Austria - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services

Introduction

This list is based on the timetable – Fahrpläne Österreich – dated from 9 December 2012 until 14 December 2013, unless otherwise shown. Standard abbreviations used are explained in General Information. In the heading to each entry, the map reference for the line in the Schweers + Wall Eisenbahnatlas Österreich (2010 edition) is shown in italic, in addition to the reference to M. G. Ball's European Railway Atlas. The additional map references - prefixed by 'ERA1' - refer to the European Railway Atlas 2008 (M.G.Ball; published by European Railway Atlas)

Obscure services

Wien Hütteldorf - St. Pölten – Linz Hbf

[100] (74A3 to 77A2 only certain parts shown; ERA1 64B1 to 65C5; 19B2 to 106A1) AT12/1

The Westbahn main line between Wien and Salzburg is being substantially upgraded. Fast lines, known as the Neue Westbahn, are in use for much of the way from Wien Hütteldorf to Linz. For parts of the route they run adjacent to the old line, but there are substantial sections on entirely new alignments, including some long tunnels. The Neue Westbahn is in use thus:

• Wien Hütteldorf – St. Pölten: The section to Knoten Wagram, opened in December 2012, runs via a completely new route though Tullnerfeld. Between Knoten Wagram and St. Pölten there are four tracks in use on the same lateral alignment. There is a grade-separated junction at Knoten Wagram where the fast lines are in the centre at lower level, with the slow lines on outside at higher level, to allow access to the freight facilities on the north side. The entire route is used by trains running non-stop between Wien Hütteldorf and St. Pölten or stopping only at Tullnerfeld.
• Markersdorf a d Pielach (Üst Prinzersdorf 2) – Ybbs a d Donau: By passes all intermediate stations except Pöchlarn, where there are connections between the old and new lines. It is used by trains running non-stop between St Pölten and Ybbs a d Donau or calling intermediately only at Pöchlarn.
• Amstetten – St. Valentin: Parallels the old Westbahn to St. Peter Seitenstetten, but then runs via an entirely new route to St. Valentin except through St.Johann where the new and old tracks are adjacent. There are connections between the old and new lines at St. Peter Seitenstetten and at St. Johann. This section of the Neue Westbahn is used by trains not stopping between Amstetten and St. Valentin. The following trains stop only at Stadt Haag and St. Peter Seitenstetten so may use the connection at the latter station.

		SSuX	REX1942	Wien Westbahnhof – 17.40 Amstetten – St. Valentin
		SSuX	REX1944	Wien Westbahnhof – 18.40 Amstetten – St. Valentin
		SSuX	REX1946	Wien Westbahnhof – 19.40 Amstetten – St. Valentin
		SSuX	REX1945	St. Valentin - 04.40 Stadt Haag - Wien Westbahnhof
		SSuX	REX1947	St. Valentin - 05.10 Stadt Haag - Wien Westbahnhof
		SO	REX1613	St. Valentin - 04.40 Stadt Haag - Wien Westbahnhof

• St. Valentin – Linz: The Neue Westbahn follows a separate route from St. Valentin to Asten-St. Florian and then parallels the old main line into Linz. It is used by trains between St Valentin and Linz Hbf not booked to call at any of the intermediate stations.

St. Valentin avoiding line: Enns (Abzw St. Valentin 11) – St. Pantaleon (Abzw Mauthausen 1)

[100, 133] (74A3 not shown; ERA1 64B1; 19D3) AT12/2

This curve, opened in 2005, enables trains to run between the Linz and Mauthausen lines without reversal at St. Valentin. Trains in public timetable 133 booked to call at Enns but not at St. Valentin can be expected to use this line.

Traun - Marchtrenk

[101, 140] (73B3 not shown; ERA1 ERA 62B5; 19A3 - 18D3) AT12/3

This route provides an alternative to the Linz - Wels main line, allowing slower trains to be overtaken. All trains listed in table 101 as calling at Traun can be expected to use this line.

Lambach avoiding line: Gunskirchen (Abzw Umfahrung Lambach) – Lambach Markt

[101] (73B3 not shown,; ERA1 62C5; 18B4) AT12/4

A tunnel avoiding Lambach is used by all trains between Wels and Attnang-Puchheim not booked to call at Lambach.

