Sustainable Tourism in Vienna: New Hydrogen Buses Elevate the Visitor Experience

Published on November 25, 2025

Beginning December 1, 2025, Vienna will deploy hydrogen buses along its 39A route as part of its commitment to facilitating clean, eco-friendly mobility in the city. This advancement also contributes to Vienna’s goal of attaining net-zero carbon. This adoption will support the numerous locals and visitors to Vienna in travelling more sustainably. Wiener Linien has been the first mover among public transportation companies in Vienna for many environmental initiatives. This proactive approach will see all buses on the 39A route shift to hydrogen-powered buses, becoming the thirteenth route in Wiener Linien’s operations to see a complete transition to emission-free public transportation alternatives.

The newly purchased hydrogen buses will operate on a route primarily utilized to service one of the public transportation network’s busiest corridors. This route has a long-standing reputation for extreme height differences, short distance locations, and crowded passenger loads. Supplying these new buses will help citizens and customers of the city to reduce their carbon footprint and travel more effectively.

Sustainability and Tourism in Vienna

Vienna is at the heart of Europe and is one of the continent’s most preferred travel destinations. Millions of tourists visit Vienna yearly for its grand heritage, spectacular buildings, and dynamic culture. Vienna’s commitment to the promotion of eco-friendly public transport to meet the needs of sustainable travel is centered around the goals of the eco-responsibility of the city.

Wiener Linien’s transition to one of its most travelled roads to hydrogen-powered powered eco-friendly buses is a dual accomplishment. It enhances the eco-friendly mobility in the city for its users and contributes to the well-being of the city’s residents. Hydrogen buses to be operated at the city’s public transport system would immensely less greenhouse gas emissions, therefore, supporting a transition to sustainable tourism in the city.

Sustainable buses servicing the 39A line are indeed a justified need, given the line’s status as one of Vienna’s most difficult and busiest lines. It provides services to a large range of users, including tourists, residents, and workers. It runs through a densely populated area, has very steep hills, and has short intervals between stops. Passenger volumes, particularly, are very large during the line’s peak period.

To address these challenges, Wiener Linien is implementing hydrogen vehicles, which use less energy than conventional diesel bus. Hydrogen-powered buses are an urban ideal since they completely negate emissions, unlike the fossil fuel-powered urban buses. Hydrogen buses also provide a smoother, quieter ride. This is a benefit for area residents.

The new hydrogen fleet on the 39A line will incorporate the latest technology, such as high-capacity fuel cells and large hydrogen tanks that allow the buses to operate on a long range before needing to be refuelled. The buses will continue to provide a sustainable travel option and be a dependable resource for the geographically significant travellers to Vienna as the city continues to remain a frontrunner in sustainable urban transport.

The Environmental Benefits for Tourists and Locals

The use of zero-emission buses combined with Vienna’s outstanding eco-friendly service offerings is an attraction in and of itself. Due to its many extensive green public parks (including Prater Park, Schönbrunn Gardens, and Donauinsel), Vienna has long been recognised for its environmental consciousness. Visitors will appreciate even more the recent addition of hydrogen-powered buses to the 39A line service, allowing for a more sustainable, environmentally-friendly, and quieter method of travel while touring the city.

Locals will also appreciate the decreases in the emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases as a result of the use of hydrogen buses. As a completely renewable energy source, hydrogen will assist the city to achieve its goal of becoming sustainable and low carbon. As a part of the overall sustainability plan, the city of Vienna has pledged to make its entire public transport system emissions-free by 2030. The introduction of hydrogen buses will play a significant part in achieving this goal.

The Convenience of Sustainable Transportation

As the hydrogen buses become available to the public, tourists travelling to Vienna’s attractions will appreciate getting around the city even more for the added comfort and convenience of travelling to attractions with a reduced environmental impact. With the buses becoming available to the public, the integration of hydrogen buses will serve as a travel corridor throughout the city, as the 39A route provides connections to the Vienna International Centre, the Prater, and the Danube Canal. Visitors will appreciate the combination of modern and historical attractions located within the highly significant districts of the city.

The new hydrogen buses will positively contribute to tourists overall travel experience Peaceful and noise-free rides will be experienced, as traditional diesel buses will no longer be part of the city’s travel system. Those traveling to Vienna will appreciate the opportunity to immerse themselves to the stunning architecture and cultural attractions distracted by the emissions of traditional buses.

Anticipating the Future of Transport in Vienna

The adoption of hydrogen-powered buses is one of the many components of Wiener Linien’s efforts to modernize and diversify the public transport network in the city of Vienna to ensure its transport system is and will be efficient, effective, and eco-friendly, and accessible to residents and guests alike. More hydrogen buses will be deployed, and select trams will be fitted with battery packs and/or electric propulsion to enhance the networks of trams, and the range bike networks will be augmented to enable citizens to address their transport needs in a more carbon neutral fashion.

For guests this will mean they will have the opportunity to visit a city which is focused on eco-friendly travel and will be able to travel in an environmentally sustainable manner, and experience the cities eco-friendly culture, its history, and the many green spaces. Guests traveling to attractions such as the Ringstrasse, the Belvedere Palace, or a boat ride on the Danube will experience a sustainable and more environmentally friendly travel experience.

Conclusion

Bringing hydrogen buses onto Public Line 39A on the Vienna Transport System network is the beginning of Vienna’s long journey towards sustainable urban transport. With combined investments on modern transport infrastructure, Vienna is making public transport more user friendly, attracting a new type of traveller to Vienna. One that is more conscious of the transport methods used and the sustainable initiatives of the cities visited. Hydrogen buses permit tourists to appreciate the sites and attractions of Vienna, a portable museum, without a large carbon footprint. The model that Vienna is creating will be incorporated by cities worldwide.