U6 (Vienna U-Bahn)

Line U6
Line U6 train at Siebenhirten
Overview
Native nameU-Bahn-Linie U6
StatusOperational
Termini
Connecting lines
Stations24
Service
TypeLight Metro
SystemVienna U-Bahn
Operator(s)Wiener Linien
Depot(s)Michelbeuern, Rößlergasse
History
Opened7 October 1989 (1989-10-07)
Technical
Line length17.3 km (10.7 mi)
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Electrification750 V DC overhead catenary

Line U6 is a metro line on the Vienna U-Bahn.[1] It currently has 24 stations and runs 17.3 km from Floridsdorf to Siebenhirten. It is connected to U4 at Längenfeldgasse, U3 at Westbahnhof and U4 at Spittelau. The first section of the line opened in 1989, and was completed at its present length in 1996. It is the only metro line in the DACH countries which is not operated by third rail but by overhead wire; this is because the centre portion of the line is an elevated part of the former Vienna Stadtbahn system, which was operated by overhead wire.

When the line was transformed to rapid transit standards, it was considered too expensive to rebuild the elevated portion for high-floor trains and third rail, as it was done with the U4. As a result, the U6 currently uses low-floor T-Class vehicles, but the U6 is not the only rapid transit line that uses low-floor metro trains, with Line M1 of the Budapest Metro being another notable example.

  1. ^ Prillinger, Horst. "Line U6 Floridsdorf - Siebenhirten". The Vienna Metro. Retrieved 2020-12-16.