Innsbruck avoiding line: Volders-Baumkirchen (Abzw FW2) – Unterberg-Stefansbrücke (Abzw Inn 1)

(79B3; ERA1 60B1; 56C2-B3) AT12/5

All passenger trains to/from the Brennero route run via Innsbruck Hbf – even though some German Autozüge trains have no booked stop (public or operating) there; the avoiding line is not permitted for use by passenger trains.

Bruck an der Mur avoiding line: Pernegg (Bruck Übelstein) – Oberaich (Bruck Stadtwald)

[501, 600] (75A1; ERA1 65A2; 66B2) AT12/6

This east to west curve enables trains to run between Graz and Leoben without reversal at Bruck an der Mur. It is used by services shown in table 600 as not calling at Bruck an der Mur.

Bregenz avoiding line: Hard-Fussach (Lauterach West) – Wolfurt (Lauterach Süd)

[401] (69B1; ERA1 62A1; 52B2) AT12/7

This curve enables trains to run between St. Margrethen and Feldkirch without reversal at Bregenz. There is no booked service but this route is often used for diversions when the Buchs SG – Feldkirch line is closed for engineering works. This has occurred for the last several years in late April and early May. Diverted trains may also use the Romanshorn avoiding line in Switzerland.

Ebenfurth avoiding line: Pottendorf Landegg (km 36,7) – Untereggendorf (Ebenfurth Stw 3 (km 39,4))

[500, 511] (75B2; ERA1 64C4; 35D3) AT12/8

In the past, a few non-stop trains between Wiener Neustadt and Wien Südbf were timetabled to run by this route, generally to ease occupation on the Baden line during the morning peak; they were shown in table 511 as not booked to call at Ebenfurth. No passenger trains are shown in the current timetable as using this route, but presumably non-stop trains could still do so if running out of their booked paths.

St. Michael avoiding line: Leoben Hbf (St. Michael Ost) – Kraubath (St. Michael West)

[600] (83A3; ERA1 65A2; 65D2-C2) AT12/9

This east to west chord of the St. Michael triangle enables trains to run between Leoben and Knittelfeld without reversal at St. Michael station (which is misplaced in Ball 1st ed.) and is used by all trains between Leoben and Knittelfeld not booked to call at St. Michael.

St. Michael – Kraubath (St. Michael West)

[600] (83A3; ERA1 65A2; 65C2) AT12/10

This north to west chord of the St. Michael triangle is used by all trains between St. Michael and Knittelfeld.

Wien Penzing – Wien Speising (Abzw Wien Hütteldorf 1)

[700, 901] (77A2; ERA1 65C5; 106B1) AT12/11

This east to south curve connects Wien Westbf with the Wien southern ring line to Meidling and Kledering, and is used in conjunction with either line AT12/13, or line AT12/14. It is used by the regular (mainly 2 hourly) RailJet service between Wien Westbf and Budapest, together with the following trains:

		EN 467/1267	Zürich Hbf – 07:56 Wien Westbf – Budapest Keleti pu.
D		EN 347	19:48 Wien Westbf – Bucuresti
		EN 406	22:16 Wien Westbf - Warszawa Wschodnia
		EN 407	Warszawa Wschodnia - 06:17 Wien Meidling - Wien Westbf
D		EN 346	Bucuresti – 07:56 Wien Meidling – Wien Westbf
		EC 105	Warszawa Wschodnia - 20:17 Wien Meidling - Wien Westbf
		EN 466/1266	Budapest Keleti pu. – 21:56 Wien Meidling – Zürich Hbf

Wien Speising (Stw Maxing) – Wien Meidling direct

[900] (77A2; ERA1 65C5; 106B2-C2) AT12/12

This line is one of two alternative routes between Speising and Meidling, providing a link to the north (S-Bahn) side of Meidling station. It is booked to be used by S-Bahn services to and from Wien Hütteldorf.

