U2 line in Vienna: finally reopening after a long renovation!

U2 line in Vienna: finally reopening after a long renovation!

The U2 line in Vienna will resume normal operations from December 6, 2023, after the section between Karlsplatz and Schottentor was closed since May 2021 due to extensive renovation work. The Wiener Linien announced this on Friday, causing great relief among passengers who had to do without this section for over two years.

The original plan was to install the automatic doors on the platforms by September 2023. However, these works suffered several delays and the reopening was initially postponed to September 2024, and later even further due to unexpected technical problems. The reasons for the delays were primarily delivery difficulties with the door systems and the need to combine new technologies with the old infrastructure.

Challenges and progress

Public interest was aroused when Peter Hanke, the responsible city councilor, explained during a media event: "Yes, it took longer. In addition to the employees, I would also like to say a very clear thank you to the people of Vienna for their patience in making this leap in quality possible." The return to normality for this important transport link brings not only relief but also an improvement in existing driving conditions.

The managing director of Wiener Linien, Gudrun Senk, emphasized that the challenges in this project were significant. "It was a very challenging project. Combining the new technology with the existing infrastructure was a big challenge," she said. There are plans to put a total of 40 new X-cars into operation on the U2 main route by 2030 in order to further optimize the service.

In recent years, construction work has repeatedly been delayed, which has been frustrating for many commuters. Despite these setbacks, the announcement of normal operations shows that progress has been made and Wiener Linien is optimistic that there will be fewer delays in the future.

The extensive renovations to the U2 line are part of a larger plan to modernize Vienna's transport network. These measures are intended not only to increase safety, but also to improve the efficiency of public transport. To find out more about the background to these changes, you can download the detailed report www.meinkreis.at be read.

Overall, the recommissioning is one of the final pieces of the puzzle in a lengthy process that brought with it many challenges. It remains to be seen how the new changes will be received by passengers and whether they can meet the high expectations.