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VIENNA

Vienna commuters to face summer travel headache with U-Bahn line closure

Travellers who use the Vienna's U-Bahn will face disruption this summer with one line set to be partially closed.

Published: 12 March 2024 12:20 CET
Vienna commuters to face summer travel headache with U-Bahn line closure
A subway train on line U4 in Vienna on September 15, 2014. AFP PHOTO/JOE KLAMAR (Photo by JOE KLAMAR / AFP)

Wiener Linien is modernising its public transport system, and this summer, the green line U4 will be partially closed due to the works on the line.

In July and August, the line has to be divided and will be partially blocked between the stations Schwedenplatz and Schottenring, where the tunnel will be renovated.

It is not yet clear how many weeks the closure will go on for, but the renovations are expected to take several weeks during the two summer months.

The U4 is one of the main lines in Vienna’s subway network and opened to the public in 1976.

It was part of Vienna’s new underground system which was created in the 70s to ease the pressure on traffic clogged roads and provide efficient transport for the growing city.

READ ALSO: How to act like a local on Vienna’s U-Bahn

It currently has 20 stations and a total length of 16.5 km and offers a comfortable way to travel from Heligenstadt station in the 19th district to Hütteldorf station in the 14th district.

Today, Vienna’s subway network is an important part of the city’s public transportation system and considered to be one of the most efficient subway systems in the world. During busy hours, the trains depart with an interval of around four minutes.

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VIENNA

Vienna reveals new plan for how to move away from gas heating

Authorities in Vienna want to replace the city's 600,000 gas heating systems with greener alternatives and have presented a plan for how they will do it.

Published: 7 May 2024 16:25 CEST
Vienna reveals new plan for how to move away from gas heating

The “Vienna Heat Plan 2024” was presented this week which outlines a concrete strategy for replacing the city’s 600,000 currently installed gas heating systems with renewable energy alternatives.

Vienna has committed to ending its reliance on fossil fuels for heating and hot water by 2040.

As part of this goal, the capital wants to replace around 600,000 gas heating systems with renewable energy alternatives. On Monday May 8th the city presented the “Vienna Heat Plan 2024”, providing a clear plan for this transition.

The plan considers all buildings in the urban area and identifies where it is possible to expanding district heating, referring to a centralised heating system which efficiently serve multiple buildings.

The goal is to make district heating completely climate-neutral by 2040. Additionally, the plan also identifies areas where alternative solutions may be necessary, reported ORF.

The plan divides areas in three categories 

The areas in Vienna have been categorised into three groups based on demand and local conditions.

The first category include areas where district heating is most suitable.

The second category refers to areas with good potential for local heating networks. These networks can accommodate smaller, localised heating systems that serve buildings located close to each other. Additionally, the third category includes areas where individual climate-neutral heating solutions are needed for single buildings or properties, ensuring necessary adjustment to specific needs of a property.

Additional divisions within these groups have been made, considering factors like existing district heating connections and the possibility of expansion. The city wants to expand the district heating network to cover 1,700 kilometres in the future, according to Vienna.at.

READ ALSO: Austria climate activist aims to take fight to Brussels

Geothermal energy planned to be used in outer districts

The areas selected for local heating networks are mainly situated in the outer districts of the city. In those areas authorities plan to use geothermal energy, heat derived from the Earth’s core. Through the use of heat pumps, the plan is to supply heat to multiple buildings simultaneously, reported ORF.

READ NEXT: Vast Vienna wastewater heat pumps showcase EU climate drive

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