Oswald-Schleife: Wien Speising (Stw Maxing) – Wien Meidling (via Abzw Oswaldgasse)

[700, 901] (77A2; ERA1 65C5; 106B2-C2) AT12/13

This line is the second route between Speising and Meidling, providing a link to the south (main line) side of Meidling station. It is booked to be used by the regular (mainly 2 hourly) RailJet service between Wien Westbf and Budapest, together with the following trains:

		EN 463	München Hbf – 05:47 Wien Hütteldorf – Budapest Keleti pu
		EN 462	Budapest Keleti pu – 23:55 Wien Meidling – München Hbf
		EN 406	22:16 Wien Westbf - Warszawa Wschodnia
		EN 407	Warszawa Wschodnia - 06:17 Wien Meidling - Wien Westbf
		EC 105	Warszawa Wschodnia - 20:17 Wien Meidling - Wien Westbf
D		EN 347	19:48 Wien Westbf – Bucuresti
D		EN 346	Bucuresti – 07:56 Wien Meidling – Wien Westbf
		EN 466/1266	Budapest Keleti pu. – 21:56 Wien Meidling – Zürich Hbf

Wien Speising (Stw Maxing) – Wien Inzersdorf (Abzw Altmannsdorf)

[700] (77A2; ERA1 65C5; 106B2-C2) AT12/14

This line is generally used by the following train between Wien Westbf and Hegyeshalom, which is not booked to call at Wien Meidling; however it is possible for this train to run via AT12/15 and Wien Südbf.

EN 467/1267

Zürich Hbf – 07:56 Wien Westbf – Budapest Keleti pu.

Wien Inzersdorf – Kledering (Wien Zvbf Ausfahrgruppe)

[700] (77A2-77B2; ERA1 65C5; 106D3-107B3) AT12/15

This line is the eastern end of the Wien southern ring line, and provides a link between the Westbahn or Wien Meidling and the Bruck an der Leitha line. It is used by international trains between Wien Westbf and Hegyeshalom, shown under AT12/14

Wien Breitenleer Straße (Abzw Süßenbrunn Mitte) – Deutsch Wagram (Abzw Süßenbrunn Ost)

[901] (77B3; ERA1 65B5; 105C2) AT12/16

Used by all trains between Wien Meidling and Břeclav or beyond.

Zeltweg – Fohnsdorf – Pöls

(82B3; ERA1 65A2 partly shown; 65A4-64C4) AT12/17

On Ascension Day (May/June) and the Saturday immediately following, a DMU shuttle service was, until 2011, operated between Knittelfeld, Zeltweg and Pöls (note: no access to train at Pöls), but there appears to have been no service in 2012. The local museum has a homepage www.eisenbahnmuseum-knittelfeld.at, which contains pictures from previous years' events (see photos Andampfen).

Wieselburg a d Erlauf – Gresten

(74B2-B3; ERA1 64B2 not shown; 21B4-32A2) AT11/19

This route has been regauged from 760 mm and is now a standard gauge freight-only branch. A special train has operated in recent years for the annual Krampus Spektakel at Gresten on the first Saturday in December. In 2011 a special from Wien ran on 3 December 2011. Prospective travellers should check for special tours on the ÖBB Erlebnis Bahn website and those of other such operators.

Wien Erdbergerlände – Wien Handelskai

(77A3-B2; ERA1 65B5; 107B1-105A3) AT11/20

No passenger service is currently booked to use this route, although the occasional Erlebnisbahn excursions from Wien Franz-Josefs Bhf to Budapest, the most recent of which ran on 10 December 2011, returning the following day, appear to cover this route. Prospective travellers should check with ÖBB Erlebnis Bahn.

Fürnitz - Villach Süd Großverschiebebahnhof and Neuhaus an der Gail - Villach Süd Großverschiebebahnhof

[670] (82A1 not shown; ERA1 63C5; 97B4) AT11/21

The following DB AutoZüge were in 2009 scheduled to reverse at Villach Süd. Timings suggest that they do so via the triangle at the west end of the marshalling yard, but the route is not confirmed. 2011 departure times are shown below.

