Not everything always runs smoothly on the rails. To ensure that train passengers are not left stranded in the event of disruptions but reach their destination, there is rail replacement service (SEV), in which buses stand in for the trains. A basic distinction is made between planned and ad-hoc SEV. Planned SEV is used for foreseeable roadworks - such as this summer during the closure of the Vienna S-Bahn between Floridsdorf and Praterstern.
In order to improve the quality of our SEV services, get passengers to their destinations safely this summer and make the handling of SEV services more efficient, we have put SEV on a new footing and further expanded the range of rail replacement services. Individual measures were developed in the process:
This year, for example, there will be two replacement bus lines from the start: the yellow direct bus, which will run daily from 05:30 or 06:00 (Saturdays and Sundays) until 20:00 without a stop between Vienna Praterstern and Vienna Floridsdorf, and the blue line, which will also serve the Vienna Traisengasse and Vienna Handelskai stops as "normal" rail replacement services. Different SEV stops and a color coding system in the route guidance make it easier for passengers to find their way around. Articulated buses are used as direct buses. In conjunction with the blue line, this results in even higher capacities and an even more frequent service during rush hour than last summer.
Buses in ÖBB design
To make the buses even easier to find, the rail replacement buses are now unmistakably branded all around in the ÖBB design so that it is always clear that it is an ÖBB replacement bus. 17 of a total of 89 newly branded buses are being used for the first time on the S-Bahn main line between Vienna Praterstern and Vienna Floridsdorf. However, the branded buses are only part of a new quality standard for rail replacement services. Another new feature is that passengers can use the ÖBB timetable information service SCOTTY mobil to see exactly when the next bus is leaving or arriving - and whether the connection to the next train will work. In addition, the replacement service is monitored around the clock in a control center for rail replacement services set up at the end of last year to ensure that everything runs smoothly.