Austria - General Information

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Revision as of 15:49, 22 September 2022 by Ken Romford (talk | contribs) (→‎Planned closures: Existing Klagenfurt - Bleiburg - St. Andrä lines to close on 10 Dec 2022)
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Country Name

Austria (Österreich)

National Railway System

National Railway Operator

Österreichische Bundesbahnen (ÖBB).

Language

German, which differs in certain respects from the version spoken in Germany. One notable difference which can often be seen in timetables is that the month of January is Jänner rather than standard German Januar.

Currency

Euro

UIC code

numeric 81; alpha A.

Timetable

Journey Planner

ÖBB 'Scotty' Journey Planner

Actual Train Times

ÖBB Train radar

Downloadable Timetable

Individual tables can be downloaded here - the route plan under Bahnnetz gives table numbers.

Printed Timetable

ÖBB no longer publish a complete printed timetable, but do issue timetable booklets for each route (usually available only in the area in question). Table numbers can be found from the downloadable timetable under Bahnnetz.

Engineering Information

This page provides a pictorial map for each month giving the locations and dates of engineering work on the ÖBB network.

In the summer months many sections of line can be closed, with bus replacement services operating, for several weeks: it pays to check the ÖBB 'Scotty' Journey Planner carefully.

Bus Information

The ÖBB 'Scotty' Journey Planner can also be used to plan bus journeys. The Journey Planner provides a complete database of all means of public transport in Austria.

Maps

Printed Maps

Web-based Maps

Infrastructure

Infrastructure Authority

Infrastructure is owned and managed by a public authority, ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG.

Network Statement

The Network Statement page gives access to the latest network statements.

Gauge

ÖBB is entirely standard gauge. Various Other Railways are narrow gauge, as noted below.

Electrification

15 kV 16.7 Hz. The electrification systems used by Other Railways are noted below. The following cross-border routes with Hungary are electrified at the Hungarian standard 25 kV 50 Hz:

  • between Ebenfurth and Deutschkreutz via Sopron (Ebenfurth station area can be switched between the two voltages);
  • between Neusiedl am See (exclusive) and Fertöszentmiklós (the electrification boundary is a few hundred metres south of Neusiedl station).

Rule of the road

Right-hand running, but with a few exceptions. Most double track lines are signalled for reversible working. Many lines in the east of the country were left-hand running in the past, a hangover from the days of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

The Wien - Graz line was left-hand running, but after Payerbach-Reichenau - Mürzzuschlag - Bruck a d Mur was converted to right-hand running at the December 2019 timetable change, only Bruck a d Mur - Graz - Leibnitz remains and ÖBB intends to convert this by the time the Koralmbahn opens in full. The only other line with left-hand running is Wien FJB - Tulln - Absdorf-Hippersdorf, an isolated section of double track which will probably remain left-hand running.

Distances

The best source is the “Eisenbahnatlas Österreich”; see #Printed Maps.

Other Railways

Many of these are government (regional or local) owned, rather than owned by private companies. Table numbers in the Fahrpläne Österreich are shown in brackets and can also be found from the online timetable pages under Bahnnetz.

