AUSTRIA: The Wien city government has approved the construction of a new tram route serving the Aspern district, as a branch off the orbital Strebersdorf – Hausfeldstrasse route 26 on the northern side of the River Donau.
Due to be completed by autumn 2025, the 2·4 km eastern branch will diverge at Zanggasse and run to an interchange with metro Line U2 and the S-Bahn network at Aspern Nord, serving six new stops. The branch will be paralleled by a new cycle path to encourage active travel, while park-and-ride facilities will also be expanded.
Route 27 services will run through from Aspern Nord to Strebersdorf, augmenting route 26 to provide a more intensive service through the Floridsdorf and Donaustadt districts. Metro connections will be available to U1 at Kagraner Platz and U6 at Floridsdorf.
‘Expansion of the tram network serving the rapidly-growing urban development areas in the north is a central focus for me’, explained the capital’s City Councillor for Mobility & Planning Ulli Sima. ‘The new route 27 between Floridsdorf and Donaustadt is the next important step for our climate neutral model.’
Adding that more than 300 new trees would be planted and the line laid with grassed tracks, City Councillor for Climate & Environment Jürgen Czernohorszky said ‘we are not only expanding public transport in Wien, but also the green space. This will have a very positive effect on the microclimate in our urban areas.’
Total cost of the project is put at €96·8m, to be funded by the City of Wien and operator Wiener Linien. Around €8m will be spent on the greening measures.
