Track works leave Vienna passengers packed into replacement buses

Track replacement works on Donaufelder Straße in Vienna’s Floridsdorf district have left passengers facing overcrowded replacement buses and delays, ORF reports. The works cover about 1,100 metres and have restricted three tram lines.

Passengers report delays of up to 20 minutes, long intervals and buses that are particularly overcrowded during the morning rush. Passengers who use wheelchairs and those travelling with prams are especially affected.

Tram lines 25, 26 and 27 connect Donaustadt with Floridsdorf. Because of the works, they cannot currently serve the Carminweg, Fultonstraße and Hoßplatz stops, and some services have been shortened or diverted. Replacement bus E26 is operating instead.

Vienna public transport operator Wiener Linien acknowledged that one replacement bus could not compensate for the loss of three tram lines and pointed to alternative routes across its network.

Wiener Linien spokesperson Deborah Giehr said the operator had adjusted traffic-light settings to help stabilise the bus intervals. Service staff are also stationed at key interchanges, including in Floridsdorf.

The disruptions are expected to continue until the end of December.