Austria - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services

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Introduction

This list is based on the timetable – Fahrpläne Österreich – dated from 13 December 2009 until 11 December 2010, unless otherwise shown. There is a voucher included for the timetable valid from June 2010. 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 (2005 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

Pottenbrunn - St. Pölten – Linz Hbf

[100] (74A3 to 75A3; ERA1 64B1 to 64B4; 23C to 26D) AT10/1

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 St. Pölten 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:

• Pottenbrunn – St. Pölten: There are four tracks in use on the same lateral alignment but different vertical alignments at Pottenbrunn, which is the site of a future grade-separated junction with the Neue Westbahn from Wien via Tulln. 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.
• 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. These could be used by trains calling only at St. Peter Seitenstetten between Amstetten and St. Valentin, but there are none in the current timetable. This section of the Neue Westbahn is used by trains not stopping between Amstetten and St. Valentin.
• 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. The line is not complete at Linz and during autumn 2007 westbound trains were rejoining the old main line at Linz Kleinmünchen, but eastbound trains were joining the new line about 3 km further east, at Abzw Asten-St. Florian 1. Ongoing work here was observed July 2009, and the rebuilding may now be completed.

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

[100, 133] (74A3 not shown; ERA1 64B1; 23D) AT10/2

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; 23C - 22D) AT10/3

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; 22C) AT10/4

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

Salzburg avoiding line: Salzburg Maria Plain (Abzw. Hw3 (Kasern)) – Salzburg Parsch (Parsch (km 4,1))

[101, 200] (72B2; ERA1 61C2 or 62C4; 102B) AT10/5

This curve enables trains to run between the Linz and Bischofshofen lines without reversal at Salzburg Hbf. The night trains 246/247 which have been assumed to use the curve now have advertised stop at Salzburg Hbf. Thus, no passenger train is using it.

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

(79B3; ERA1 60B1; 60B-C) AT10/6

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)

[250, 600] (75A1; ERA1 65A2; 70A) AT10/7

This east to west curve enables trains to run between Graz and Leoben without reversal at Bruck an der Mur. There is a two-hourly service of IC trains, plus a few others, 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; 56A) AT10/8

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; 39D) AT10/9

In the past, a few through trains between Wiener Neustadt and Wien Südbf have been 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. They may have run direct via Baden if trains were running out of their booked paths. No passenger trains are listed to use this route.

Gramatneusiedl – Wampersdorf

[500, 511, 700] (76A2-76A3; ERA1 64C4; 40A-C) AT10/10

The local service was withdrawn from this line in December 2002, and it was removed from the timetable. In the past, long distance trains have been booked via this route, indicated by footnotes to the relevant tables. In the 2008/2009 timetable no trains are listed to use this route.

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

[600] (83A3; ERA1 65A2; 69B) AT10/11

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; 69B) AT10/12

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, 701, 900] (77A2; ERA1 65C5; 110A) AT10/13

This east to south curve connects Wien Westbf with the Wien southern ring line to Meidling and Kledering. It is used by the following groups of services:

• International trains between Wien Westbf and the Bruck an der Leitha line – see AT10/16 and AT10/17.
• Commuter services between Wien Westbf and Laa an der Thaya, Retz and Krems an der Donau, via Meidling and Wien Nord, shown in table 900 as not calling at Wien Hütteldorf.

Wien Speising (Stw Maxing) – Wien Meidling direct

[900] (77A2; ERA1 65C5; 110B) AT10/14

This line is one of two alternative routes between Speising and Meidling, providing a link to the north (S-Bahn) side of Meidling station. According to the ÖBB online timetable, it is booked to be used by the following groups of services:

• S-Bahn services to and from Wien Hütteldorf.
• Commuter services to and from Wien Westbf, via the S-Bahn – see AT10/13.

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

[700] (77A2; ERA1 65C5; 110B) AT10/15

This line is the second route between Speising and Meidling, providing a link to the south (main line) side of Meidling station. According to the ÖBB online timetable, it is booked to be used by the following groups of services:

• International services to and from Wien Westbf, via the Südbf avoiding line – see AT10/18.
• Night trains, bypassing Wien West and Wien Süd, only calling at Wien Meidling, see below:

		EN 463	München Hbf – 05:45 Wien Hütteldorf – Budapest Keleti pu
		EN 462	Budapest Keleti pu – 23:54 Wien Meidling – München Hbf

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

[700] (77A2; ERA1 65C5; 110B) AT10/16

This line is generally used by the following trains between Wien Westbf and Hegyeshalom, which are not booked to call at Wien Meidling; however it is possible for these trains to run via the Wien Südbf avoiding line AT10/18, and this has been observed occasionally.

		EN 467	Zürich Hbf – 07:58 Wien Westbf – Budapest Keleti pu.
		D 347	18:50 Wien Westbf – Bucuresti
		D 346	Bucuresti – 08:17 Bruck an der Leitha – Wien Westbf
		EN 466	Budapest Keleti pu. – 21:22 Bruck an der Leitha – Zürich Hbf

Wien Inzersdorf – (Wien Zvbf Ausfahrgruppe)

[700] (77A2-77B2; ERA1 65C5; 110D-111C) AT10/17

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 AT10/16.

