Vienna begins demolition of 170-year-old S-Bahn viaducts

Workers are demolishing 21 arches of a 170-year-old S-Bahn viaduct between Praterstern and the Danube Canal in Vienna, ORF reports. The route between Hauptbahnhof and Praterstern is closed for extensive renovation, and the old brick structures are being replaced by a new bridge.

Demolition work in Leopoldstadt, a Vienna district, has been under way since September. Removing each arch takes about two days. Tight space is a key challenge, as pedestrian, bicycle and car traffic must continue alongside the construction site. The work is proceeding as planned, with the cable fire in August having no effect on the schedule, according to the report.

The new bridge is due to be completed in June 2027. Track installation and work on safety systems and overhead lines will follow, with S-Bahn services expected to resume there in November 2027. The new bridge facade is intended to echo the old arches. Shops are planned beneath it, and the search for potential operators is under way. The surrounding streets are also to be redesigned.

The wider work on the S-Bahn route between Wien Mitte and Hauptbahnhof is divided into three sections. Alongside the viaduct demolition, walls are being renewed between Rennweg and Wien Mitte, and the platform at Quartier Belvedere station is being extended 60 metres into Schweizergarten.