S45 (Vienna)

S45
A Handelskai-bound train at Türkenschanzpark, in 2013
Overview
Service typeS-Bahn
LocaleVienna
First service31 May 1987 (1987-05-31)
Current operator(s)ÖBB
Route
TerminiWien Hütteldorf
Wien Handelskai
Stops10
Line(s) used

Line S45 of the Vienna S-Bahn, also known as the Vorortelinie (lit. Suburban Line) or Wiener Vorortelinie (lit. Vienna Suburban Line), is an electrified commuter rail service operating in Vienna, Austria.

The S45 is the only S-Bahn route to operate entirely within Viennese city limits, and it is the most frequently operated single S-Bahn service, with intervals of 10 minutes during weekdays and 15 minutes during weekends and holidays.

The S45 opened on 31 May 1987. It follows the route of part of the original Stadtbahn and still bears the architecture of the original Stadtbahn. Drivers based in Wien Franz-Josefs-Bahnhof and Wien Westbahnhof operate trains on the route. Unlike the Pink line or the Stammstrecke (trunk line), it is the only line servicing the route. It terminates at Handelskai (on the Stammstrecke) and also crosses the U6 there, the U3 at Ottakring and joins both ends of the U4 at Heiligenstadt and Hütteldorf.

Due to the short platform lengths, only single 4024s (Talent EMUs) and 4020s can operate on the route. The 474X train sets were also tested on the route, but it was found that their extendable door step took too long for them to be able to maintain good time on the route.

The maximum speed of the route is 100 km/h (62 mph), between Hütteldorf and Penzing; however this speed is not always reached due to the way the route is signaled (i.e. due to the limitations of PZB90, which however don't apply to all 4020 EMUs as most of them use the outdated Indusi60).