  • Niederösterreich Bahnen
    • St. Polten Hbf – Mariazell Mariazellerbahn (115) (760mm gauge) Electrified at 6.6 kV 25 Hz.
    • Waidhofen an der Ybbs Bahnhof – Waidhofen an der Ybbs Pestalozzistraße Citybahn Waidhofen (132) (760mm gauge)
    • Puchberg am Schneeberg – Hochschneeberg Schneebergbahn (523) (Metre gauge, rack operated)
    • Gmünd NÖ – Groß Gerungs Waldviertelbahn (801) (760mm gauge)
    • Gmünd NÖ – Litschau and Heidenreichstein Waldviertelbahn (802) (760mm gauge)
    • Krems an der Donau – Emmersdorf an der Donau Wachaubahn (811)
    • Retz – Drosendorf Reblaus Express (941)
  • Raab-Oedenburg-Ebenfurter Eisenbahn AG: An international railway in joint Austrian and Hungarian ownership, better-known by its Hungarian name, Győr-Sopron Ebenfurti Vasút (GySEV). Raab and Oedenburg are the German names for Győr and Sopron respectively. The line from Ebenfurth to Sopron is electrified at 25 kV 50 Hz and used by dual-frequency GySEV trains between Sopron and Wien Hbf. GySEV also owns the line between Sopron and Győr, which is entirely in Hungary and electrified at 25 kV 50 Hz.
    • [Wien Hbf –] Ebenfurth – Sopron [– Deutschkreutz] (512)
    • GySEV also operated the line from Neusiedl am See to Fertőszentmiklós (731) until December 2020 when ÖBB took over operation of this line, which is owned by Neusiedler Seebahn GmbH (NSB). This was in exchange for GySEV becoming the sole operator on Wien – Ebenfurth – Sopron instead of sharing operation with ÖBB.
  • Steiermarkbahn (StB) (Steiermarkbahn und Bus GmbH):
    • Gleisdorf – Weiz Nord (531)
    • Feldbach – Bad Gleichenberg (532) Electrified 1800 V dc. A daily service ran until 31 December 2020; a weekend-only service continues to run in summer, autumn and over the Christmas/New Year period.
    • Peggau-Deutschfelstritz – Übelbach (540) Electrified 15 kV 16.7 Hz
    • Unzmarkt – Tamsweg Murtalbahn (630) (760 mm gauge)
    • Mixnitz – St Erhard (760 mm gauge) Electrified 800 V dc. This line is owned by RHI Magnesita N.V., but managed by StB. Occasional special passenger trains operate.
  • Stern & Hafferl Verkehrsgesellschaft m.b.H.:
    • Linz Hbf – Peuerbach and Neumarkt-Kallham LILO (143) Electrified 800 V dc, operated by dual-system EMUs into Linz Hbf on 15 kV 16.7 Hz
    • Lambach – Vorchdorf-Eggenberg (160)
    • Vorchdorf-Eggenberg – Gmunden Bahnhof (161) (metre gauge) Electrified 800 V dc
    • Vöcklamarkt – Attersee (180) (metre gauge) Electrified 800 V dc
    • Vorchdorf-Eggenberg – Brauerei Eggenberg (freight only).
  • Westbahn (Westbahn Management GmbH): Wien Westbahnhof – Salzburg Hbf – München Hbf / Innsbruck Hbf (100, 101). The first open access operator in Austria; runs a generally half-hourly semi-fast service between Wien and Salzburg, with certain trains extended to München and, from 11 December 2022, to Innsbruck.
  • Wiener Lokalbahnen AG: Wien Oper – Baden Josefsplatz Electrified, 800 V dc. A long-distance tramway ("inter-urban" in north American parlance), connected to the Wien tram system. Owned by Wiener Stadtwerke AG.

Tourist Lines

Listing current at August 2022.

Various lines listed under Other Railways, above, are wholly or largely tourist operations but are not repeated here. Some of the following lines are commercial operations but most are supported by preservation societies.

