Austria - General Information

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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.

Currency

Euro

UIC code

numeric 81; alpha A.

Timetable

Journey Planner

fahrplan.oebb.at/bin/query.exe/en?

Downloadable Timetable

Individual tables can be downloaded at http://www.oebb.at/de/Reiseplanung/Fahrplanauskunft/Fahrplanbilder/index.jsp . An offline journey planner can also be downloaded at http://www.oebb.at/en/Planning_your_trip/Timetable/Offline_timetable_version/index.jsp

Printed Timetable

ÖBB no longer publish a printed timetable.

Engineering Information

fahrplan.oebb.at/bin/help.exe/dn?tpl=showmap_external provides a pictorial map giving the location and type of engineering work and other incidents for ÖBB also significant events on neighbouring railway administrations.

Bus Information

The ÖBB 'Scotty' Journey Planner can be used to plan bus journeys. ÖBB Postbus timetables can be downloaded from the Postbus website.

Maps

Printed Maps

  • Eisenbahnatlas Österreich”, the second edition of which (ISBN 3-89494-138-3) was published in 2010 by Verlag Schweers + Wall GmbH, similar to atlases from the same publisher for Germany, Italy & Slovenia, and Switzerland.
  • European Railway Atlas: Denmark, Germany, Austria, Switzerland by M.G. Ball (1993) (ISBN 0-7110-2116-3)
  • European Railway Atlas by M.G. Ball (2008 onwards)

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

Mostly standard gauge, but the following lines are narrow gauge:

  • 760mm gauge: 115 St Polten – Mariazell; 132 Waidhofen a d Ybbs – Gstadt; 801 Gmünd NÖ – Groß Gerungs; 802 Gmünd NÖ – Litschau and Heidenreichstein
  • Metre gauge (and rack operated): 523 Puchberg am Schneeberg – Hochschneeberg (see below regarding ownership).
  • Various private lines are narrow gauge, as noted below.

Electrification

15 kV 16.7 Hz. The St Polten – Mariazell line is electrified at 6.6 kV 25 Hz. Electrification systems used by private lines 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

Many lines are single track and most double track railways are signalled for reversible working. Most double track lines in Austria operate with right-hand running, although many lines in the east of the country once operated with left-hand running, a hangover from the days of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Wien to Graz line and the Wien S Bahn system still operate with left-hand running, although the Wien to Salzburg line was converted some years ago. The following lines converted to right-hand running on 6 August 2012:

  • Wien Floridsdorf – Bernhardsthal (Bernhardsthal – Břeclav ČD will convert on 9 December 2012)
  • Wien Rennweg – Flughafen
  • Wampersdorf – Wiener Neustadt Civitas Nova
  • Wien Hbf – Payerbach-Reichenau
  • Wien Hütteldorf/Penzing – Wien Meidling
  • Wien Meidling – Wien Floridsdorf
  • Wien Floridsdorf – Stockerau
  • Wien Süßenbrunn – Wolkersdorf

ÖBB intends to convert most of the remaining lines - apart from Mürzzuschlag - Bruck a d Mur - Graz, as major investment would be required. The only other line with left-hand running is Wien FJB - Tulln - Absdorf-Hippersdorf, which is an isolated section of double track.

Distances

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

Distance information for each route is given in the Route descriptions.pdf which can be downloaded from the Downloads Appendices 2014 page of the Network Statement.

