In the event of a widespread power outage in the city, Wiener Linien will put its passengers on the road. You just have to find your way home. This is critical because the transport companies have a legal transport mandate.
A new service instruction is causing excitement among Wiener Linien employees. In the event of a major, widespread power outage, bus drivers must escort passengers out of the vehicle at the next stop, take the bus to the company garage and stop driving for the day.
This means: “Whether vulnerable people, students or mothers with children, they are all on the street and cannot go home. “The Wiener Linien are part of the critical infrastructure and have a legal transport mandate,” said an affected person.
The carriers explain the instructions in response to a request from ‘Krone’ as follows: “Since the traffic lights fail in the event of a power failure and traffic is not regulated, on the one hand the buses can no longer continue their route, on the other hand the buses must buses are immediately seized in preparation for the next necessary measure.
According to the message, emergency operations will not be set up until the next day. “Did emergency services and police stop for hours during a power outage? “That’s absurd,” said an old driver. “We are all trained in the traffic rules and know the rules if a traffic light fails.”
The key question is whether a major power outage actually falls under ‘force majeure’. In the event of “force majeure”, Wiener Linien is not obliged to transport passengers. This is what the company’s conditions of carriage determine.
Emergency power for metro and Bim
While the diesel buses are not connected to the electricity grid, the metro and Bim quickly run out of juice during a power outage. However, emergency power facilities ensure that travelers can reach the next station and get off.
“With emergency power, the elevators would go to the next level and open automatically, and the subways would roll to the next station. The lights in the stations would still be on. The communication and signaling technology absolutely necessary for the system and the announcements from the control center would continue to work,” says Wiener Linien.
If there were no total outage, but “just” a power shortage, consumers would have to be gradually disconnected from the network. In this case, the Wiener Linien would be supplied with electricity for as long as possible (supply order). In the event of an advanced emergency, in which the electricity is turned off in large parts of the city, the trams and the U6 would be stopped first, the carriers say. The buses can continue to drive longer or be refueled via emergency power.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