  • Abenteuer Erzberg (900 mm gauge, underground mine railway) (note: can be reached by Erzbergbahn)
  • Achenseebahn AG: Jenbach – Achensee Seespitz (metre gauge, rack operated).
  • Eisenbahnclub Mh.6: Ober Grafendorf - Haag-Kleinsierning (760 mm gauge). A short section of the former line to Mank, reopened in 2021-22.
  • Erzbergbahn (Verein Erzbergbahn): Vordernberg Markt – Erzberg (Erzberg - Eisenerz out of service since 2010 because of storm damage)
  • Feistritztalbahn (Feistritztalbahn Betriebsges.m.b.H.) : Birkfeld – Anger – Weiz (760 mm gauge) Operated in conjunction with Club U44. See also Recent Changes, below.
  • Gurkthalbahn: Treibach-Althofen – Pöckstein-Zwischenwässern (760 mm gauge)
  • Höllentalbahn (Österreichische Gesellschaft für Lokalbahnen): Payerbach Lokalbahn – Hirschwang (760 mm gauge)
  • Klagenfurt museum tramway (Lendcanaltramway Klagenfurt) (Nostalgiebahnen in Kärnten): (metre gauge)
  • Liliput-Bahn (Liliputbahn Prater G.m.b.H.): Wien's historic 15 inch gauge line - ca. 3.9km circuit in Prater park. Also operate separate Donaupark line.
  • Museumsbahn Ampflwang-Timelkam (Österreichischen Gesellschaft für Eisenbahngeschichte (ÖGEG)): Ampflwang – Timelkam
  • Museums-Lokalbahnverein Zwettl: Zwettl – Schwarzenau
  • Museumsbahn Weinviertel: Bad Pirawarth – Sulz-Nexing
  • Museumstramway Mariazell-Erlaufsee: Mariazell – Erlaufsee
  • Pferde-Eisenbahn (Pferdeeisenbahn Museum & Gaststätte, Rainbach i.M.): (1106mm gauge; short horse-drawn tramway)
  • Regiobahn: [Wien Praterstern –] Korneuburg – Ernstbrunn
  • Rheinbähnle (Rhein-Schauen Museum und Rheinbähnle): Rheinmündung – Lustenau (750mm gauge, 750V dc) (see route map – former maintenance railway of Internationale Rheinregulierung)
  • Rosenthaler Dampfzüge (Nostalgiebahnen in Kärnten): [Rosenbach –] Weizelsdorf – Ferlach
  • Schaubergwerke Kupferplatte: Jochberg, Kitzbühel (600 mm gauge, underground mine railway)
  • Schwazer Silberbergwerk (Schwazer Silberbergwerk Besucherführung GmbH): Schwaz/Tirol (narrow gauge, underground mine railway - Die Grubenbahn)
  • Stainzer Flascherlzug: Stainz – Preding-Wieselsdorf (760 mm gauge)
  • Steyrtalbahn (Österreichische Gesellschaft für Eisenbahngeschichte (ÖGEG)): Grünburg – Steyr Lokalbf (760 mm gauge)
  • Taurachbahn: Mauterndorf – St Andrä Andlwirt (760 mm gauge)
  • Wälderbähnle (Bregenzerwaldbahn-Museumsbahn Betriebsges.m.b.H): Bezau – Schwarzenberg (760 mm gauge)
  • Ybbstalbahn Bergstrecke (Niederösterreichische Lokalbahnen Betriebsges.m.b.H. (NÖLB)): Kienberg-Gaming – Lunz am See [- Göstling an der Ybbs] (760 mm gauge)
  • Zayatalbahn (Verein Neue Landesbahn): Mistelbach – Wilfersdorf-Hobersdorf (with intention to reopen through to Hohenau)
  • Zayataler Schienentaxi (Verein Neue Landesbahn): Mistelbach Interspar – Asparn an der Zaya – Grafensulz. The line between Asparn and Grafensulz is also used by the Weinvierteldraisine - see below

Rail cycling is possible on a number of lines:

  • Mostviertler Schienenradl: Lunz am See – Klein Großau (760 mm) (relocated from Ruprechtshofen – Wieselburg an der Erlauf in 2019. Now connects with Ybbstalbahn Bergstrecke - see above)
  • Sonnenland Draisinentour: Horitschon/Neckenmarkt – Oberpullendorf
  • Weinvierteldraisine: Ernstbrunn – Grafensulz – Asparn an der Zaya. The line between Grafensulz and Asparn an der Zaya is also used by the Zayataler Schienentaxi – see above)

Metro

Wien has a third rail U-Bahn (much of which is above ground) and several sections of overhead-electrified U-Bahn tramway with metro characteristics. A track plan is available on the Gleisplanweb site.

Trams/LRT-Systems

Gmunden, Graz, Innsbruck, Linz, Wien (which extends via the Wiener Lokalbahnen into Baden). The Wien system was the largest European network outside Russia; however, since the closure of Route 67 to Oberlaa in September 2017, the Berlin system is larger.

Track plans for the systems of Gmunden, Graz, Linz, Innsbruck and Wien are available on the Gleisplanweb site, and most are now current to 2021 [but Innsbruck is dated 2020 and Linz still 2016].

See also Austria - Tram services over obscure routes

Recent and future changes

Projects under way or planned

Planned (re-)openings

Information (in German) about ÖBB's major infrastructure projects an be found at their website.

The major project to improve service between Wien, Graz, Klagenfurt, Villach and Tarvisio [IT], the Südstrecke project, was due for completion in 2026.

