    • Connections to U2, mainline and S-Bahn
    • Originally built with branch-off of Line U1A in view; U2 was built instead
  10. Vorgartenstraße (3 September 1982)
  11. Donauinsel (3 September 1982)
  12. Kaisermühlen / Vienna International Centre (3 September 1982)
  13. Alte Donau (3 September 1982)
  14. Kagran (3 December 1982)
    • Name changed from Zentrum Kagran ("Kagran Centre") to avoid confusion
  15. Kagraner Platz (2 September 2006)
  16. Rennbahnweg (2 September 2006)
  17. Aderklaaer Straße (2 September 2006)
  18. Großfeldsiedlung (2 September 2006)
  19. Leopoldau (2 September 2006)
    • Connections to mainline and S-Bahn.
Sculpture by Rudi Wach at Museumsquartier station
U2 platform at Karlsplatz station

[edit] Line  U2 

  1. Aspernstrasse (2 October 2010)
  2. Donauspital (2 October 2010)
  3. Hardegggasse (2 October 2010)
  4. Stadlau (2 October 2010)
    • Connection to S-Bahn
  5. Donaustadtbrücke (2 October 2010)
  6. Donaumarina (2 October 2010)
  7. Stadion (10 May 2008)
    • 3 tracks, 2 symmetrical inside platforms
  8. Krieau (10 May 2008)
    • Until 2006, station was to be named Trabrennstraße
  9. Messe-Prater (10 May 2008)
  10. Praterstern (10 May 2008 - U1 station 1981)
    • Connections to U1, main line and S-Bahn
  11. Taborstraße (10 May 2008)
  12. Schottenring (10 May 2008; 1980 terminus, with different platform layout)
    • Connection to U4; that part of station converted from 1901 Stadtbahn station
    • Station is located under the Donaukanal
  13. Schottentor (30 August 1980)
  14. Rathaus (30 August 1980)
    • Station opened 1965 as Friedrich-Schmidt-Platz on the U-Straßenbahn underground tramway
  15. Volkstheater (30 August 1980)
    • Connection to U3
    • Station opened 1965 as Burggasse on the U-Straßenbahn underground tramway
  16. Museumsquartier (30 August 1980)
    • Station features public art
    • Opened 1965 as Mariahilfer Straße on the U-Straßenbahn underground tramway
  17. Karlsplatz (30 August 1980; U1 25 February 1978)
    • Connections to U1, U4, and local trains
    • U4 station on the site of 1898 Stadtbahn station and incorporating parts of it
    • Complex design because River Wien flows underground between the U2 and U4 platforms
    • Has more escalators than any other station in system.
Mini Cooper and small plane at Schweglerstraße station
Erdberg station
The platform at Rochusgasse

[edit] Line  U3 

  1. Ottakring (5 December 1998)
    • Connection to S-bahn
  2. Kendlerstraße (5 December 1998)
  3. Hütteldorfer Straße (5 December 1998)
  4. Johnstraße (3 September 1994)
  5. Schweglerstraße (3 September 1994)
    • Station features public art
  6. Westbahnhof (4 September 1993)
    • Connections to U6, mainline and S-bahn
    • Public art in parts of passageways
    • U6 station, opened 1989, is in 1898 Stadtbahn station
  7. Zieglergasse (4 September 1993)
    • Stacked platforms: trains to Simmering above trains to Ottakring
  8. Neubaugasse (4 September 1993)
    • Stacked platforms: trains to Simmering above trains to Ottakring
  9. Volkstheater (6 April 1991; U2 since 1980)
    • Connection to U2
    • Station features public art
  10. Herrengasse (6 April 1991)
  11. Stephansplatz (6 April 1991; U1 1978)
    • Connection to U1
    • Stacked platforms: trains to Simmering above trains to Ottakring
  12. Stubentor (6 April 1991)
    • Stacked platforms: trains to Simmering above trains to Ottakring
    • Remains of ancient city walls
  13. Landstraße (6 April 1991)
    • Connections to U4, mainline, S-Bahn and City Airport Train
    • U4 station is in 1899 Stadtbahn station
  14. Rochusgasse (6 April 1991)
  15. Kardinal-Nagl-Platz (6 April 1991)
  16. Schlachthausgasse (6 April 1991)
  17. Erdberg (6 April 1991)
    • Central control and maintenance facility; track branch to U2
  18. Gasometer (2 December 2000)
  19. Zippererstraße (2 December 2000)
  20. Enkplatz (2 December 2000)
  21. Simmering (2 December 2000)
    • Connections to mainline and S-Bahn.
Stadtpark station by Otto Wagner, Johannesgasse entrance
Spittelau station (1995): S-Bahn platform, U-Bahn visible at left