Wien Südbf avoiding line: Wien Meidling (Wien Süd Stw 12) – Wien Grillgasse (Wien Süd Stw 2)

[700, 701, 901] (77A2; ERA1 65C5; 110B-111A) AT10/18

This line provides a link between the Westbahn and the Bruck an der Leitha line for trains running via Wien Meidling. The route is partly a new line at the edge of the Wien Hauptbahnhof construction site. The Steudel Tunnel beneath the old Südbahnhof was closed in March 2010. The following services run via this route:

• trains between Wien Meidling and Hegyeshalom (see table 700)
• trains between Wien Meidling and Bratislava (see table 701)
• trains between Wien Meidling and Breclav (see table 901)

Trains have also been observed to run this way occasionally as an alternative to AT10/16 and AT10/17.

Wien Breitenleer Straße (Abzw Süßenbrunn Mitte) – Leopoldau (Abzw Süßenbrunn West)

[900, 908] (77B3; ERA1 65B5; 109B) AT10/19

This south to west curve is used by S-Bahn services on the route Wien Südbf (Ostbahn) – Erzherzog-Karl-Straße – Leopoldau – Wien Nord and beyond.

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

[901] (77B3; ERA1 65B5; 109B) AT10/20

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

Zeltweg – Fohnsdorf – Pöls

(82B3; ERA1 65A2 partly shown; 68D-69C) AT10/21

On Ascension Day (May) and the Saturday immediately following, a DMU operated shuttle service has been operated in recent years between Knittelfeld, Zeltweg and Pöls (note: no access to train at Pöls). In 2010, the trains operated on 13, 15 and 16 May at 10:00, 12:00 and 14:00 from Knittelfeld. The local museum has a homepage www.eisenbahnmuseum-knittelfeld.at, which contains pictures from the 2010 event (see Andampfen 2010). No information for 2011 is yet available.

Wieselburg a d Erlauf – Gresten

(74B2-B3; ERA1 64B2 not shown; 25C-36A) AT10/22

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. However no train is advertised for December 2010 and it is not known if the one on 9 October will become regular. This entry will be deleted from the next edition if no regular pattern emerges. Prospective travellers should check for special tours on the ÖBB Erlebnis Bahn website and those of other such operators.

Wien Erdbergerlände – Wien Nussdorf

(77A3-B2; ERA1 65B5; 108A-109C-111A) AT10/23

The Erlebniszüge between Wien Süd and St Valentin via Krems were routed in 2008 via the Donauuferbahn between Wien Erbergerlände – Wien Handelskai – Wien Nussdorf. No passenger service is currently using this route.

Wien Leopoldau – Wien Jedlersdorf (Floridsdofer Hochbahn)

[931] (77B3; ERA1 65B5; 111A) AT10/24

EZ trains Wien – St Valentin and v v have ceased running. However, this spur is used by excursion trains to and from Ernstbrunn, See table 931.

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

[670] (82A1 not shown; ERA1 63C5; 101C) AT10/25

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.

E	ThO	AZ13306	15:52 Trieste Centrale – Berlin-Wannsee AA
E	WO	AZ13307	17:07 Berlin-Wannsee – Trieste Centrale AA
E	SO	AZ13310	17:15 Trieste Centrale – Düsseldorf Hbf AA
E	FO	AZ13311	16:10 Düsseldorf Hbf – Trieste Centrale AA
E	MO	AZ13392	15:52 Trieste Centrale – Hamburg-Altona AA
E	SuO	AZ13393	15:13 Hamburg-Altona – Trieste Centrale AA
E	WO	AZ13396	15:52 Trieste Centrale – Hamburg-Altona AA
E	TO	AZ13397	14:43 Hamburg-Altona – Trieste Centrale AA

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 – Gösing
• 133 St. Nikola-Struden – Sarmingstein
• 152 Haiding – Aschach an der Donau
• 172 Vöcklabruck – Kammer-Schörfling
• 532 Feldbach – Bad Gleichenberg
• 601 Arnoldstein - Tarvisio Boscoverde (Italy)
• 620 Bad St Leonhard – Wolfsberg
• 660 Klagenfurt – Rosenbach (three trains from Rosenbach, two from Klagenfurt, all SSuX trains)
• 801 Gmünd NÖ – Groß Gerungs
• 802 Gmünd NÖ – Litschau
• 830 Zwettl – Zwettl Stadt
• 931 Korneuburg – Ernstbrunn (Only SSuO, see www.erlebnisweltbahn.at)
• 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
• 931 Korneuburg – Ernstbrunn

Deletions since previous edition

• AT09/11 Leoben Hbf (Abzw Leoben Göss) – St. Michael (Abzw Leoben 2): this is the only route available since the closure of the route via Leoben Hinterberg in 2008.
• AT09/20 Wien Breitenleer Straße (Abzw Süßenbrunn Süd) – Gerasdorf (Abzw Süßenbrunn Nord): no services have run via this route for several years.

See also

• Austria
• Austria - General Information