  • However, the planned opening of the Semmering-Basistunnel between Gloggnitz and Mürzzuschlag has been postponed to 2030 following an evaluation of geological, structural and technical issues connected with the Grassberg fault zone. The estimated cost has also increased from €3·5bn to €3·9bn. As at April 2022 abount 23 km of the 27·3 km twin-tube tunnel has been bored, and 7 km lined with a concrete inner shell.
  • Work continues on the Koralmbahn element, to link Klagenfurt and Graz: the 32.8 km Koralmtunnel is its centrepiece and target completion date for the tunnel section is 2023. The second, north, bore was broken through on 17 June 2020, after the first, south, bore on 14 August 2018. The first section of new line, between Werndorf and Wettmannstätten (table 550), opened on 12 December 2010. A short section of new line near Mittlern replaced a section of the old line on 6 September 2020. Opening of the rest of the [Klagenfurt -] Grafenstein - Aich im Jauntal - St. Paul im Lavanttal section is planned for December 2022. This will replace the existing Drautalbahn line and allow fast services to run to St. Andrä im Lavanttal and Wolfsberg. A connection from the Bleiburg - Wolfsberg line to the new line near Aich will also open at the same time, replacing the existing Jauntalbahn line through Aich and St. Paul.

Construction is under way for the Ebreichsdorf by-pass on the line between Wampersdorf and Wien Inzersdorf Ost. Once completed in 2023 the old line will be closed. The by-pass will run for around 5km to the east of the town, starting at Wampersdorf. The existing Weigelsdorf and Ebreichsdorf stations will be closed and a new four-platform station opened at Ebreichsdorf, on the L150 road between Ebreichsdorf and Unterwaltersdorf. A video of the route is on the ÖBB Infrastruktur website here, at the foot of the page. The rest of this route (the Pottendorfer Linie) is in the course of being doubled. Once the project is complete, this line will become the main route between Wiener Neustadt Hbf and Wien Meidling for express passenger trains on the Südbahn from Graz. This will free up the existing Südbahn via Baden for local passenger trains and freight.

Work has started on rerouting Wien U-Bahn Line U2 and transferring part to a new line U5 - see plan here - with target date for implementation of 2023.

In 2020 ÖBB announced plans to electrify the lines from St Pölten via Traisen to Hainfeld and Freiland. This includes reopening to passengers of the section from Schrambach to Freiland, where a new rail/bus interchange for services up the two valleys beyond Freiland to Türnitz and St Aegyd am Neuwalde/Kernhof will be constructed.

A letter of intent was signed in March 2019 by the Ministry of Transport to extend the Salzburger Lokalbahn into the city centre (Mirabellplatz). Construction work is due to start in 2023.

In the "heritage/museum" sector:

The Verein Neue Landesbahn has taken over the disused Hohenau – Mistelbach line (Zayatalbahn) from ÖBB and started operating tourist trains on the 6.3 km section between Mistelbach and Wilfersdorf-Hobersdorf on 25 June 2022. The society intends eventually to reopen the entire line.

Planned closures

The existing Klagenfurt – Bleiburg line (Drautalbahn) is being replaced by part of the new Koralmbahn between Grafenstein and St. Michael ob Bleiburg and will close on 10 December 2022. The Jauntalbahn line from Bleiburg to St. Andrä im Lavanttal via St. Paul will also close on that date and be replaced by a link to the Koralmbahn south of Aich im Jauntal.

Other projects

It was decided in February 2020 to electrify the privately operated 760 mm narrow gauge Pinzgaubahn (Zell am See – Krimml). This project may be delayed by the flood damage sustained by the line in July 2021 — see Temporary closures below.

Electrification of Klagenfurt – Weizelsdorf was agreed in early 2016 by ÖBB and Kärnten Land, although completion is planned only in 2023. The Kãrnten Land government envisages that all remaining lines in Kärnten will be electrified by 2025.

The plan to convert part of the Murtalbahn (Unzmarkt – Tamsweg) to standard gauge and electrify it has been abandoned. However the line will be reconstructed, with four realignments. Unzmarkt - Murau will be done in 2025-2028 and Murau - Tamsweg in 2028-2030.

ÖBB plans to electrify and resignal the section of the Lavanttalbahn (KBS620) from the future junction with the Koralmbahn just north of St Paul as far as Wolfsberg. This will allow fast services to run between Klagenfurt and Wolfsberg via the Koralmbahn.

Electrification of the Graz-Köflacher Bahn (GKB) is planned: Wettmannstätten – Wies-Eibiswald by 2025/26, to support electric services on the Koralmbahn, and by 2028 for the remainder.

