Wiener Linien awards Vienna U1 line electrification contract

Public transport operator Wiener Linien has awarded a contract to electrify new sections of Vienna’s U1 Line to SPL Powerlines Austria.

SPL Powerlines Austria, a subsidiary of Powerlines Group, has been contracted by Viennese public transport operator to install conductor rails on the extended U1 line.

The U1 Line project will incorporate 5 new stations on the 4.6km extended line towards the south of Vienna calling at Troststraße, Altes Landgut, Alaudagasse and Neulaa, and terminating at Oberlaa. Once complete in 2017, the U1 line will become the longest underground line in Vienna at an overall length of 19.2 km

10.3km of aluminium steel conductor rails to be installed on Vienna U1 line extension

Powerlines is to install a total of 10.3 km of aluminium steel conductor rails of the third rail system along these 4.6 km. In addition, the group will fit around 60 km of traction cable, approximately 10.3 km of cover boards and about 2500 support points. Powerlines will also electrify two sidings and maintenance facilities in Neulaa and Oberlaa.

Commenting on the awarded contract, Gerhard Ehringer, CEO of Powerlines Group, said: “This job is also a special milestone for Powerlines because, having already installed this system in Oslo, Helsinki and Warsaw, we now have a first opportunity to install our own further-refined aluminium steel conductor rails in Vienna. We have enjoyed a positive working relationship with Wiener Linien for many years, so I’m even more delighted that they have chosen to rely on Powerlines’ services yet again.”