Inside view of the U2xU5 underground construction side
© Simon Wöhrer / DnD Landschaftsplanung

U2xU5 public transport extension: Vienna’s largest infrastructure project

Under the title U2xU5, Wiener Linien is building an extension of the underground line U2 and the new underground line U5. The expansion will create capacity for up to 300 million additional passengers per year and provide the basis for further improvements to Vienna’s public transport network. In the long term, this will help the city ensure reliable public transport services and increase the capacity of the network.

Public transport uses space much more efficiently than cars

Visualisation of a Flexity tram at a new stop on Wiedner Hauptstraße
© ZOOM.VP

Public transport uses the available space in the city much more efficiently and can help reduce the environmental impact of private motorised transport.¹ The underground uses particularly little space compared with private cars. When people switch from cars to public transport, more space becomes available for trees, park benches and playgrounds. The U2xU5 public transport expansion will reduce car travel in Vienna by around 550 million kilometres per year.

U2xU5 will significantly increase the capacity of Vienna’s public transport network. This is important because high-capacity underground lines are the backbone of our city and provide the basis for further public transport expansion. To help Vienna remain the liveable city we know and love, the public transport network continues to grow with the city. Buses, trams and underground trains require much less space than car traffic, allowing urban space to be used more efficiently for everyone.


  • 300000000
    additional passengers
    on Vienna's public transport system thanks to U2xU5

  • 550000000
    car kilometres
    can be saved per year in Vienna with U2xU5

  • 30000
    jobs
    created and secured by U2xU5

Public transport as a key part of Vienna’s mobility transition

Visualisation of the green Wiedner Hauptstraße with Flexity tram
© ZOOM.VP

The U2xU5 public transport expansion is Vienna’s largest infrastructure project. By making it possible for more people to switch from cars to public transport, the project could avoid up to 75,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions per year.² This is equivalent to the environmental benefit of a forest with six million 30-year-old trees. A forest of this size would cover an area equal to Vienna’s 1st to 11th districts combined, or the entire Donaustadt district.

U2xU5 brings significant relief to the entire network

Visualisation of a future U5 station with platform screen doors Passengers boarding and alighting
© OLN

Currently, every third passenger travels on the U6, U3, 6, 43 and 13A lines. It is precisely these lines that will be significantly relieved by the U2xU5 extension. With U2xU5, we are sustainably strengthening the centre of Vienna's public transport system. Twelve new underground stations over eleven kilometres in the final expansion (1st and 2nd construction stage) will provide faster connections and create space for 300 million additional passengers per year.

U5 crosses all underground lines, creates many new connections

Visualisation
© ZOOM.VP
  • The Frankhplatz U5 station near Landesgerichtsstraße/ Universitätsstraße will be the first completely new U5 station to be built. From here, passengers will be able to transfer directly to tram lines 43 and 44. Tram lines 37, 38, 40, 41 and 42 will also be easy to reach.
  • At the Arne-Karlsson-Park U5 station, a large public transport interchange to tram lines 5, 33, 37, 38, 40, 41 and 42 will be created.
  • From the Michelbeuern-AKH U5 station, you can transfer directly to the U6 and in future reach Karlsplatz from the AKH in around 10 minutes.
  • At the Elterleinplatz U5 station, you can change to tram lines 43 and 9.
  • The Hernals U5 station offers a quick transfer to the S-Bahn, line 43 and several bus lines.

U2xU5 is two underground railway projects at once

Plan for the extension of the U2 and U5 underground lines
© Wiener Linien

With U2xU5, two underground railway projects are being realised at once: The U2 is being extended southwards and Vienna is getting its U5. Once completed, the extended U2 will run between Seestadt and Matzleinsdorfer Platz (1st extension stage) respectively Wienerberg (2nd extension stage). The new U5 line will run between Karlsplatz and Frankhplatz (1st expansion stage) respectively Hernals (2nd expansion stage).

The U2 is expanding southwards

In the second construction phase, the U2 will be extended from Matzleinsdorfer Platz to Wienerberg by the two stations Gußriegelstraße and Wienerberg. The Gußriegelstraße U2 station connects to tram line 1 and bus lines. The Wienerberg U2 station connects a rapidly growing urban development area and links line O to the new U2.