[edit] Line  U4 

  1. Hütteldorf (20 December 1981)
    • Connections to mainline and S-Bahn
    • Was the Hütteldorf-Hacking station on the Stadtbahn
    • Otto Wagner’s design partially retained
  2. Ober St. Veit (20 December 1981)
    • Otto Wagner’s design partially retained
  3. Unter St. Veit (20 December 1981)
    • Otto Wagner’s design partially retained
  4. Braunschweiggasse (20 December 1981)
    • Otto Wagner’s design partially retained
  5. Hietzing (31 August 1981)
    • Otto Wagner’s Hofpavillon, 1899 Stadtbahn station for the use of the Imperial family, is at one end of the inward-bound platform
  6. Schönbrunn (31 August 1981)
    • Otto Wagner’s design retained
  7. Meidling Hauptstraße (26 October 1980)
    • Extra-wide platform was shared from 1980 to 1985 by terminus of Stadtbahn ring-line
  8. Längenfeldgasse (7 October 1989)
    • Connection to U6; station was originally not a U4 station
  9. Margaretengürtel (26 October 1980)
    • Otto Wagner’s design partially retained
  10. Pilgramgasse (26 October 1980)
    • Otto Wagner’s design partially retained
  11. Kettenbrückengasse (26 October 1980)
    • Otto Wagner’s design partially retained
  12. Karlsplatz (15 August 1978)
    • Connections to U1, U2, and local trains
    • Station retains parts of 1898 Stadtbahn station
    • Complex design because River Wien flows underground between the U2 and U4 platforms
    • Has more escalators than any other station in system
  13. Stadtpark (15 August 1978)
    • Station in open cut within the park; landmark building by Otto Wagner, opened 30 July 1899, retained
  14. Landstraße (15 August 1978)
    • Connections to U3, mainline, S-Bahn and City Airport Train
    • 1899 Stadtbahn station retained
    • Tabak (tobacconist) on platform
  15. Schwedenplatz (15 August 1978)
    • Connection to U1
  16. Schottenring (3 April 1978)
    • Connection to U2; from 1980 to 2008 rail connection
  17. Rossauer Lände (3 April 1978)
    • Otto Wagner’s design partially retained
  18. Friedensbrücke (8 May 1976)
    • Otto Wagner’s design partially retained; until 1991 terminus of Stadtbahn/U6
  19. Spittelau (7 October 1995)
    • Connections to U6, mainline and S-Bahn; no previous Stadtbahn or U-Bahn service
  20. Heiligenstadt (8 May 1976)
    • Connections to mainline and S-Bahn
    • Until 1989 was terminus of Stadtbahn ring-line
    • Otto Wagner’s design partially retained
    • Until 1996 terminus of U6.
Gumpendorfer Straße station, by Otto Wagner
Josefstädter Straße station, by Otto Wagner, platform view

