“Ever wonder where Vienna’s trams went to bed at night?” That’s the question that brings us to the Stra\u00dfenbahn-Betriebsbahnhof Erdberg. It is now known as the Remise. It is Vienna’s fascinating Tramway Museum. This place was once a bustling hub of the city’s tram network. It is filled with history.
The story of the Stra\u00dfenbahn-Betriebsbahnhof Erdberg begins at the dawn of the 20th century. In 1901, the Bau und Betriebsgesellschaft f\u00fcr st\u00e4dtische Stra\u00dfenbahnen. This translates to the Building and Operating Company for Municipal Tramways. This company recognized the need for a modern tram depot as Vienna’s tram system was being electrified. Erdberg was chosen. Its location was perfect. It sat conveniently between the Fruethstra\u00dfe and Dietrichgasse.
Halle I was the first to be built along Fruethstra\u00dfe. It opened in July 1901. Its double-track entrance from Erdbergstra\u00dfe made it easily accessible. Soon after, in 1902, Hallen II and III followed. Their shorter length was due to the planned Etzelgasse. It was intended to connect Erdbergstra\u00dfe with Dietrichgasse.
These halls featured exits towards Ludwig-Koe\u00dfler-Platz. This connected to the new service track in Schlachthausgasse. By November 1902, the track was usable. The connection to Erdbergstra\u00dfe was completed a year later. Halle I was special. It allowed trams to pass through. It was the first of its kind in Vienna.
In November 1903, the gap between Erdbergstra\u00dfe and Bahnhof Erdberg closed. Erdbergstra\u00dfe gained a second track. A new loop via Erdbergstra\u00dfe, Fruethstra\u00dfe, and Schlachthausgasse was created. This meant no more coupling trams in Erdbergstra\u00dfe.
The Etzelgasse plan was eventually scrapped. Hallen II and III were extended in 1911. They reached Lechnerstra\u00dfe and Dietrichgasse. Halle II increased to six tracks. It matched Halle III.
The station grew in importance with connections to Prater established in 1909. By 1914, a track in W\u00e4llischgasse completed the loop system for Line 118.
In 1926, Halle IV was constructed of reinforced concrete. Two tracks had only a wooden roof. A larger hall was planned. The existing operations building would have been torn down. A new one would be built on Erdbergstra\u00dfe. As often happens with temporary fixes in Vienna, the wooden structure remains to this day. It can still be seen in the Tramway Museum. Halle IV’s construction altered Halle I’s exits.
The Erdberg station began to decline. It started with the end of routes to Lusthaus and Freudenau in 1969. The construction of the U3 subway line further reduced its importance. The last regular tram left Bahnhof Erdberg in January 1990.
In 1985, one of the halls was used for the Tramway Museum. Extensive renovations began. In June 1992, Bahnhof Erdberg reopened as the Wiener Stra\u00dfenbahnmuseum. Now called the Remise.
Today, the Stra\u00dfenbahn-Betriebsbahnhof Erdberg stands as a living museum. It is a testament to Vienna’s rich tram history. It invites us to step back in time and explore the evolution of urban transport. It is a place where the echoes of the past resonate with the present. It reminds us of the trams that once shaped the city’s rhythm.