24-hour Subway

Viennese subways will operate through the night on Fridays and Saturdays beginning Sept. 3, as well as on the eve of public holidays, according to an announcement by the Vienna Transit Authority, the Wiener Linien. The decision followed a Feb. 2010 public opinion poll initiated by the Vienna Mayor Michael Häupl, in which 54% supported 24-hour service.

The new service will carry up to 30,000 passengers on 22 night-subway trains operating on five routes at 15-minute intervals and coordinated with the existing 40 night-bus lines that run on 17 different routes every 30 minutes. The entire project will cost the city of Vienna an additional €5.1 million annually.

"With a coordinated schedule of subways and nightlines, we cater to 96% of the Viennese population and improve mobility during weekend nights," Wiener Linien manager Günter Steinbauer said on the Wiener Linien website.

Under the slogan "The night is yours," printable tickets for a "nightride" on the 24hrs subway service’s inauguration night will also provide admission to the 35 participating clubs including the B72, Wuk, U4, Ost-Klub, Praterdome, Reigen and Passage. Many in the tourism sector expect the new schedule to bring increased business.

"It will underline Vienna’s metropolitan flair, while consolidating its image as a dynamic city," said Norbert Kettner, head of Wien-Tourismus in the Austrian daily Die Presse.

In order to ensure the safety of the passengers, two policemen will be on each of the 22 trains, while an additional 22 supporting "nightliners" will help enforce the rules, de-escalate conflict situations, and conduct ticket controls. A night ticket price will be unchanged at  € 1,80.