Hietzing chief pledges oversight as rail works begin
Saturday 3rd October 2026 on 19:30 in
Austria
Hietzing district chief Johanna Zinkl says residents and the district must monitor railway works and ensure safeguards are followed, as construction and budget constraints shape local priorities, ORF reported.
Work on the Verbindungsbahn railway began a few weeks ago. Zinkl, of the Austrian People’s Party, said there were clear rules to protect residents and the environment, and that railway operator ÖBB must comply with them fully. Residents and the district should keep a close watch on the work, she said.
The project includes plans for an elevated railway, prompting concern about the loss of green space. The future use of the space beneath the railway arches has not been decided. Residents would like it to be landscaped as a park, but several options are still under discussion with ÖBB.
Construction on Lainzer Straße is expected to continue until the end of 2027. Zinkl said she wanted residents to be informed as early as possible. Two public information evenings are planned for October, where residents and officials will discuss issues including replacement bus services and the effects on local businesses.
Zinkl also criticised the city for taking four months to provide residents with information about health and safety after several Hietzing streets were affected by asbestos. She said the city would also need to clarify how the cost of dealing with any further contaminated streets would be covered, rather than passing it on to the district.
The district has a budget of eight million euros and little room for new projects, Zinkl said. She said savings should not come at residents’ expense and that the district should continue to protect green spaces and services for children and young people. Decisions about where changes can be made would depend on each project.
The ÖVP’s result in Hietzing fell by around 16 percent in the last municipal council election. Zinkl also faces criticism over her leadership and the conduct of proceedings in the district parliament. She rejected claims of authoritarian behaviour, saying debate was part of democracy but should take place in the appropriate forums.