U5: start of fully automatic operation with platform screen doors

With the new U5, the time has now also come for fully automatic operation in Vienna. The existing U2 line between Rathaus and Karlsplatz has been converted for the U5 and the stations have been equipped with new platform screen doors. After the first construction phase of the U5 between Karlsplatz and Frankhplatz, a further major extension will follow in the direction of Alsergrund, Währing and Hernals. In the second construction phase, the U5 will be extended with four further stations Arne-Karlsson-Park, Michelbeuern-AKH and Elterleinplatz to the Hernals terminus.

The expansion will take place in two stages

1st construction phase

In the first phase, new attractive public transport connections will be created in the heart of the city. The first phase comprises these sections:

  • U5 Frankhplatz
  • U2xU5 Rathaus
  • Transformation of the U2 trunk line into the U5 (U2 update)
  • U2xU3 Neubaugasse
  • U2xU4 Pilgramgasse
  • U2 Reinprechtsdorfer Straße
  • U2 Matzleinsdorfer Platz

2nd construction phase

These new stations will be built in the second construction phase:

  • U5 Arne-Karlsson-Park
  • U5 Michelbeuern-AKH
  • U5 Elterleinplatz
  • U5 Hernals
  • U2 Gußriegelstraße
  • U2 Wienerberg

That was the U2 update:

  • Installation of platform screen doors: A total of 144 platform screen doors were installed in the Rathaus, Volkstheater, Museumsquartier and Karlsplatz stations. They make the underground service even more reliable and pleasant.
  • Reinforcement of the platforms: To this end, all platform edges in the stations were removed and rebuilt.
  • Update for the train control system: The underground's train control technology was updated for fully automatic operation.
  • Renewal of the track system: The track system between Schottentor and Karlsplatz was renewed and 4.8 kilometres of track were replaced.
  • Refurbishment of the tunnel ceiling: The modernisation period was also used to refurbish the U2 tunnel ceiling.
  • Six lifts, including lift technology and cabling, and ten new escalators were installed.
  • The lighting in the stations was converted to modern and energy-saving LED lamps.
  • A new tactile guidance system was installed to improve orientation for visually impaired people.

Outlook until completion of the new U2 and the fully automatic U5

From 2030: U5 will run to Frankhplatz, U2 will run to Matzleinsdorfer Platz

Construction work on the new U5 station at Frankhplatz is continuing on schedule: completion is planned for 2026. The U5 is expected to start operating to Frankhplatz in 2030, as soon as the U2 is running on its new route to Matzleinsdorfer Platz. By then, the U5 will also have its own route between Karlsplatz and Frankhplatz.

With the completion of the U2 to Matzleinsdorfer Platz in 2030, the U2 will have a new tunnel running south from Schottentor and will then travel from the Rathaus junction station via the new stations Neubaugasse, Pilgramgasse and Reinprechtsdorfer Straße to the provisional terminus at Matzleinsdorfer Platz.

U2xU5 public transport expansion creates space for a growing city

Visualisation of a green boulevard with Flexity trams and autonomous buses
Vision of the climate-friendly city
© ZOOM.VP

Vienna is one of the fastest-growing cities in the European Union. To maintain its high quality of life and meet the growing demand for mobility, the City of Vienna and Wiener Linien are investing in the expansion of the public transport network. High-capacity public transport creates additional capacity and helps make efficient use of the available urban space.

U2xU5 creates new connections, shortens journeys and reduces pressure on the entire network

The extension of the U2 and the new U5 line will create capacity for 300 million additional passengers per year. U2xU5 will reduce pressure on busy lines, especially the U3, U6, 6, 43 and 13A, create new interchange options and make many journeys much faster. Overall, journeys across the city will become shorter, and passengers throughout the network will benefit from the new connections.

References:
¹ Passenger transport activity | Sustainability of Europe's mobility systems 2025 | European Environment Agency (EEA) (as of 2026)

² Internal calculation: Estimate of the potential CO₂ savings from a possible shift from cars to public transport. The comparison with trees is for illustrative purposes (as of March 2024).

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U3 Volkstheater, Burggasse exit

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