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Anger over 24-hour U-Bahn breakdown

Vienna�s Wiener Linien is in hot water after a 24-hour U-Bahn connection collapsed.

Service at the U4 underground line came to a halt Wednesday around 5pm due to a defunct energy line. It took the public transport agency 24 hours to solve the problem and restart full service.

Thousands of commuters were forced to use additional bus services laid on as temperatures reached 37 degrees centigrade in the city.

A spokesman for Wiener Linien said today (Fri) technicians were still trying to identify what caused the energy line to collapse, adding that the high temperatures could be responsible.

Service at the U1 line came to a halt briefly too on Wednesday as a defunct train had to be removed from Taubstummengasse station.

These incidents come after the firm said 20 years will pass before all its fleet vehicles have air conditioning, stressing that that one in three vehicles of its fleet featuring underground trains, buses and trams were equipped with air-con systems already.

Meanwhile, 4,200 Viennese households were affected by a two-hour blackout Wednesday morning. Energy provider Wien Energie said it did not know the reason yet, adding that the stifling heat could have led to the collapse of a switch or main energy line.

Motorists� breakdown assistance companies in the province of Carinthia announced today (Thurs) they have been called out around 50 per cent more often so far this week than during the same time of year in 2009 and 2008.

A spokesman said defunct air conditioning systems leading to an overheating of car engines were the main reason for action, adding that this can lead to a permanent damage of the engine.

Austria is currently one of the hottest locations in Europe with top temperatures between 33 and 37 degrees centigrade throughout the week.

Experts from Vienna�s Centre for Meteorology and Geodynamics (ZAMG) said the heatwave will climax today, with severe thunderstorms expected for Saturday evening. Temperatures will drop slightly from Sunday before mercury will rise up to 33 degrees centigrade again next Wednesday.

Austrian Times

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