Other Railways

Table numbers in the Fahrpläne Österreich are shown in brackets

  • Graz-Köflacher Eisenbahn: Graz Hbf – Köflach and Wies-Eibiswald (550) www.gkb.at
  • Montafonerbahn AG: Bludenz – Schruns (420). Electrified 15 kV 16.7 Hz www.montafonerbahn.at
  • Raab-Oedenburg-Ebenfurter Eisenbahn AG: Ebenfurth – Sopron (512), Neusiedl am See – Fertószentmiklós (731). An international railway in joint Austrian and Hungarian ownership, better-known by its Hungarian name, Györ-Sopron Ebenfurti Vasút (GySEV). Raab and Oedenburg are the German names for Györ and Sopron respectively. The line from Ebenfurth to Sopron is electrified at 25 kV 50 Hz and used by dual-frequency ÖBB trains between Sopron and Wien Südbf. GySEV also owns the line between Sopron and Györ, which is entirely in Hungary and electrified at 25 kV 50 Hz. www.raaberbahn.at
  • Salzburg Stadtwerke AG Verkehrsbetriebe Lokalbahn: Salzburg Lokalbahn – Trimmelkam and Lamprechtshausen (210). Electrified 1000 V dc. Bürmoos – Trimmelkam was acquired from Stern und Hafferl by Salzburg Stadtwerke on 31 July 1993 and modernised, with construction of a new underground terminus outside Salzburg Hbf. www.slb.at
  • Steiermärkische Landesbahnen: Gleisdorf – Weiz Stadt (531), Feldbach – Bad Gleichenberg (532) (electrified 1000 V dc), Peggau-*Deutschfelstritz – Ubelbach (540) (electrified 15 kV 16.7 Hz), Unzmarkt – Tamsweg (630) (760 mm gauge), Mixnitz – St Erhard (760 mm gauge, electrified 800 V dc, freight only but it is possible to charter passenger trains or passenger coaches on freight trains), Weiz – Anger (760 mm gauge, freight and limited steam tourist trains). www.stlb.at
  • Stern und Hafferl: Linz Hbf – Peuerbach and Neumarkt-Kalham (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 Seebf (161) (metre gauge, electrified 800 V dc), Vöcklamarkt Lokalbahn – Attersee (180) (metre gauge, electrified 800 V dc), Vorchdorf-Eggenberg – Brauerei Eggenberg (freight only).www.stern-verkehr.at
  • Stubaitalbahn AG: Innsbruck – Fulpmes (320). Metre gauge, electrified 900 V dc. Operated by tram-style vehicles which work through onto the Innsbruck tram system at 750 V dc. www.ivb.at
  • Südburgenländische Regionalbahn: Oberwart – Oberschützen (leased to FROWOS: see Tourist Lines below); Oberwart – Großpetersdorf – Rechnitz (freight, plus July and August Sunday excursions from Grosspetersdorf "towards Märchenwald") www.maerchenbahn.at
  • Westbahn Management GmbH: The first open access operator in Austria, it runs an hourly fast service between Wien Westbahnhof and Freilassing. www.westbahn.at
  • AG der Wiener Lokalbahnen: Wien Oper – Baden Josefsplatz (515) An 800 V dc long-distance tramway, connected to the Wien tram system. www.wlb.at
  • Zell am See – Krimml (230), Pinzgauerbahn, 760 mm gauge, operated by SLB. www.pinzgauerlokalbahn.at
  • Zillertaler Verkehrsbetriebe AG: Jenbach – Mayrhofen (310) (760 mm gauge). www.zillertalbahn.at

Tourist Lines

Various private lines, listed above, and the Schneebergbahn line are wholly or largely tourist operations.

An English language site lists these tourist lines too. Railways of the World - Austria

ÖBB has a unit called ÖBB Erlebnisbahn (ÖBB Experience Railway). See www.erlebnis-bahn-schiff.at for more information. ÖBB Erlebnisbahn currently operate summer weekend services on the Korneuburg to Ernstbrunn branch as detailed in table 931.

NOVÖG operate tourist services on the following lines www.noevog.at/en:

  • 801 Waldviertelbahn (Nordast): Gmünd NÖ – Gross Gerungs (760 mm gauge)
  • 802 Waldviertelbahn (Südast) : Gmünd NÖ – Litschau and Heidenreichstein (760 mm gauge)
  • 811 Wachaubahn: Krems a d Donau - Emmersdorf a d Donau
  • 941 "Reblaus Express" Retz - Drosendorf

Rail cycling is possible on a number of lines; see the IG Draisinenfahrten website. Click on 'International', followed by 'Draisinenlinks' to obtain website details under the heading 'Draisinenstrecken in Österreich (AT)'.

