[All] Learning from the Success of the Vienna, Austria LRT Network

Mon Sep 17 00:12:43 EDT 2012

Good day!

In a follow-up to my e-mail earlier this summer on the amazing Strasbourg, France LRT system I would like to share some recent experience with the Vienna, Austria LRT network.  With 32 different LRT and Tram lines spanning this historic city and moving tens of thousands of people each day there is a lot that we can learn from the success of this world-class city.

Vienna's public transit success has included not only fast, efficient LRT's but also an extensive bicycling lane/trail network, easy connectivity to greenspace, and closing some streets to automobile traffic to create pedestrian malls, great public squares, and performance space that allows shoppes and cafes to thrive.  Similar to Strasbourg some of their LRT lines run on a grass surface, many routes have incorporated tree lined rights of way, and most have distinct, creative station areas that are extremely welcoming and easy to navigate.

As our LRT progresses in its planning there are a number of details in the Vienna system that are worth learning from to ensure that we get things right too:

1) Buttons to Open Only the Required Doors - One of the first things a rider notices is that to keep the temperature inside the train comfortable (cool in summer, warm in winter) you have to push an orange button (with green LEDs) to open the door of the train to get on or off - thus every door on the train isn't opening and closing at every stop and letting out all the cool air into the hot summer days when no one is getting on or off at that doorway.  It is simple but brilliant as in other cities such as Istanbul the air conditioning could never keep up every time every LRT door opened and let in so much hot, summer air at each station even when no one was entering or exiting the train.  

We need individual door control buttons to ensure that our LRT is always comfortable inside - particularly during our long, cold winters.

2) Ticketing System - the Vienna system operates on an honour ticket system much like our GO Transit Trains that is fast and efficient.  There are no turnstiles or fences limiting access or creating bottlenecks on the train platforms.  You simply purchase and/or stamp your ticket in a machine on the platform or even on the train.  You can board at any door and enforcement officers check occasionally to ensure everyone has a valid ticket - issuing to fines to riders without a valid ticket, stamp or pass. 

It is a simply system that avoids so much of the congestion and issues seen on other transit systems where everyone has to cue up at the driver's door (like our current GRT buses), or a specific station gate to get into and onto the transit system.

We need to plan carefully and ensure that our Waterloo Region LRT has a simple, efficient, and easy to use ticketing system in order to ensure the highest possible ridership and to avoid the chaos of Athens and other LRT systems whose turnstiles and gates create considerable congestion and delays where even one person fumbling for correct change can hold up dozens of others.

3) Signage - With 32 LRT routes Vienna has had to ensure extremely clear signage, route maps and network information to ensure the high success of their transit system.  Even more challenging has been for them to do it in a manner that is clear to the millions of non-German speaking tourists that visit the city every year.  They have done an excellent job of the making the system easy to understand and navigate.  We can learn a lot from their signage and communications.

I have attached photo's of the Vienna transit system below that highlights things that we need to consider and can learn from as we build our own LRT network.

Please let me know any questions and lets see how we can create one of the world's best LRT systems here in Waterloo Region.

Cheers,
Kevin Thomason.

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The Siemens LRT Trains used in Vienna

Tree lined streets and boulevard gardens help to separate LRTs and traffic while also greening the city.

Like in so many other cities, Vienna's LRT's will often have grass along the track lines - here the LRT's pass seamlessly through this grassy, garden median.

The bright orange button with green light up LED's that transit users must press to open and close the doors on demand - helping to keep the climate in the train comfortable - cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

Station signage that clearly identifies the next train, destination and how many minutes until its arrival.

City maps are posted at each station and throughout the LRT trains showing all 32 lines and the hundreds of LRT stations throughout Vienna

The orange ticket machines on each LRT train to buy your tickets easily and efficiently while you are enroute to your destination.  Notice also the great rolling carts most people have for shopping and easily using the transit system.

The machine to stamp and validate your ticket if you already have a ticket or pass.

A brilliant stroller strap can help to secure a stroller while the train is in motion.

Not only do they provide upholstered comfortable seats but even magazines and other reading material promoting the community and events around town.

Flush, level tracks make it easy for cars, bicycles and LRT's to all share the road despite the LRT having a dedicated right of way.  It also helps to facilitate snow removal in the winter.

Shady, tree-lined streets encourage pedestrians along with dedicated lanes for cycling and then LRT and traffic lanes to the right.

Cycling trails are clearly marked, giving bikes equal priority as cars and other traffic.  Austria is a country with four seasons and a climate very similar to ours.

Streets closed to traffic near LRT lines to create great pedestrian and shopping areas.

Tree's, sidewalks, traffic lanes and flush LRT tracks all combined together into a pleasant streetscape.

Tracks that are flush with the street though clearly delineated allowing easy emergency vehicle access and snowplowing but with heavy fines for any motorist or cyclist caught in this area.

Large windows (with smaller top windows that open as riders choose) make for a scenic, enjoyable ride.

Pedestrians, bikes and cars all easily intermingle in an area here where two different LRT lines cross.

LRT Trains can be joined together in extra long trains to provide impressive capacity and the ability to move huge numbers of people quickly and easily.  Notice only the doors required are open at this station.

Extra wide LRT doors and low curb level floors make it extremely easy to get on and off - even with your bicycle or roller cart for shopping.

A typical station area - cycling lanes, shelters, low floor LRT platforms and then traffic lanes on the far right.  Again note the orange button strips to open the doors only as needed.

--------------------------------------

Kevin Thomason

1115 Cedar Grove Road
Waterloo, Ontario Canada  N2J 3Z4

Phone: (519) 888-0519
Mobile Phone: (519) 240-1648
Twitter: @kthomason
E-mail: kevinthomason at mac.com

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