S-Bahn trunk line: Closed for 14 months starting Monday
Starting Monday, September 7, the S-Bahn trunk line between Wien Praterstern and Wien Hauptbahnhof will be closed. The closure will last for 14 months, until the end of October 2027. During this time, no trains will run on this section. The ÖBB (Austrian Federal Railways) will be renovating viaducts, retaining walls, and bridges, extending platforms, and modernizing the Wien Rennweg and Wien Quartier Belvedere stations, as well as the entire rail infrastructure between the main station and Praterstern.
For passengers, more than just one route is changing. The Wien Mitte-Landstraße station will be closed during the construction work. The S7 airport express train will be shortened and will only operate to and from St. Marx. The REX7 will be diverted via the main station towards the south. At the same time, the summer closure is ending: the S-Bahn will resume service between Praterstern and Floridsdorf starting Monday.
Anyone needing to get to the airport should replan. The airport can be reached by S-Bahn via the main station and by the S7 from St. Marx. During the main closure, the City Airport Train will be replaced by replacement buses between Wien Mitte and the airport, which will run up to five times per hour. The Vienna Airport Bus will additionally operate from Praterstern and Karlsplatz. Long-distance trains from the main station also provide service to the airport.
Within the city, Wiener Linien is expected to absorb the service gaps. A new direct shuttle bus will run between Wien Meidling, Eichenstraße, and Längenfeldgasse; the trip takes about six minutes and will relieve pressure on the U6 line. For tram lines O, 62, and 18, intervals will be adjusted and longer train sets will be used. Trains on four subway lines will run at shorter intervals. The S80 line remains suspended; a rail replacement service will run between Hütteldorf and Meidling every 15 minutes, with stops at Hietzinger Hauptstraße and Speising.
A transport planner from the TU Wien expects delays, especially in the initial phase, and points out that transfer capacities on the narrow platforms are limited. Anyone needing to get to work, school, an official appointment, or a German language course on Monday morning should check their connection in the timetable information over the weekend and allow for extra time. For appointments with authorities, it is recommended to leave significantly earlier.