16 kilometres of route, almost 7 kilometres of tunnels, and still no release: How far has Vienna U4 for LOTUS really progressed?

A recreation of Vienna subway line U4 has been in development for LOTUS Simulator for some time. This is not a short-term project with a foreseeable release date, but an extensive community map that is still being worked on. This should be clearly classified right away: LOTUS is a comparatively small platform with a difficult public perception. Vienna U4 alone will not fundamentally change that. For players who already own LOTUS and are interested in Vienna public transport, the project may still be exciting.

A complete recreation of the approximately 16-kilometre-long U4 is planned. Almost 7 kilometres of the real route run underground. Historically, the line is especially interesting because it is based completely on sections of the former Vienna Stadtbahn. Elements of the old facilities shaped by Otto Wagner can still be seen at several stations. At Schönbrunn and Stadtpark, the historic station buildings have even been preserved completely. Exactly this connection between old Stadtbahn, later subway use, tunnels, and open sections makes the route varied, but at the same time increases the effort required for its recreation.

The Vienna Type V train is planned as the vehicle in the long term. This series was built by Siemens from the year 2000. A total of 62 trainsets exist, each consisting of six cars. A complete train is more than 110 metres long and has space for almost 900 passengers. The vehicles run on the standard track gauge of 1,435 millimetres and receive their power through a conductor rail.

However, the Type V originally built by the map developer is no longer being developed. Instead, BELLA CIAO is working on a new and revised Siemens Type V. For the overall project, this means that route and vehicle are now being created separately. Whether and when both elements will later come together as a complete package cannot currently be said with certainty.

There is still no release date for the Vienna U4 map. The developer refers to high quality standards. This is understandable on one hand because a real subway route with familiar buildings and historic architecture requires a lot of work. On the other hand, it also means that players should not expect an imminent release. Especially with a project for an already small platform, it remains open how long the complete implementation will ultimately take.

The current work focus is on the section between Heiligenstadt and Spittelau. According to the developer, this area is one of the largest tasks of the entire map. The reason is not the pure route length, but the open surroundings. Unlike inside a tunnel, the player can look far into the distance here. This means not only tracks and nearby buildings have to be created, but also more distant parts of the city, railway facilities, vegetation, and distinctive structures.

The virtual journey begins in the reversing facility at Heiligenstadt. The station has a total of four platforms. Two each are used for arriving and departing trains. Regular trains continue into the reversing facility via the two middle tracks. The outer tracks are intended for vehicles that are subsequently stabled or return from the stabling area into line operation.

The Karl-Marx-Hof, one of the best-known buildings along the route, is located in the surroundings. The Vienna municipal housing complex is more than one kilometre long and clearly shapes the area. Buildings like this are important for the map’s recognition value, but also create additional work. The building does not end directly beside the track, but is still clearly visible because of the open view and therefore has to be represented accordingly.

Shortly after Heiligenstadt, the route also passes the so-called APA Tower. The building has stood empty for more than 20 years and was decorated with a mural in connection with the future development of the area. Further along the journey, numerous sidings and the facilities of the Franz-Josefs-Bahn run beside U4.

The journey from Heiligenstadt to Spittelau takes approximately two minutes. At around 1.5 kilometres, the distance is still one of the longer station gaps in the Vienna subway network. The player passes through the area quickly. For the creator, it means a large and widely visible area that has to be filled believably. This is exactly why a short route section can require significantly more construction time than its journey time might suggest.

The Wasserleitungswiese depot is located directly beside Spittelau. It contains approximately 30 tracks. Around 10 tracks are intended to be usable later for journeys from or to the depot. These include trains entering service in the morning and returning in the evening. The depot is therefore not only intended to serve as scenery, but to be at least partially integrated into playable procedures.

Spittelau itself is currently not yet in a state that the developer wants to show completely. In the background, however, the technical route is further advanced. According to the current status, all route sections are fundamentally equipped with interlockings, routes, and signals. Most stations are also said to be close to completion. The main remaining workload mainly concerns distant buildings and the large-scale surroundings.

In the end, Vienna U4 is an ambitious project within a small and controversially discussed niche. The planned 16 kilometres, almost 7 kilometres of tunnels, the Siemens Type V, four platforms at Heiligenstadt, and around 30 tracks at Wasserleitungswiese show a considerable scope. At the same time, there is still no release date, many surrounding areas are not yet finished, and technical limitations of LOTUS also play a role.

Would a comprehensively recreated Vienna U4 make you interested in LOTUS again or is the platform no longer relevant to you regardless of new maps?