E	ThO	AZ13306	15:52 Trieste Centrale – Berlin-Wannsee AA
E	WO	AZ13307	18:06 Berlin-Wannsee – Trieste Centrale AA
E	SO	AZ13310	17:15 Trieste Centrale – Düsseldorf Hbf AA
E	FO	AZ13311	16:12 Düsseldorf Hbf – Trieste Centrale AA
E	MO	AZ13392	15:52 Trieste Centrale – Hamburg-Altona AA
E	SuO	AZ13393	15:11 Hamburg-Altona – Trieste Centrale AA

Villach (Abzw Gummern 2) - Villach Westbahnhof

[220, 221, 601, 670] (82A1 not shown; ERA1 63C5; 97C2) AT11/22

As a result of bridge construction works on the passenger lines between Villach Hauptbahnhof and Villach Westbahnhof the following trains are diverted to run this way, calling at Westbahnhof, until 8 June 2012.

		EN 1199	München Hbf – 03:43 Spittal-Millstättersee - Zagreb Glavni Kolodvor
		EN 1037	Wien Westbahnhof – 04:20 Spittal-Millstättersee - Venezia Santa Lucia
		EC 1113/1213	Frankfurt (Main) Hbf – 16:34 Spittal-Millstättersee – Zagreb Glavni Kolodvor
		EN 1036	Venezia Santa Lucia – 00:49 Villach Westbahnhof – Wien Westbahnhof
		EN 1198	Zagreb Glavni Kolodvor – 01:30 Villach Westbahnhof – München Hbf
		EC 1212/1112	Zagreb Glavni Kolodvor – 10:49 Villach Westbahnhof – Frankfurt (Main) Hbf

Villach (Hbf Ostbahnhof) - Villach Westbahnhof (via Goods Lines)

[220, 221, 601, 670] (82A1 not shown; ERA1 63C5; 97C2) AT11/23

As a result of the engineering works detailed in AT11/22, the following trains are diverted to run this way, not calling at Hauptbahnhof, until 8 June 2012.

		EN 1035	Wien Meidling – 23:40 Klagenfurt - Roma Termini
		EN 1034	Roma Termini – 04:13 Villach Westbahnhof – Wien Meidling

In addition, all services towards Westbahnhof, together with a few eastbound trains, depart from Hauptbahnhof platform 8, which is situated on the goods lines. These services can be identified on the ÖBB journey planner.

Other sparse services

The following lines have few trains (relative to service levels generally in this country) – fewer than five trains each way on at least three days a week – or do not run each weekday:

• 115 Laubenbachmühle – Mariazell
• 130 Weißenbach-St.Gallen - Selzthal
• 133 St. Nikola-Struden – Sarmingstein
• 152 Haiding – Aschach an der Donau
• 172 Vöcklabruck – Kammer-Schörfling
• 524 Deutschkreutz - Neckenmarkt-Horitschon
• 532 Feldbach – Bad Gleichenberg
• 600 Arnoldstein - Tarvisio Boscoverde (Italy). See also the Progetto MICOTRA site.
• 620 Bad St Leonhard – Wolfsberg
• 660 Weizelsdorf – Rosenbach (one early morning SSuX train from Rosenbach)
• 801 Gmünd NÖ – Groß Gerungs
• 802 Gmünd NÖ – Litschau
• 802 Aalfang - Heidenreichstein
• 811 Krems a. d. Donau - Emmersdorf a. d. Donau (Only SSuO)
• 931 Korneuburg – Ernstbrunn (Only SSuO, see www.erlebnisweltbahn.at)
• 941 Retz - Drosendorf (Only SSuO)
• R/1 Bleiburg – Holmec (Slovenia)

The following lines do not have service throughout the winter:

• 173 Schafbergbahn
• 311 Achenseebahn
• 523 Schneebergbahn
• 801 Gmünd NÖ – Groß Gerungs
• 802 Gmünd NÖ – Litschau
• 802 Aalfang - Heidenreichstein
• 811 Krems a. d. Donau - Emmersdorf a. d. Donau (only SSuO)
• 931 Korneuburg – Ernstbrunn
• 941 Retz - Drosendorf

Deletions since previous edition

AT11/17

Wien Breitenleer Straße (Abzw Süßenbrunn Mitte) – Leopoldau (Abzw Süßenbrunn West). No booked services.

See also

• Austria
• Austria - General Information