Metro Vienna: a scheme for active tourists and lovers of a measured rest

Every year, millions of tourists from around the world choose the Austrian capital. And this is absolutely not surprising, because this is the most ancient city in Europe. Here you can see the traces of the Roman legions, palace complexes of great rulers, join the cultural heritage. As a basic mode of transport it is very convenient to use the metro of Vienna. The scheme intersects with bus, tram and suburban rail service, which allows you to easily reach any part of the city and the surrounding area.

History

Concerning the communications of other megacities is considered the young metro of Vienna. The scheme in its current version was opened only in 1976. However, the first plans appeared in the XIX century, and some sections of roads built at the same time are part of a modern network.

Initially, the trains served the needs of the royal family on a steam basis. Further the complex began to develop and serve for the urban population. It had the name Stadtbahn, totaled three main segments and as many auxiliary ones. However, this mode of transport was not very popular. Because of the short length, I could not compete with the tram system.

Events of the first half of the twentieth century

So at the beginning of the XX century, the construction of tunnels under the ground was conceived. But the First World War and subsequent problems in the economy for a long time stopped the development of communications. After the Anschluss and the annexation of the country to Germany, the issue of the construction of the Vienna metro was repeatedly discussed. The scheme was very complex and ambitious. But these plans were not destined to be realized.

In the post-war period, the question of the need for the capital of Austria to have a modern underground was repeatedly raised. However, in favor of housing and other projects, the rebuilding of the country rejected the idea of creating a metro in Vienna. The scheme was replaced by the activation of the automobile movement.

There were attempts to create an alternative to underground roads in the form of bus routes. But the rapid increase in the number of motorists overloaded the roads and, ground transportation failed to cope with the tasks assigned.

Erection

In early 1968, the city council decided to build a subway. It was caused by objective indicators of population growth and active development of all spheres of people's lives. Six years later, trial operation of the U4 began. Then other directions and metro stations were launched. Vienna has become one of the most convenient places for living and recreation.

In general, the construction of underground communications can be divided into three stages. The first covers the time interval from 1969 to 1982. Then U1, U2 and U4 were built. Part of the old tramway was converted to train traffic. The next item is the laying of the foundations of two new directions - U4 and U6. This work took place from 1982 to 2000. In the new millennium, the expansion of existing lines began. So, for the World Cup, new U2 stations were built, and then U1.

Plans

Currently, the Vienna U-Bahn has 104 stations on five branches, which stretch at a distance of 78.5 km. By 2019 city authorities are going to build 12 more passenger points. Another 11.5 km of railroad tracks will have a subway scheme. Vienna in Russian, like many European countries, almost does not have signs, including in the subway. Therefore, it is better for tourists from Russia to acquire an adapted map with a translation.

Features

Due to the fact that the construction of the Vienna underground began quite late, there are almost no distinctive features visible to passengers. All indicators meet global standards. However, we can note the lack of line number 5. Her projects were repeatedly discussed, but no decisions were made. Also in the power supply system of electric trains there are small differences from frequently used variants. But this does not affect the transportation of passengers.

The metro system of Vienna with sights is clear and simple. All directions are highlighted in a separate color, and often on the map are marked the routes of trams, buses and suburban trains. This allows you to conveniently plan your movements and easily navigate in unfamiliar places.

Every year, the Vienna Metro uses 470 million passengers. This demand has emerged due to the convenience of directions and the quality of transportation. So, the development of the subway has significantly transformed the space: traffic jams on roads have fallen, pedestrian streets have appeared, it has become easier for townspeople and tourists to move in different directions.

Schedule and prices

U-Bahn in the capital of Austria works from 5:00 to 01:00. During the daytime, the interval of movement is 2-5 minutes, in the evening - 5-8 minutes. Since the autumn of 2010, a round-the-clock movement of trains has been introduced with a frequency of a quarter of an hour on Friday and Saturday, as well as on public holidays. Also, the night traffic of urban transport is complemented by the work of some bus lines. For tourists, the route of visiting the capital is thought over : Vienna-Airport-Metro. With its help, you can get off the airplane and quickly and comfortably get to any place you need.

For all public transport, there are unified tickets. There is a different system for the formation of trips. Depending on the purposes, the passenger can choose the appropriate suitable variant of the travel document. So, you can buy a special card for 72 hours of travel, which includes a preferential visit to museums.

There are also options for one-off, hourly, weekly and monthly payments. Their price varies from two to five euros per trip. For children under six years old, the fare is free. Adult schoolchildren also can not pay on Sunday, holidays and during a vacation in the capital.