6 of more than 20 planned measures have already been implemented on Line D. Overall, the line is expected to be accelerated by up to 3 minutes per direction – up to 6 minutes in total.
Among the measures already in place is a new, public-transport-prioritised traffic light system at the Canettistraße/Arsenalstraße intersection. This allows trams to save a total of around 4 minutes in both directions.
The traffic signal at Heiligenstädter Straße/Sickenberggasse has also been adjusted, giving trams earlier green phases and reducing waiting times.
Further measures have already been approved and will be implemented shortly. In Prinz-Eugen-Straße, between Goldeggasse and Weyringergasse, a parking restriction will be introduced. This will separate cars from the tracks earlier and allow smoother turning movements, improving overall flow.
Improvements will also be made in Heiligenstädter Straße in Döbling. Between Radelmayergasse and Gunoldstraße, so-called “Stuttgart kerbs” (track separation elements) will be installed. These clearly separate traffic lanes, ensuring that cars travel alongside the tram tracks rather than across them.
At Kärntner Ring (near Kärntner Straße), additional measures will increase speed: the green phase will be extended by 20 seconds, allowing two trams instead of one to pass the intersection. In addition, a dedicated right-turn lane into Kärntner Straße will be created for cars, preventing turning vehicles from blocking tram operations. These measures benefit lines D, 1, 2 and 71.
From 13 July, the “Parlament” stop will no longer be served. The surrounding stops are only around 200 metres apart and are significantly more frequently used. The nearest stop, “Ring, Volkstheater U”, is also a major interchange hub for lines U3, 46, 49, 1, 2, 71, D and 48A. To ensure that the Parliament remains clearly visible in the Wiener Linien network map and easily recognisable for passengers, the stop “Ring, Volkstheater U” will be renamed “Parlament, U Volkstheater”.
By removing one stop, the tram saves around 30 seconds per direction on average, while operational stability is improved. In total, this results in time savings of more than 200,000 operating hours per year for passengers on the Ring lines. The waiting shelter from the former “Parlament” stop will be reused sustainably. It will be relocated to the “Volkstheater” station on Line 49.
In parallel, Line O is already being significantly improved to ensure higher reliability and faster operations during the ÖBB mainline closure. In total, up to 30 potential acceleration measures have been identified, with the first already implemented.
At the Landstraßer Gürtel/Fasangasse intersection, a new traffic signal programme has been introduced. This reduces waiting times for trams in both directions noticeably.
In Radetzkystraße, recurring issues caused by improperly parked vehicles blocking tram operations have been addressed through clearly marked parking spaces.
Additional steps have already been defined and will follow shortly.
In Ungargasse, a parking restriction will be introduced before the intersection with Invalidenstraße. This will separate car traffic from the tram tracks earlier and prevent congestion on the line. Previously, trams lost up to 1.5 minutes at this location. In future, Line O will be able to run much more smoothly in the direction of Bruno-Marek-Allee.
In addition, the roadway in Fasangasse before Rennweg will be adjusted to prevent backlogs on the track area. This measure ensures that cars are guided away from the tram corridor earlier, further improving operational flow.
