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Wien Stadbahn
an overground, underground, tram railway!
As a result of urban planning to provide sanitation for the city, the Danube was canalised in the city area, and part of the space freed was used for the Stadtbahn, the City railway. Opened on 9 May 1898, the line was steam worked from the beginning, but despite using locos which reduced emissions, it was not as popular as the trams, because of the amount of pollution it produced. Short distances between stations, causing continuous acceleration and braking, together with a much lower frequency of services - and higher fares, meant that the population continued to use the tramways.
The Stadtbahn actually consisted of four lines - the Obere Wienielinie between Hütteldorf and Meidling Hauptsrasse; the Gürtallinie from there to Heiligenstadt Westrasse via the Westbahnhof and Alterstraße; the Unter Wientalinie from Meidling Hauptsrasse to Hauptzellamtweststraße; and the Donaukanalinie from there to Heiligenstadt Westrasse via the Franz Josef Bahnhof. The line ran on viaducts or in cuttings away from the riverside, where it ran for part of the way under a cut-and-cover tunnel with openings on the river side. All four services were electrified in 1925. Following electrification the services out of the city which had run over the Stadtbahn into the city centre, were truncated or diverted, and traffic was lost to other forms of transport. The city corporation bought a series of 2-axle electric cars, some of which were used until the demise of the Stadtbahn when the U-bahn was built. They were coupled into trains of up to 9 coaches, and could work over part of the tram network. At Michelbueren depot a connection still exists, now linking the U-bahn and the tramway system.
Several of the old stations on the central section, designed by Otto Wagner, can still be seen.
In 1976, much of the Stadtbahn was incorporated in the new city U-bahn, which also took over high-speed tram route 64 to Siebenherten, in the south of the city. The U-bahn lines U4 and U6 use much of the old Stadtbahn lines, and although designated Underground, U6 is, for the most part, on the old Stadtbahn viaducts or in cuttings. It is also the only section of the U-bahn to use overhead current collection at 750 v d.c., rather than the 750 v. d.c. third rail collection used elsewhere on the U-bahn. Services are now maintained by two-car articulated units, running in multiple, and by light-rail type trains. Alterations at the end of the 1990's saw low-floor coaches introduced, and there is always one such vehicle in every train.
Tickets available at stations include 24-hour and 8-day passes, which can be used as a 4 day pass for 2 people. Several of the original electric cars still exist and are on display in the Wiener Strassenbahnmuseum in the old depot at Erdberg. Also in the collection are a petrol trolley and a number of trailer vehicles.
Route U6 formerly part of the Wien Stadtbahn
Route map, click to enlarge.
More better and bigger picture of tramways in Wien in our
ARG Viennese Trams Photo Gallery
The city's official Tramway site
Click on the ARG logo to return to the home page or
here to go
back to the previous screen.
Text by Stephen Ford
Sources:
Tramways and Light Railways of Switzerland and Austria, LRTA :
Http://www.wienerlinien.at/wl/wlinien/jsp/home/guestHome.jsp :
Http://www.tramway.at/ :
Http://www.lrta.org/ :
Http://www.aeiou.at/
updated 23rd March 2005
Design and © Ron Ferguson
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Wien Stadbahn
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As a result of urban planning to provide sanitation for the city, the Danube was canalised in the city area, and part of the space freed was used for the Stadtbahn, the City railway. Opened on 9 May 1898, the line was steam worked from the beginning, but despite using locos which reduced emissions, it was not as popular as the trams, because of the amount of pollution it produced. Short distances between stations, causing continuous acceleration and braking, together with a much lower frequency of services - and higher fares, meant that the population continued to use the tramways. The Stadtbahn actually consisted of four lines - the Obere Wienielinie between Hütteldorf and Meidling Hauptsrasse; the Gürtallinie from there to Heiligenstadt Westrasse via the Westbahnhof and Alterstraße; the Unter Wientalinie from Meidling Hauptsrasse to Hauptzellamtweststraße; and the Donaukanalinie from there to Heiligenstadt Westrasse via the Franz Josef Bahnhof. The line ran on viaducts or in cuttings away from the riverside, where it ran for part of the way under a cut-and-cover tunnel with openings on the river side. All four services were electrified in 1925. Following electrification the services out of the city which had run over the Stadtbahn into the city centre, were truncated or diverted, and traffic was lost to other forms of transport. The city corporation bought a series of 2-axle electric cars, some of which were used until the demise of the Stadtbahn when the U-bahn was built. They were coupled into trains of up to 9 coaches, and could work over part of the tram network. At Michelbueren depot a connection still exists, now linking the U-bahn and the tramway system. Several of the old stations on the central section, designed by Otto Wagner, can still be seen. In 1976, much of the Stadtbahn was incorporated in the new city U-bahn, which also took over high-speed tram route 64 to Siebenherten, in the south of the city. The U-bahn lines U4 and U6 use much of the old Stadtbahn lines, and although designated Underground, U6 is, for the most part, on the old Stadtbahn viaducts or in cuttings. It is also the only section of the U-bahn to use overhead current collection at 750 v d.c., rather than the 750 v. d.c. third rail collection used elsewhere on the U-bahn. Services are now maintained by two-car articulated units, running in multiple, and by light-rail type trains. Alterations at the end of the 1990's saw low-floor coaches introduced, and there is always one such vehicle in every train. Tickets available at stations include 24-hour and 8-day passes, which can be used as a 4 day pass for 2 people. Several of the original electric cars still exist and are on display in the Wiener Strassenbahnmuseum in the old depot at Erdberg. Also in the collection are a petrol trolley and a number of trailer vehicles. |
Route U6 formerly part of the Wien Stadtbahn
Route map, click to enlarge. |
More better and bigger picture of tramways in Wien in our ARG Viennese Trams Photo Gallery
The city's official Tramway site
Click on the ARG logo to return to the home page or here to go back to the previous screen.
Text by Stephen Ford
Sources: Tramways and Light Railways of Switzerland and Austria, LRTA : Http://www.wienerlinien.at/wl/wlinien/jsp/home/guestHome.jsp : Http://www.tramway.at/ : Http://www.lrta.org/ : Http://www.aeiou.at/
updated 23rd March 2005