Vienna’s U-Bahn network is set for a major overhaul as public transport operator Wiener Linien plans to modernise 11 elevators and 12 escalators by the end of 2025.
The upgrades will feature energy-efficient designs and modern technology, with a total investment of €6.3 million.
The modernisation project will revamp 11 elevators, some of which have been in use for over 20 years. The U6 line is a primary focus, with stations such as Michelbeuern-AKH, Perfektastraße and Siebenhirten all earmarked for upgrades. Stephansplatz and Hütteldorf will also receive new lifts. The new lifts will include advanced accessibility features, such as voice announcements for blind passengers and visual displays for the hearing impaired.
In a press release, the City of Vienna said that 46 elevators across the city have been replaced or upgraded since 2020. These lifts collectively travel over 2,000 km a year, the equivalent of the distance from Vienna to Cairo.
Disruptions will occur at several stations during the works. For instance, Gumpendorfer Straße will be affected from 6 January to 2 March, and the Stephansplatz lift will be replaced between 20 January and 17 March, with no surface access available during this period. Other stations facing closures include Siebenhirten, Tscherttegasse and Perfektastraße.
Alongside the lift upgrades, Wiener Linien will modernise 12 escalators, including those at Karlsplatz, Jägerstraße and Handelskai.