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.

Trams

Gmunden, Graz, Innsbruck, Linz, Wien (which extends via the Wiener Lokalbahnen into Baden). The Wien system is the largest European network outside Russia.

Recent and future changes

Projects under way or planned

The terminal station of the metre gauge branch from Vorchdorf, Gmunden Seebahnhof, is to close. A new section of line from Gmunden Traundorf to Klosterplatz will be constructed and this is intended to be the first stage in connecting the branch to the Gmunden town tram line.

Construction of a new chord giving direct access from Wien Hauptbahnhof to Wien Airport has started. The 2.1 km chord, which leaves the Hegyeshalom line 2 km north of Kledering, and joins the Rennweg – Schwechat line 2 km west of Kaiserebersdorf, is due to be completed by the end of 2014.

Göstling to Lunz am See, the final section of the closed Ybbstalbahn line from Gstadt, is due to reopen as a museum line in July 2013.

In late 2011 OBB presented their plans for the period to 2025. Upgrades include a link to Wien Airport and the St Polten freight by-pass to complete Wien – Wels quadrupling. OBB want to give up 700 km of branch lines either by handing to regional authorities or complete closure. The passenger lines selected, based on a minimum threshold of 2000 passengers per day, were:

  • 171 Attnang-Puchheim – Reid/Innkreis – Schärding*
  • 153 Wels – Grünau*
  • 142 Rottenegg – Aigen–Schlägl
  • 133 Sarmingstein – St Nikola
  • 524 Deutschkreutz – Neckenmarkt
  • 660 Viktring – Rosenbach
  • 670 Hermagor – Kötschach-Mauthen
  • 522 Bad Fischau – Puchberg
  • 521 Pernitz-Muggendorf – Gutenstein
  • 912 Gänserndorf – Gross Schweinbarth – Bad Pirawarth
  • 912 Obersdorf - Gross Schweinbarth
  • 820 Hadersdorf – Sigmundsherberg
  • 560 Spielfeld-Strass – Bad Radkersburg
  • Bleiburg – Prevalje

Some of these lines were already under serious threat. The lines marked * may be privatized as part of an agreement with the regional government of Oberösterreich, along with Haiding to Aschach. Although the line from Rottenegg to Aigen-Schlägl, part of the branch from Linz Urfahr, is on the above list, the Linz Urfahr to Rohrbach section is planned for conversion into tram-train operation, with the rest of the line being shut. At Rohrbach a new line, 2.8 km long, will be built towards the town centre, and at Linz a new line will be built from Urfahr to Hauptbahnhof.

Recent changes

The Deutschkreutz to Oberloisdorf line, which had a limited passenger service as far as Neckenmarkt-Horitschon, was expected to close in December 2012. In the event the passenger service was reprieved at a late stage, but has since ceased, with final trains running on 28 June 2013.

Wien Hauptbahnhof (the replacement for Südbahnhof) was partially opened on 9 December 2012. In connection with this, two U Bahn stations were renamed; Wien Südbahnhof became Quartier Belvedere, and Südtirolerplatz became Wien Hauptbahnhof. At the same time the metro station Südtirolerplatz became Südtirolerplatz- Hauptbahnhof. On this date the temporary station at Südbahnhof (Ost) closed.

The Wien Haidersdorf to Wien Meidling section of the Westbahn high speed line opened to freight in late 2012, but is not due to be used by passenger services until after Hauptbahnhof opens fully in December 2014.

The Wörgl – Baumkirchen tunnel line opened in December 2012, although signalling issues meant that, initially, it was only used by Railjet services.

In September 2012 a 4km section of new alignment opened between Lambach and Breitenschützing as part of line improvements on the Wels – Salzburg route.

