Page 255 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Vienna

GE T TING AROUND VIENNA  253

Travelling by Underground heavy. The U-Bahn operates
seven days a week. From
Vienna’s underground system (U-Bahn) is one of Europe’s Sunday to Thursday, it runs from
most modern networks and is a clean, fast and reliable way of about 5am to after midnight,
crossing the city. Construction commenced in the late 1960s, with trains departing every
with the inaugural journey taking place in the mid-1970s. It 5–15 minutes. A 24-hour service
runs Fridays, Saturdays and
has since undergone phases of refurbishment and expansion public holidays. Outside these
to a total length of 80 km (50 miles). A new U5 line is under hours, the U-Bahn service is
construction, and five stations opened in 2017. complemented by Vienna
NightLine buses (see pp254–5).
The U-Bahn’s five colour-
The Underground System voice announces stops and coded lines are U1, U2, U3, U4
The U-Bahn is safe (see p240), also connections to trams & U6. There is no U5 line yet,
but in case of emergencies and buses. Signs indicate where but it is being built. The Vienna
there are help points on prams can be stored by the U-Bahn continues to expand
most platforms. Smoking doors. Bicycles are allowed on as part of an ongoing city
is prohibited on U-Bahn a few carriages, although not transport project that is
platforms and on the trains before 9am or between expected to run until 2030.
themselves. Displays above the 3 and 6:30pm Mon–Fri. Be This will involve extending
train doors show stations and aware that doors are opened the U2 line and completing
connections, and a recorded manually and can be stiff and the U5 line.

Making a Journey Pull handle to
by Underground open door
Look for your destination
1on a U-Bahn map. The
five lines are distinguished
by colour and number.
Make a note of whether
and where you need to
change lines. Connections
to other forms of transport
are also shown.
Insert your ticket into the
2ticket-stamping machine
in the direction of the The door opens out
arrow. Wait for the ping to the side
indicating that it is
validated, and pass
through the barrier.
Follow the signs (with the
number and colour of the Sign showing stops
line) to your platform. on line 3 of the
U-Bahn, including
On the platform, check connecting stops
3the indicator boards
for the direction and
destination of the trains.
Stops along the
4line are shown on
a plan in the train.

At stations with more than
At your destination, 6one exit, use the map of the
5follow Ausgang signs city to check which street or
square you will come out at.
to reach street level.

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