Subway U1 in Vienna is back in full operation – U2 will follow on December 6th

Subway U1 in Vienna is back in full operation – U2 will follow on December 6th

Vienna subway users can breathe a sigh of relief: The U1 has been running normally again since today. This decision, which greatly affects the daily mobility of passengers, followed a fire that broke out on November 19th in an uncontrolled special train. The train, which was traveling without passengers, caught fire and stopped in the tunnel between the Taubstummengasse and Südtiroler Platz/Hauptbahnhof stations. In the following weeks, the U1 was only active on sections between Oberlaa and Reumannplatz and between Schwedenplatz and Leopoldau, which posed challenges for many passengers.

The Wiener Linien announced this morning that the U1 will now run continuously between Leopoldau and Oberlaa again. “We thank you for your patience and wish you a safe journey!” said the message. Such announcements come as a welcome relief to commuters who rely on the subway.

Partial closure of the U2 ends on December 6th

In addition to the restoration of the U1, the return of the U2 is on the agenda. This has been partially shut down since 2021 due to construction work. The section between Schottentor and Karlsplatz will be used again from December 6th. The Wiener Linien, represented by the responsible city councilor Peter Hanke (SPÖ) and the managing director Gudrun Senk, announced that the originally planned restart had to be delayed by more than a year. The conversion is necessary to expand the subway network, especially with the introduction of a new line U5.

The disused area was modified to make room for automated operations, including the installation of platform screen doors to meet the requirements for the driverless U5. “Yes, it took longer,” confirmed City Councilor Hanke during a test drive for media representatives. He emphasized that these technical challenges will also offer lessons for the future.

The right preparations are currently in full swing. Wiener Linien is already carrying out test trips without passengers to ensure that everything works smoothly. “We have collected all the necessary reports,” assured Senk, while at the same time the installation of a total of 200 platform screen door modules with a glass area of ​​16,000 square meters in the stations was completed. 4.8 kilometers of rails were also replaced to ensure safety standards.

The cause of the fire at U1 remains unclear

Despite the positive developments, the cause of the fire that affected the U1 remains a mystery. The investigation is still ongoing, with Wiener Linien analyzing possible causes in close collaboration with an external fire expert and the vehicle manufacturer. On the one hand, the expert takes on an advisory role and will also prepare an expert report. At the same time, the State Criminal Police Office is carrying out comprehensive investigations.

Wiener Linien has assured that the results of the investigations will be published promptly to ensure transparency. It is important for commuters and the city to resolve these questions quickly without jeopardizing trust in the public transport system.

For further information, those interested can read the article on www.suedtirolnews.it see.