236: Transportation in Vienna – Bus

Bus is an important public transportation service in Vienna which usually operates in areas where and when train and tram are not available there. In fact, they are a complementary piece of the Vienna urban transport puzzle.

Bus information in Vienna:

• 127 Bus lines
• 24 Night Lines

In small towns and villages bus is the most important public transportation.

Active companies:

1- Company Wiener Linien

• • Vienna

2- Company VOR (Verkehrsverbund Ost-Region)

3- National Bus Company Postbus

• • ÖBB subsidiary
  • Regional regular bus services (small towns and rural areas)

There are different ways to buy bus tickets:

1. Winer Linien Website or Application
2. Ticket machines (Ticketautomat) at train stations or inside some buses.

Usually, in Austria, there is no ticket control to enter the bus either by the bus drivers or electronically. But during the month, the related attendants randomly check the tickets.

For several years, it has not been possible to buy bus tickets from drivers in Vienna and most Austrian cities. But it is still possible in some routes with special conditions. It is better to get your ticket in advance through other methods.

Bus timetable:

The operating time of buses varies on weekdays, weekends and holidays. In addition, this time sometimes has more restrictions in some lines. But generally are as below:

• Monday-Friday: 5:00 – 23:59
  • Usual intervals
• Saturday: 5:00 – 23:59
  • Long intervals
• Sunday and Holidays: 5:00 – 23:59
  • Longer intervals!

Night lines in Vienna are active in specific lines which you must consider this point that night line routes may not be exactly similar to the day line routes.

• Night line operation time: 00:30 – 05:00 (AM)

On-call or On-demand bus (Rufbus)

In sparsely populated residential areas or during the night you can use Rufbus!

Empty buses are ready to move, but they only move if passengers call and announce their presence.

• Ordering at least 15 min in advance
• Give information to driver:
  • Names
  • Number of passengers
  • Luggage
  • Desired departure time according to time table
  • Stop and destination stations
• 01 - 7909 424 XX (XX: Line name)

Rail replacement transport (Schienenersatzverkehr)

• During the repair of railway lines, replacement buses may be defined on that route.

There are also special buses for tourists in Vienna (City tours):

• BIG BUS VIENNA
• Viennasightseeing Tours

There are usually two options for such tours:

1. Guided city tour
2. Hop-on and hop-off at the specific stops (explore at your own pace)

Getting off the bus:

On the vertical bars or next to the seats, there is usually a push button which you have to inform the driver of your decision for stop. Usually, at less crowded stations, if you don't press the button, the bus may not stop at that station. In addition, sometimes you can see the condition of stopping at the next station on the monitor behind or above the driver's head. In some buses, the name of the next station is announced by voice as well. But this does not mean that it will definitely stop, and make sure that you or one of the other passengers has pressed the stop button!

In addition, usually the doors are not opened automatically or by the driver and you have to press the button on the door.

Warnings in Buses:

• DE: Notausstieg
  • EN: Emergency exit

• DE: Aussteig freihalten
  • EN: Keep the exit clear
• DE: Nothahn. Im Notfall: 1) Griff in Pfeilrichtung drehen. 2) Tür Öffnen
  • EN: Emergency tap. In an emergency: 1) Turn the handle in the direction of the arrow. 2) Open door