Just in time for the start of the new school year, the extended Line 18 has entered passenger service. Since 5 September, Line 18 has been operating along a 2.2-kilometre newly built section through the Prater to Stadion U2 station.
Line 18 now runs from Burggasse-Stadthalle U6 station via Westbahnhof, Vienna Central Station, St. Marx and Schlachthausgasse U3, continuing through the Prater to Stadion U2 station. Seven new stops have been built along the new section between Schlachthausgasse in the 3rd district and Stadion in the 2nd district. In the Prater, the line crosses the Hauptallee and continues along Meiereistraße to the stadium. The turning loop runs via Handelskai and Dr Natterer Gasse.
The aim is to turn tram line 18 into a strong east–west cross-city connection, with interchange opportunities with five underground lines, eight S-Bahn lines and both local and long-distance rail services. It provides better links to urban development areas in the 2nd and the 3rd district, the Prater, sports and leisure facilities, as well as the future long-distance coach terminal. It also provides interchange with almost all underground lines.
In recent weeks, the new route has undergone extensive testing as part of trial runs. The opening of the extended tram route also brings changes to traffic arrangements through the Prater. The route via Stadionallee and Meiereistraße between Lusthausstraße and Stadionbad will in future be closed to general motor traffic on all days of the week.
Access to residential areas, sports facilities and car parks will remain possible, as will passage for emergency vehicles. This will allow line 18 to travel through the Prater quickly and reliably. Wherever possible, the expansion of public transport is being combined with new cycling infrastructure and additional greenery. A 70-metre-long green-track section near Ernst-Happel-Stadion, more than 10,300 square metres of new greenery, around 200 new trees and 14 small public spaces along the new route are expected to make a noticeable contribution to improving the urban climate.
A further 2,150 metres of new cycle paths are being created along the new tram route. These include a physically segregated two-way cycle track on Meiereistraße, as well as new connections via Stadionbrücke, Dr Natterer Gasse and Würtzlerstraße.
From the start of Line 18 operations, bus services around Stadion, Schlachthausgasse and Neu Marx will also be reorganised. Line 18 will take over the former route of bus 77A as far as Stadion U2 station. The 77A will then run from Rennweg via Schlachthausgasse to Neu Marx and, from Schlachthausgasse onwards, will take over the former route of bus 80A.
