The modernization of Vienna’s Cross-City Line is entering the implementation phase, as the assessments conducted over the past few months—following the conclusion of a legal proceeding that lasted 1,300 days—have been completed.
Official approval for the project has been granted, and the main construction work will begin in September 2026 on the northern section between Vienna Hütteldorf and Schrutkagasse, where the line will be elevated on a viaduct. The announcement was made by Judith Engel, a member of the ÖBB Infrastruktur management team, and Karin Zipperer, a representative of the Verkehrsverbund Ost-Region (VOR) management.
“For passengers, this project will mean the introduction of a 15-minute service interval on the S80 line, two new stations and one modernized station for over 20,000 daily riders, as well as a more attractive and better-integrated east–west connection through the city. Residents in the area will benefit from noise protection along the entire route, increased safety, and the elimination of waiting times through the removal of at-grade crossings,” said Judith Engel.
The main feature of the northern section between Vienna Hütteldorf and the Schrutkagasse area is the construction of a new station, Wien Hietzinger Hauptstraße, which is scheduled to open at the end of 2029. The line will run on a viaduct for a distance of approximately 800 meters, from the Wiental bridges to near Beckgasse. Elevating the route will allow for the removal of the at-grade crossings on Auhofstraße and Hietzinger Hauptstraße, which will be replaced with fully accessible road and pedestrian overpasses.
The pedestrian and bicycle overpass on Beckgasse will be extended, and the neighborhood will become better connected, eliminating the barrier effect previously created by the railway lines. The Hütteldorf branch, where the connecting line branches off from the western main line, will be expanded to two tracks, and the railway bridges on Kefergasse, Guldengasse, Hackinger Straße, and Zehetnergasse will be rebuilt and widened.
During construction, only one track will remain operational in the work zone, which significantly reduces the line’s capacity. However, this route is essential for train maintenance, especially given the restrictions on the central S-Bahn line. The line serves as an alternative route to the Lainzer Tunnel and provides access to the workshops at Westbahnhof, where maintenance activities for trains that were normally serviced at Floridsdorf will be relocated.
Details of the modernization of the Vienna cross-town line
The new Wien Hietzinger Hauptstraße station will be built on a viaduct to allow barrier-free access and eliminate at-grade crossings on Hietzinger Hauptstraße and Auhofstraße. Sound-absorbing glass panels will be used in visually open areas.
The Wien Speising station will be modernized and moved eastward to allow barrier-free access to trains, which is impossible in the current configuration of the railway curve. The station will have access from the new Dreiecksplatz, from Speisinger Straße, and from Hofwiesengasse.
The Stranzenbergbrücke station will be located under the bridge of the same name and will be connected via barrier-free access points and a new pedestrian and bicycle bridge between Klimtgasse and Kernstraße.
New, fully accessible and barrier-free crossings will be created, eliminating the need to wait at railroad crossings. On Auhofstraße and Hietzinger Hauptstraße, continuous barrier-free traffic will be possible for the first time. An underpass for vehicle traffic will also be built in the area of Versorgungsheimstraße to replace several level crossings that have been removed.
Accessible pedestrian underpasses will also be built on Veitingergasse and Jagdschlossgasse, equipped with bicycle-friendly elevators. The Hildegard-Teuschl-Weg route will be widened and modernized, and the underpass on Hofwiesengasse will be expanded.
In District 14, the underpasses on Zehetnergasse, Guldengasse, and Hackinger Straße will be widened to provide greater comfort and safety for all road users. A modern, comprehensive noise protection system will be installed along the entire line for the first time.
The introduction of 15-minute intervals on the S80 line will only be possible after the completion of the entire modernization project for the connecting line, which, due to administrative delays, is currently estimated for 2036.
The Vienna Connecting Line (Verbindungsbahn) is an urban railway linking the western main line to the south and east of the city. Essentially, it is a strategic connection for Vienna’s S-Bahn network, as it allows trains to cross the city from west to east without having to enter the heavily congested main line.
The line starts in the Wien Hütteldorf area and continues through the Hietzing and Speising neighborhoods toward Wien Meidling, where it connects with the rest of Vienna’s rail network. The S80 line of the S-Bahn network primarily operates on this route.
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