From today the S-Bahn north of Vienna stops running — replacement buses until 6 September, and your ÖBB ticket is valid on the U-Bahn
From today, 10 August, until 6 September no trains run on the northern approaches into Vienna. The closures are needed to switch on the ETCS Level 2 digital signalling system, which is meant to allow a more reliable and more frequent service afterwards. Three sections are affected: Wien Praterstern to Wien Süßenbrunn on the Nordbahn, carrying the S1; Praterstern to Gerasdorf on the Laaer Ostbahn, carrying the S2; and Praterstern to Jedlersdorf on the Nordwestbahn, carrying the S3 and S4.
Replacement buses run in place of the trains. They start from Süßenbrunn for the S1, Gerasdorf for the S2 and Jedlersdorf for the S3. The regional REX2 and REX3 services now end early, at Wolkersdorf and Korneuburg respectively, and buses run from there directly to Floridsdorf, Handelskai or Praterstern, each connecting to the U6, U1 or U2. The REX1 is diverted via Leopoldau and Simmering to the Hauptbahnhof. The routes were planned using passenger-flow data to reach the main interchanges as quickly as possible.
The part worth knowing if you commute: valid ÖBB tickets are accepted on the Vienna city network during the closure. That covers the U1, U2, U3, U4 and U6, and several tram lines, from 2am on 10 August until 2am on 7 September. This sits on top of the summer closure already in place since 4 July between Praterstern and Floridsdorf, where two replacement buses run — a direct service with no intermediate stops, and a slower one calling at Traisengasse and Handelskai.
A special timetable applies throughout, so departure times differ from the ones you are used to. Check your connection shortly before travelling and allow extra time. One further date is worth putting in the diary now: from 7 September the central section between Praterstern and the Hauptbahnhof closes for fourteen months, until the end of October 2027.