In 2020 ÖBB published plans to electrify 500 route-km of lines by 2030. Those not mentioned above are:

Likely to go ahead:

  • 112 Herzogenburg – Krems a d Donau
  • 120 Pöchlarn – Scheibbs
  • 130 St. Valentin – St. Nikola-Struden

May go ahead:

  • 151 Neumarkt-Kallham – Braunau am Inn
  • 190 Steindorf – Braunau am Inn
  • 530 Graz Ostbf – Szentgotthárd (HU)

Less likely to go ahead:

  • 524 Wiener Neustadt – Loipersbach-Schattendorf [– Sopron (HU)]

Freight only:

  • Zeltweg – Pöls

Threatened passenger lines

In late 2011 ÖBB presented their plans for the period to 2025, which included a wish to give up some 700 km of branch lines - either by handing to regional authorities or complete closure. Based on failing to reach a minimum threshold of 2000 passengers per day, the passenger lines identified (other than those already listed above or already closed) are listed below.

  • 502 Spielfeld-Strass – Bad Radkersburg
  • 521 Pernitz-Muggendorf – Gutenstein
  • 522 Bad Fischau – Puchberg am Schneeberg
  • 820 Hadersdorf – Sigmundsherberg

The following lines were threatened with closure but will continue until at least 2029:

  • 142 Linz Urfahr – Rottenegg – Aigen-Schlägl. The section between Linz Urfahr and Rohrbach was planned for conversion into tram-train operation, but these plans have been discarded. Current thinking is that a heavy-rail S-Bahn line may be built to connect Linz Hbf with Linz Urfahr. If this goes ahead, completion is not expected until at least 2025.
  • 153 Wels – Grünau im Almtal
  • 171 Attnang-Puchheim – Ried/Innkreis – Schärding

The cross-border line from Bleiburg to Holmec and Prevalje in Slovenia has been threatened with closure in the past, but was due to gain an improved service in December 2019. This did not happen, but the existing sparse service is still running.

Innsbrucker Mittelgebirgsbahn, the light rail line to Igls operated as route 6 of the Innsbruck tram system, has in the past been threatened with closure but is now operated as a Museum Tramway with restricted operating times.

Recent changes

Openings

Regular passenger services between Feldkirch or Dornbirn and Lustenau commenced over the curve between Hard-Fussach (Abzw Lauterach West) and Wolfurt (Abzw Lauterach Süd) on 13 December 2021, comprising four train pairs during Monday to Friday peak hours only.

A further extension of the S31 (Gleisdorf – Weiz) from Weiz Zentrum to Weiz Nord was opened to passengers on 10 September 2018. The section from Weiz Bahnhof to Weiz Zentrum opened on 4 June 2016 when the line to the original terminus at Weiz (formerly Weiz Stadt) was closed.

in the "heritage/museum" sector:

The first 6.3 km section of the Zayatalbahn from Mistelbach to Hohenau, between Mistelbach and Wilfersdorf-Hobersdorf, was reopened by the Verein Neue Landesbahn on 25 June 2022.

Following a EUR 5 million investment by Land Tirol, the Achenseebahn metre-gauge rack line from Jenbach to Achensee reopened on 30 April 2022. The line had been at serious risk of closure and had not operated since the end of the 2019 season.

A heritage operation run by Eisenbahnclub Mh.6 commenced running on 7 August 2021 on a 1.3 km-long section of the 760 mm gauge Ober Grafendorf to Mank line, known as the Krumpe, between St. Margarethen-Rammersdorf and Haag-Kleinsierning. From 7 May 2022 public services started running through on certain dates from the depot "Heizhaus" in Ober Grafendorf via Ober Grafendorf station to Haag-Kleinsierning.

The Eisenbahnmuseum Strasshof has reopened the 8.8 km line between Bad Pirawarth and Sulz-Nexing (the former Sulz Museumsdorf station) as a heritage railway. Services run on Saturdays and Sundays during the season. The first day of service was 1 August 2021.

The section of line between Weizelsdorf and Rosenbach, which latterly had one very early morning train in one direction only, was closed in December 2016. It was purchased by Land Kärnten in 2020, and trains are now permitted to run through to and from ÖBB tracks at both ends. Occasional special trains started to operate from July 2021, and a motor-draisine operation, to be known as Carnica Draisinenexpress, is planned to run between Weizelsdorf and Feistritz im Rosental starting in summer 2022.

