Advertisement

Construction begins on Vienna's U5 subway line

The Local Austria
The Local Austria - [email protected]
Construction begins on Vienna's U5 subway line
Photo: Wiener Linien

Test drilling began on Thursday for Vienna's new U5 subway line. This will be the sixth underground train line in Vienna, since the system opened in 1978.

Advertisement

The new U5 will connect via the U2 at Rathaus (Town Hall), eventually taking over part of the U2's line to Karlsplatz, while the U2 will be connected to Neubaugasse (U3) and Pilgramgasse (U4), and Matzleinsdorferplatz.

Meanwhile, the new U5 will be extended north-west from the Rathaus, joining the AKH (General Hospital) station of the U6.


The proposed new arrangements of the extended U2 and the new U5.  Photo: Wiener Linien

Several districts of Vienna will be affected by drilling operations over the coming years.  The current U-Bahn (underground rail system) extends through 80 km (50 miles), and serves 104 stations.  With the completion of the changes to the U2 and the new U5, the network will cover 90 km with 106 stations.

Test drilling costing €1.4 million will be carried out until the end of the year, to determine the state of material through which the tunnels will need to be bored.

In addition to the engineering works, Vienna's residents have been voting on their preferred colour scheme for the new line.  Voting will be finished on August 28th, but turquoise has already emerged as the clear favourite.

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

See Also