Perhaps, like me, you find train stations intriguing? They are more than just places to catch a train. Today, we’re exploring Bahnhof Hütteldorf. It is a vital transport hub in western Vienna.
Bahnhof Hütteldorf opened its doors in 1858. Initially, it was a station on the Kaiserin Elisabeth-Bahn. Later, it became the Westbahn. In 1883, it transformed from a simple stop to a junction. The Verbindungsbahn connected here.
In 1898, the Wiener Stadtbahn arrived. Bahnhof Hütteldorf became a bustling railway node. Otto Wagner, a famous architect, designed a new station complex. It featured four island platforms and an underpass. The old station building was demolished in 1896. New buildings were completed between 1895 and 1897.
By 1924, the Gemeinde Wien took over the Stadtbahn. The tracks were separated from the Staatsbahn. A turning loop was added. It allowed trains to reverse direction efficiently.
The electric Stadtbahn served Bahnhof Hütteldorf until 1981. In December 1981, the U4 U-Bahn line took over. The Stadtbahn depot closed, and a storage area for U-Bahn cars was created.
Today, Bahnhof Hütteldorf has two station buildings. One is on the “Hütteldorfer Seite” on Keißlergasse. Here, you’ll find a bus station and taxi stands. The other building is on the “Hackinger Seite”. It is separated from the Wienfluss by Hadikgasse. A pedestrian bridge connects to the 13th district. An underpass links the two buildings.
Inside, shops, ticket counters, and the U-Bahn station office await. The station boasts ten platforms. Six serve regular train traffic. Two are exclusively for the U-Bahn. The S45 to Handelskai departs from platform 11. Trains to Linz and St. Pölten leave from platform 1. The U4 trains to Heiligenstadt use the island platform in the south. A Park and Ride garage connects to the U4 platform via a bridge.
All platforms are accessible by elevators. Platforms 1 and 11 have level access to the bus station. Escalators connect the underpass to the Keißlergasse building. They also provide access from the Hadikgasse building to the U4 platform.
Bahnhof Hütteldorf also handles freight traffic. Goods are transported via the Verbindungsbahn. They mainly go to the Wien-Kledering central shunting station. So, next time you pass through Bahnhof Hütteldorf, remember its rich history. It is a testament to Vienna’s evolving transport system.