The U1 fire in Vienna highlights a vehicle that has been driving around Vienna for decades: the Silver Arrow! We will see him for a long time.
The Viennese metro network has seen better days: the U1 – partially closed after a fire. The U2 – should have been accessible again for months, but has become a permanent construction site. The U4 can also be counted among these – which has creative intervals, if you want to call it that, due to work in the Heiligenstadt area. This means that passengers need a lot of patience.
As reported, the U1 fire ended relatively lightly despite the six injuries. The images are still burned into the brain: the charred skeleton of a Silver Arrow with pitch-black, twisted outer walls. Thick smoke inside. You see: it could have ended in catastrophe.
Since then, one type of train has received special attention: the so-called Silver Arrow. In the modern fleet of the Wiener Linien, he was previously seen as an old, tired horse that still largely reliably pulled the taxi to its destination. The trains – the first to run on the route in 1973 – are not popular with all Viennese, especially in summer, due to the lack of air conditioning.
There are still so many on the way
But how many of these old trains are running in the city? The answer: still 49 pieces – from different generations. The differences: include skylights, different door handles, modified window frames and roof-mounted handles.
Wiener Linien is gradually exchanging old for new. “We continuously invest in the renewal of the vehicle fleet. Since June 2023, the remaining Silver Arrow trains will be gradually replaced by the new Type
And how safe are the old metros actually? Wiener Linien explains: “All our vehicles are checked regularly; Clear legal requirements apply here. Before each trip, each vehicle is checked by the drivers to ensure that it is functioning properly. An intensive inspection of the metros takes place every six weeks.”
That’s what the boss of Wiener Linien says
“Rail vehicles have a long lifespan. In the metro, it takes 40 years for a vehicle to depreciate,” Alexandra Reinagl, boss of Wiener Linien, explained in the “Krone” interview in September, when the summer heat on the trains was a problem. “I expect full air conditioning to take about a decade and a half.” This means that the Silver Arrows will remain on the Vienna rails for at least another fifteen years.
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.