In May 2012 the SLB branch terminus at Lamprechthausen was relocated closer to the town centre by extending the line by 300 metres.

In September 2011 a new alignment opened on the Lieboch to Köflach branch, between Krottendorf and Söding.

An 800 metre new alignment on the Zell am See to Krimml branch, between Uttendorf-Stubachtal and Pirtendorf, opened in November, avoiding tight curves and numerous level crossings.

On 2 October 2011 Wien metro line U2 was extended from Stadion to Aspernstrasse.

The line from Friedberg to Oberwart (table 520) lost its passenger service with effect from 1 August 2011. On the same date the service between Deutschkreutz and Neckenmarkt-Horitschon was reduced to three rush-hour services each way, and an hourly M-S service was introduced between Klagenfurt and Weizelsdorf (table 660), the remainder of this line only seeing a single early morning train from Rosenbach.

Work continues on the Koralmbahn Klagenfurt – Graz , with the 32 km Koralmtunnel as its centrepiece. The first section between Werndorf and Wettmannstätten opened with effect from 12 December 2010, and the entire single track line is due to be completed by 2023. There is more information at de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koralmbahn (but be careful – Wikipedia information may always be biased). It is planned also to build partial double tracks on the Steirische Ostbahn (Graz – Gleisdorf – Szentgottard (Hungary), but the information on this is very sparse. de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steirische_Ostbahn indicates a south to east Graz avoiding line (otherwise all trains Koralmbahn – Szentgottard would have to run round in Graz) and a possible completion in 2020. But without these measures to the Steirische Ostbahn, the investment in Koralmbahn would be of much less value – it would not be practical to route more freight through Hungary, where there are considerably less gradients than the Semmering route.

The following lines closed at the timetable change on 11 December 2010:

  • 113 Schrambach - Markt St.- Aegyd am Neuwalde
  • 115 Ober Grafendorf - Mank
  • 120 Scheibbs - Kienberg-Gaming
  • 132 Gstadt - Lunz am See and Gstadt - Ybbsitz. These lines had already been closed since mid 2009 owing to floods. The section from Waidhofen to Gstadt has remained open, operated by NOVÖG.
  • 811 Krems an der Donau - Emmersdorf an der Donau. This has reopened for tourist services operated by NOVÖG.
  • 830 Schwarzenau - Zwettl Stadt
  • 831 Schwarzenau - Waidhofen an der Thaya
  • 912 Groß Schweinbarth - Sulz Museumsdorf

The StH line (Lambach -) Neukirchen – Haag lost its passenger service from 13 December 2009. It had been said that there was no financially viable way to connect this line when the Westbahn is upgraded Linz – Salzburg. On the same date a new alignment opened between Atzenbrugg and a point two kilometers east of the proposed new Tullnerfeld station, on the Herzogenburg to Tulln line. The intermediate stations of Michelhausen and Judenau have been closed. The new line runs alongside the high speed Wien to St Pölten line currently under construction. The old alignment has been de-electrified but, other than a short section at the east end, is still in use for freight. In connection with this, two freight-only spurs, a 1.8 km west to north chord at Tulln and a 0.9 km south to east chord at Absdorf-Hippersdorf, have been opened.

The new entrance to St Pölten from the east (Knoten Wagram) was completed in August 2005. This includes preparation for the tracks from the New Westbahn (Wienerwald Tunnel – Tullnerfeld).

Electrification between Mistelbach and Laa an der Thaya was completed for use in December 2006. Graz Don Bosco station opened 7 September 2007.

