Normal service on Vienna’s U1 underground line will not resume until the first week of December, transport operator Wiener Linien confirmed on Friday.
The announcement comes after a fire broke out earlier this week on a special service train travelling without passengers. The 25-year-old driver and five station staff members were injured. Police have stated there is “no indication of third-party involvement” in the incident.
Inspections of the affected tunnel section revealed significant damage, with 50 metres impacted and 15 metres severely affected. Repairs will include replacing the tracks, 400 metres of cable trays, and several kilometres of cabling, according to Wiener Linien.
For the time being, U1 trains are running only between Oberlaa and Reumannplatz, and Schwedenplatz and Leopoldau, with stations from Keplerplatz to Stephansplatz closed.
Additional inspections of the older Silberpfeil trains are underway, and an independent fire expert has been called in to assist.