[edit] Line  U6 

  1. Siebenhirten (15 April 1995)
  2. Perfektastraße (15 April 1995)
  3. Erlaaer Straße (15 April 1995)
  4. Alterlaa (15 April 1995)
  5. Am Schöpfwerk (15 April 1995)
  6. Tscherttegasse (15 April 1995)
  7. Philadelphiabrücke (7 October 1989)
    • Connections to mainline, S-Bahn and local trains
  8. Niederhofstraße (7 October 1989)
  9. Längenfeldgasse (7 October 1989)
    • Connection to U4
  10. Gumpendorfer Straße (7 October 1989)
    • Historic 1898 Otto Wagner station retained
  11. Westbahnhof (7 October 1989)
    • Connections to U3, mainline and S-bahn
    • Public art in parts of passageways
    • 1898 Stadtbahn station retained
  12. Burggasse - Stadthalle (7 October 1989)
    • Platforms in open cut, now under Central Library
    • Otto Wagner’s design partially retained
  13. Thaliastraße (7 October 1989)
    • Opened 1980 as Stadtbahn station
  14. Josefstädter Straße (7 October 1989)
    • Historic 1898 Otto Wagner station retained
  15. Alser Straße (7 October 1989)
    • Historic Otto Wagner station retained
  16. Michelbeuern (7 October 1989)
    • Location of railyard since 1898; rail connection to S-Bahn
  17. Währinger Straße - Volksoper (7 October 1989)
    • Historic Otto Wagner station retained
  18. Nussdorfer Straße (7 October 1989)
    • Historic Otto Wagner station retained
  19. Spittelau (4 May 1996)
    • Connections to U4, mainline and S-Bahn
  20. Jägerstraße (4 May 1996)
  21. Dresdner Straße (4 May 1996)
  22. Handelskai (4 May 1996)
    • Connections to mainline and S-Bahn
  23. Neue Donau (4 May 1996)
  24. Floridsdorf (4 May 1996)
    • Connections to mainline and S-Bahn
    • First station on site 1897, current station is rebuilding of S-Bahn terminus.

[edit] Projected expansion

[edit] 4th expansion phase (2009–2019): Further extension of the Vienna U-Bahn

Projected network 2019

Planning for a fourth U-Bahn expansion phase began in 2001 and concrete ideas were put forth in the 2003 Transport Master Plan.[1] Three projects have been approved:

  • U2 extension from Aspernstrasse to Flugfeld Aspern. The former airfield at Aspern is transforming in three major stages into the "Seaside City" of Vienna. Completion and opening is scheduled for 2013.
  • U1 extension from Reumannplatz to Rothneusiedl. Completion is scheduled for 2015.
  • U2 extension from Karlsplatz to Gudrunstrasse. The completion of the U2 extension is scheduled for 2019.

[edit] 5th expansion phase

In the current rail network contract design work for the next decade has been considered and approved.[1] There are discussions about the 5th expansion phase concerning an extension of the U6 northwards from Floridsdorf.[1] The traffic problems at the city entrances also require consideration of whether to extend the U-Bahn to the edge of the city or beyond.

[edit] Rolling stock

The Vienna U-Bahn has three types of rolling stock, as well as maintenance of way equipment. The U1, U2, U3, and U4 have two types of rolling stock: The older U class and the newer V class. The U6 has one class of train, the T type, the older E6/C6 having been retired in 2008.

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Hödl, J: Das Wiener U-Bahn-Netz, Wiener Linien, 2009.
  2. ^ Wiener U-Bahn-Bau feiert 40. Geburtstag, Österreichischer Rundfunk (German), retrieved 31 May 2010.
  3. ^ "Railway Gazette: Wiener Linien opens U2 extension". http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/wiener-linien-opens-u2-extension.html. Retrieved 2010-10-16. 

[edit] References

German
  • Johann Hödl: Das Wiener U-Bahn Netz, Wiener Linien, 2009
  • Johann Walter Hinkel: U-Bahnen von 1863 bis 2010, N.J. Schmid Verlagsgesellschaft, 2004

[edit] External links

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