The section of line from Arnoldstein beyond Hermagor to Kötschach-Mauthen closed in December 2016, but was purchased by Land Kärnten in December 2018. A draisine operation runs between Kötschach-Mauthen and Rattendorf-Jenig; the line from there to Hermagor is preserved but has no traffic.

Permanent closures

The following lines closed at the end of 2020:

  • 132 Waidhofen an der Ybbs Pestalozzistraße – Gstadt (13/12/20) (a further cutback of the rump of the narrow-gauge Ybbstalbahn, now known as the Citybahn) - closure deferred by a year from December 2019. The new terminus of Pestalozzistraße is a new station about 300 m beyond the existing Vogelsang station.
  • 532 Feldbach – Bad Gleichenberg (Steiermarkbahn) (01/01/21). The line was badly damaged by a storm on 22 August 2020 but reopened fully on 9 October with the last day of normal daily service being 31 December 2020. A weekend-only service has continued to run in the summer and autumn, also over the Christmas/New Year period.

A section of the Drautalbahn (Klagenfurt – Bleiburg) between a point to the east of Völkermarkt-Kühnsdorf and just west of St Michael ob Bleiburg closed on 6 September 2020 and was replaced by a part of the new Koralmbahn line.

The following lines closed at the end of 2019:

  • 133 Sarmingstein – St Nikola-Struden
  • 152 Haiding – Aschach an der Donau. The Eferding – Aschach section may be taken over by the Linzer Lokalbahn and services restarted at some point 'in the future'
  • 912 Groß Schweinbarth – Bad Pirawarth
  • 912 Obersdorf – Groß Schweinbarth – Gänserndorf

in the "heritage/museum" sector:

Operations on the Carnuntum-Draisine, on part of the former line from Bruck an der Leitha West to Petronell-Carnuntum, ceased after 27 September 2018 and the track, now owned by Lower Austrian transport association Niederösterreich Bahnen, has been lifted. 2.6 km of the line remains in ÖBB ownership at the Bruck an der Leitha end to serve a private siding.

Temporary closures

The Pinzgauer Lokalbahn between Zell am See and Krimml was seriously damaged by flooding on 16 July 2021 and the section between Niedernsill and Krimml is unusable. Trains continue to run to the normal timetable between Zell am See and Niedernsill, with bus replacement beyond there. The section from Niedernsill to Uttendorf is due to reopen on 5 September 2022 and Uttendorf to Mittersill in December 2022.

In the "heritage/museum" sector:

The Weiz – Oberfeistritz tourist line (Feistritztalbahn) was temporarily cut back from the beginning of 2020 to Krottendorfer Hauptstraße (about 1 km from Weiz) to allow construction of a new bypass road. In 2020, services only operated between Anger and Birkfeld. When the line is reinstated to Weiz, possibly during 2022, the Feistritztalbahn station will be on the east side of Weiz Bahnhof, rather than in the forecourt on the west side as previously.

Because of storm damage, the Erzbergbahn has operated only between Vordernberg Markt and Erzberg (thence to Eisenerz out of service) since 2016.

Other changes

The Gänserndorf to Marchegg line was electrified in 2020. From the December 2020 timetable change, one of the two S1 services per hour from Wien Meidling to Gänserndorf has run through to Marchegg via this route, replacing the local shuttle service which was operated by a diesel railcar.

Arnoldstein to Hermagor was electrified from the December 2019 timetable.

Reutte in Tirol to the German border was electrified from the December 2019 timetable, and the 2 km from the border to Pfronten-Steinach was completed by the end of 2021.

The Innere Aspangbahn has been realigned for a distance of around 1km between Laxenburg-Biedermannsdorf and Maria Lanzendorf where it crosses the Pottendorfer Linie (Inzersdorf – Ebenfurth) on a new bridge, 200m north of the previous one.

Older Changes

For details of older changes dating back to the year 2005 see Austria - Older General Information.

Special notes

Explanations in English of Austrian (and German) railway signalling can be found here.

Tourist railways up mountains are often of limited capacity, but subject to high demand, particularly at holiday periods and during the winter sports season. In such cases it may be necessary to wait some time before being able to board a train, so it is best to arrive at the railway as early in the day as possible. When booking a trip it is often necessary to reserve a seat on a specific train down the mountain. Once the railway’s capacity to bring people back down the mountain is fully booked, no more can ascend, unless they are staying at a summit hotel.

See also