Europe's news in English

COPY LINK

TRANSPORT

Would you want scented trains in your city? Vienna commuters say no

Four different aromas were tested on subway lines in Vienna as part of a summer trial aimed at improving commuters' experience.

Published: 5 August 2019 14:37 CEST

Would you want scented trains in your city? Vienna commuters say no

Care for a whiff of sandalwood on your way home from work? Photo: Joe Klamar/AFP

Four aromas – including “energizing” grapefruit and “relaxing” melon – were tested in several carriages on two subway lines in the Austrian capital during July.

Public transport compary Wiener Linien said on Monday it had dropped the idea to make fragrant trains a regular feature for now after 21,000 out of 37,000 participants voted against the plan in an online survey.

“I want to make sure that passengers feel comfortable in public transport,” Vienna environment councillor Ulli Sima said.

READ ALSO: How to act like a local on Vienna's subway

During the test run, the scents were funnelled into the carriages through ventilation systems.

Of the four proposed scents, the “energize” mix made up of grapefruit, green tea, lemon and sandalwood was the most popular, Wiener Linien said.

Vienna's public transport used by 2.6 million people daily is known for its efficiency and affordability.

Almost half of Vienna's 1.9 million inhabitants hold a €365 ($407) yearly pass which was introduced in 2012 and allows them to use all public transport in the capital.

READ ALSO: Six fun facts about public transport in Vienna

The number of pass holders exceeds the number of registered cars in Vienna, according to Wiener Linien.

Last year, Wiener Linien introduced a food ban on subways after commuters complained of fast food, including kebab and pizza, smelling up their rides.

Austria's ÖBB announces new train timetable for summer

ÖBB is using the summer for construction work in the country’s east. A new timetable will apply on some railway lines in Vienna and Lower Austria from June 29th to September 2nd, the Austrian rail company announced on Tuesday.

There will be no trains between Floridsdorf and Praterstern. Instead, a rail replacement service with buses will be provided. A reduced train service is available between Praterstern and Liesing. Wiener Linien will accept ÖBB tickets on selected alternative routes.

Trains on the REX1 line (Floridsdorf—Gänserndorf —Břeclav route) will be diverted at longer intervals via Vienna Stadlau and Vienna Simmering. All other trains north of Vienna start and end in Floridsdorf or are cancelled.

READ ALSO: The seaside destinations you can reach without a car or plane from Austria

The trains on the S1 line with the destination and departure station Marchegg are cancelled between Vienna Süßenbrunn and Marchegg. A rail replacement service will be set up between Vienna Süßenbrunn and Gänserndorf. The S1 trains travelling to/from Gänserndorf every hour according to the annual timetable will be extended to/from Marchegg.

Timetable changes will occur on the southern line between Vienna and Wiener Neustadt Hbf. Trains will not run on the section between Bad Vöslau and Leobersdorf, and long-distance trains will be diverted.

Those on the CJX9 line start and end at Vienna Central Station and will be diverted between there and Wiener Neustadt. Therefore, the stops in Vienna Matzleinsdorfer Platz and Baden will be cancelled.

Replacement buses

ÖBB is organising rail replacement services with buses for the following route sections:

Leobersdorf – Bad Vöslau
Leobersdorf – Mödling for the suburban trains
Wiener Neustadt Hbf – Felixdorf for trains on line R95
Wiener Neustadt Hbf – Wien Liesing (for the night-time closure from 23:25 to 04:00)

The Railjet and CAT connections and the Vienna Airport Lines buses will continue to run to Vienna Airport. There will be timetable changes on the S7 line. Trains on the REX7 line will be cancelled. From Fischamend to Wolfsthal, trains will be replaced by buses.

ÖBB launches information campaign

To offer passengers planning security and to inform customers comprehensively and promptly about rail replacement services, alternative routes and timetables, ÖBB is launching a comprehensive information campaign in May, the company added.

Advertisements in daily and district media, information posters at railway stations, customer guides, and distribution campaigns for a particular information folder before and during the closure period will help travellers find the proper connection.

READ ALSO: Five European cities you can reach from Austria in less than five hours by train

Municipalities and residents affected by construction work are informed electronically or by post about disruptions such as noise, dust and increased lorry traffic on construction site access roads.

Travellers can find information on the timetable at www.oebb.at, www.oebb.at/baustellen, 05-1717 and on the SCOTTY mobile app. Information on the Vienna S-Bahn upgrade can also be found at www.s-bahn.wien.

Url copied to clipboard!