At the Erdberg station
on the U3 line today came the announcement “All aboard for passengers!” for the
new X-Wagen metro train. The train will also begin running between Simmering
and Ottakring on the U3 line Monday to Friday over the next few days and weeks.
Passenger service was inaugurated today with the first X-Wagen metro, and
further new trains will follow in the summer. The tenth X-Wagen metro will be
delivered by the end of the year, and Siemens Mobility will be handing over up
to three more X-Wagen metro trains per year to Wiener Linien beginning in 2024.
“We are modernizing our
train fleet with the new X-Wagen metro. It will successively replace the Silver
Arrow trains and, beginning in 2026, enable fully automated metro operation in
Vienna for the first time, on the U5 line. Together with the entire project
team, I am delighted that the new X-Wagen metro can now be used by all
passengers,” said Gudrun Senk, CTO of Wiener Linien.
With the beginning of
passenger operations, the maintenance contract between Wiener Linien and
Siemens Mobility for the X-Wagen metro also took effect. Digital servicing
based on Railigent X will enable future orientated maintenance by specialist
staff at Wiener Linien in close cooperation with Siemens Mobility. This will
ensure that Wiener Linien has the benefit of better planning for maintenance
costs and a long-term partnership on all matters relating to the new trains. Railigent
X is part of the open, digital business platform, Siemens Xcelerator, that
enables customers to accelerate their digital transformation easier, faster and
at scale.
Innovative digital
passenger information and guidance system above every door
One innovation featured
in the new X-Wagen metro right from the start is the Passenger Information Plus
system. The digital passenger information and guidance system was developed by
Siemens Mobility and, together with Wiener Linien, tailored to meet the
specific requirements of Vienna’s public transport system. Continually updated
information is displayed to passengers on screens above all doors inside the X-Wagen
metro. Screens above doors that open at the next station show the direction of
the station’s exits, other lines for transfers, and the departure times for
those lines. Screens above doors that remain closed at the next station display
a digital network map with the train’s current location, the direction of
travel, the next stop, and important transfer options. Additional information,
such as planned operating restrictions in the metro system or out-of-service
station elevators, can also be displayed on both sides of the door.
New airless braking system
For the first time, the
new airless braking system - winner of the German Innovation Award 2023 - from
Siemens Mobility is used in the vehicles. The brakes are controlled by a purely
electronic signal - brake-by-wire - which is sent from the brake control unit
to the intelligent actuator - the brake caliper. The actuator ensures excellent
braking performance, especially in poor rail conditions. By eliminating the
usual compressed air components under the carriage, weight and installation
space are saved at reduced costs over the entire life cycle. In addition, the
new system significantly reduces the time until the vehicle is ready for
operation. With conventional compressed air brakes, this takes around 12
minutes; with the new airless braking system from Siemens Mobility, it takes
only a third of the time.
Greater comfort and
security, optimal accessibility
The new X-Wagen metro
provides an open-plan interior featuring spacious entry areas that speed up
boarding and exiting. Up to 928 passengers can travel in an X-Wagen metro
train, exactly 46 more than in the V-metro train it is replacing. Passengers
traveling with buggies or luggage have plenty of space. The seats are made of
high-quality plywood and are arranged in a combination of standard transverse
rows with additional seating along the sides as well as folding seats. Blue
seats indicate priority seating and are designated for passengers with reduced
mobility.
The future will be
fully automated
Beginning in 2026, the
U5 line between Karlsplatz and Frankhplatz will be Vienna’s first fully
automated metro line operating with the X-Wagen trains. To prepare for this
change, the stations from Karlsplatz to City Hall will be equipped with
platform screen doors and the U5 Frankhplatz station will be rebuilt. The fully
automated operation will make the metro even safer and more reliable. The
platform screen doors will open only when the train has stopped and is properly
positioned in the station. Delays caused by objects falling on the tracks will
be history.