The train tender is for 34-45 six-car sets capable of either manual or automatic operation. The contract will include maintenance for 24 years.

Closing date for bids is July 31. The winner will be announced at the end of 2016 with the first trains scheduled for delivery in 2018-19. Wiener Linien intends to use 24 of the trains to replace older sets on lines U1 to U4 while the others will be used for metro extensions.

On the same day tenders were also published for the construction of extensions to the U-Bahn network which will split Line U2 in two, with the western section in the city becoming part of the new fully-automated Line U5. The projects comprise Line U2 Schottentor – Rathaus – Matzleinsdoferplatz and Line U5 Rathaus – Altes AKH.

The new Schottentor – Rathaus section will avoid the sharp curve on the existing alignment with new platforms at Rathaus station below the existing ones which will be retained for Line U5. Only one track on the existing Schottentor – Rathaus section of Line U2 will be retained for the transfer of rolling stock.