Vienna U-Bahn

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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 pre-metro (parts of U2 and parts of U6), and newly-built subway (U1, U3, parts of U2 and U6).

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[edit] U1

Leopldau-bound U1 train at Kagran
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Leopldau-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 2000 for an extension to Leopoldau, which was opened on September 2, 2006.

[edit] U2

U2 (Schottenring - Karlsplatz)
Colour: purple

Line U2 consists mostly of a converted tram tunnel that was built in the 1960s. Extensions were added at both ends so that this line presently runs from Schottenring to Karlsplatz. Due to structural limitations of the original tram tunnel and short station distances, this is 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 will need to be accommodated when the extension to Stadion opens in 2008.

The following stations are scheduled to open May 10, 2008:

  • Stadion
  • Krieau
  • Messe Prater
  • Praterstern (U1)
  • Taborstraße
  • Schottenring (new, deeper station, U4)

The following stations are currently being served:

[edit] U3

Line 3 arriving at Westbahnhof
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Line 3 arriving at Westbahnhof
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.
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The U4 crosses the Wienfluss after departing Hütteldorf.
Another crossing of the Wienfluss, between Landstraße and Schwedenplatz stations
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Another crossing of the Wienfluss, between Landstraße and Schwedenplatz stations
A train in a station (U4)
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A train in a station (U4)

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
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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
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    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, is to be finished by May 2008 in time for the 2008 European Football Championship games; according to the Wiener Linien, the line will be finished just in time. The further extension across the Danube river to Aspern has been postponed and is unlikely to be completed before 2010.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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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