Work started in 2007 to build a new Wien Hauptbahnhof on the site occupied by Südbahnhof until 12 December 2009. From this date services to Bruck a d L, and Stadlau and beyond, used a temporary station Wien Südbahnhof (Ost), 150 m to the south of the old station site, and services to Wiener Neustadt and beyond ran from Wien Meidling. The S-bahn platforms (21 and 22) in the basement have temporary entrances outside the construction area. All long-distance trains from Westbahn will, when all construction is complete, use the Lainzer tunnel and Hauptbahnhof instead of Westbahnhof. A new motive power and carriage depot has been built on what has been freight yard and sidings at Matzleinsdorfer Platz between Wien Süd and Meidling. For more information see this page which contains several links: www.hauptbahnhof-wien.at. Passenger information in German: www.hauptbahnhof-wien.at/de/Presse/Publikationen/Folder/HBFW_Fahrgastbroschuere.pdf. General information in English : www.hauptbahnhof-wien.at/de/Presse/Publikationen/Folder/VIENNA_CENTRAL_STATION_Imagefolder_engl.pdf.

For more information and links on these and other projects, see (in German) www.oebb.at/vip8/bau/de/Projekte_Planung_und_Bau/index.jsp.

Other new lines opened recently are:

  • Innsbruck avoiding line, linking the Brenner and Wörgl lines (this is used only by freight trains)
  • Tunnel for fast trains between Leoben Hbf and St Michael
  • Diversion of the Tauernbahn, mostly in tunnels, between Lindisch and Mallnitz
  • The double track Schlierbach Umfahrung (bypass) on the Linz – Selztal line
  • Double tracking of Kolbnitz – Pusarnitz on the Tauernbahn
  • Double tracking Meidling – Inzersdorf

Preliminary work on a Semmering base tunnel has resumed and the principal route decided.

ÖBB is withdrawing freight services from many lines, including the entire narrow-gauge network. It has also stated that in order to cope with reduced subsidies, many passenger services will also have to be withdrawn. Campaigning groups have listed almost every non-electrified line as under threat.

The following routes have appeared on various recent closure threat lists so must be at risk; those marked # are already mostly served by buses. In many cases private operation is being sought to avoid closure.

  • 115: St. Pölten – Ober Grafendorf – Mariazell. This is now operated by NOVÖG
  • 132: Waidhofen an der Ybbs – Gstadt
  • 152: # Haiding – Aschach a d Donau
  • 170: Bad Aussee – Stainach-Irdning
  • 172: # Vöcklabruck – Kammer-Schörfling
  • 410: (Garmisch-Partenkirchen) Ehrwald Zugspitzbahn – Schönbichl (Pfronten-Steinach)
  • 620: # Zeltweg – Bad St. Leonhard, apparently closing on 31 July 2010
  • 650: Villach – Feldkirchen – St Veit a d Glan
  • 670: Arnoldstein – Kötschach-Mauthen
  • 680: # Weizelsdorf – Rosenbach

Salzburger Lokalbahn has taken over the operation of the Zell am See – Krimml line on 1 July 2008.

The Schneebergbahn, ÖBB's mountain rack railway, has been transferred to a company in which ÖBB and the local Province have an equal shareholding. ÖBB, in effect, continues to run the line, though it comes outside the standard fare system, and the operating loss is shared with the Provincial councils.

The Schafbergbahn was transferred to Salzburg AG in April 2006, see above.

The light rail line to Igls, operated as an extension of the Innsbruck tram system, has been threatened with closure, but still continues to operate.

Special notes

ÖBB promotes a large number of rail excursions, some of which use freight only lines or visit places of railway interest. A brochure "Erlebnis Bahn & Schiff" is published annually and can be obtained at stations or from Verein Erlebnis Bahn & Schiff, Bahngasse 2, A-2721 Bad Fischau-Brunn, Austria, or from Austria Tourist Offices abroad. Excursions can be booked at principal ÖBB stations or through ÖBB Bahn-Totalservice, Wien Westbahnhof. Phone 01-5800-1700. Details can also be found at www.erlebnis-bahn-schiff.at which includes an e-mail booking facility.

Explanations in English of Austrian (and German) railway signalling can be found at mysite.du.edu/~jcalvert/railway/germaust.htm.

See also