Austria - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services

Introduction

This list is based on the timetable – Fahrpläne Österreich – dated from 15 December 2013 until 13 December 2014, 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, 110] (74A3 to 77A2 only certain parts shown; ERA1 64B1 to 65C5; 19B2 to 106A1) AT14/1

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 most trains running non-stop between Wien Hütteldorf and St. Pölten, although some overnight trains still use the old route, and by those 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.
• Ybbs a d Donau - Amstetten: By passes all intermediate stations and dives under the original route near Hubertendorf. It is currently used by all trains whilst the tracks and overhead equipment on the original route are being renewed and, during this period, the intermediate stations are served by buses .
• 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 - 04.42 Stadt Haag - Wien Westbahnhof
		SSuX	REX1947	St. Valentin - 05.10 Stadt Haag - Wien Westbahnhof
		SO	REX1613	St. Valentin - 05.10 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.

Tulln avoiding line: Tulln Donaubrücke - Tulln Stadt

[810, 110] (75B3 not shown; ERA1 64B1; 23B2) AT14/2

This curve, together with the one in the following entry, has been used since the opening of the Neue Westbahn in December 2012 by the following services.

		SSuX	REX6301	Krems a. d. Donau – 08:08 Absdorf-Hippersdorf – Wien Westbahnhof.
		SSuX	REX6300	Wien Westbahnhof – 19:47 Tulln Stadt – Krems a. d. Donau

Tullnerfeld avoiding line: Tullnerfeld Nord - Tullnerfeld Ost

[810, 110] (75B3 not shown; ERA1 64B1; 23B2) AT14/3

		SSuX	REX6301	Krems a. d. Donau – 08:17 Tulln Stadt – Wien Westbahnhof.
		SSuX	REX6300	Wien Westbahnhof – 19:28 Wien Hütteldorf – Krems a. d. Donau

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

[100, 133] (74A3 not shown; ERA1 64B1; 19D3) AT14/4

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) AT14/5

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) AT14/6

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 63B1; 56C2-B3) AT14/7

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.

Wörgl Kundl (Abzw Wörgl 2U) - Volders-Baumkirchen (Abzw FW2) (tunnel line)

[300] (71B1-79B3 not shown; ERA1 63A2-A1; 38C4-56C2) AT14/8

This line, opened in December 2012, can be used in its entirety by non-stop services between Wörgl and Innsbruck, these being most Railjet and all overnight trains, although it was originally understood to be used only by the former because of signalling issues. Services stopping at Jenbach but then running non-stop to Innsbruck can use the connections west of the station onto the new line, and indeed Inter-City services making this stop have been observed to do so, but further information on the use of this line would be welcome.

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

[501, 600] (75A1; ERA1 65A2; 66B2) AT14/9

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) AT14/10

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.

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

[600] (83A3; ERA1 65A2; 65D2-C2) AT14/11

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; 65C2) AT14/12

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, 901] (77A2; ERA1 65C5; 106B1) AT14/13

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 AT14/15, or line AT14/16. 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		D100	16:34 Wien Westbf – Moskva
H		EC 15067	17:34 Wien Westbf – Budapest Keleti pu.
		EN 347	19:48 Wien Westbf – Bucuresti
		D 406	22:12 Wien Westbf - Warszawa Wschodnia
		D 407	Warszawa Wschodnia - 06:17 Wien Meidling - Wien Westbf
		EN 346	Bucuresti – 07:57 Wien Meidling – Wien Westbf
D		D 101	Moskva - 10:20 Wien Meidling - Wien Westbf
H		EC 15060	Budapest Keleti pu. - 10:34 Wien Meidling - Wien Westbf
E		D 15064	Budapest Keleti pu. - 14:58 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) AT14/14

This line is one of two alternative routes between Speising and Meidling, providing a link to the north (S-Bahn) side of Meidling station. Since December 2012 it has had no booked use, as it is has ceased to be used by S-Bahn services to and from Wien Hütteldorf. These services now run to the main line platforms at Wien Hauptbahnhof, and so are routed via entry AT14/15 and the south side of Wien Meidling.

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

[700, 901] (77A2; ERA1 65C5; 106B2-C2) AT14/15

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 and the mainly hourly S Bahn service from Wien Hütteldorf, together with the following trains:

		EN 463	München Hbf – 05:47 Wien Hütteldorf – Budapest Keleti pu
D		D100	16:34 Wien Westbf – Moskva
H		EC 15067	17:34 Wien Westbf – Budapest Keleti pu.
		EN 347	19:48 Wien Westbf – Bucuresti
		D 406	22:12 Wien Westbf - Warszawa Wschodnia
		D 407	Warszawa Wschodnia - 06:17 Wien Meidling - Wien Westbf
		EN 346	Bucuresti – 07:57 Wien Meidling – Wien Westbf
D		D 101	Moskva - 10:20 Wien Meidling - Wien Westbf
		EC 15060	Budapest Keleti pu. - 10:34 Wien Meidling - Wien Westbf
E		D 15064	Budapest Keleti pu. - 14:58 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
		EN 462	Budapest Keleti pu – 23:56 Wien Meidling – München Hbf

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

[700] (77A2; ERA1 65C5; 106B2-C2) AT14/16

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 AT14/15 and Wien Hbf.

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) AT14/17

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 AT14/16

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

[901] (77B3; ERA1 65B5; 105C2) AT14/18

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

Zeltweg – Fohnsdorf – Pöls

(82B3; ERA1 65A2 partly shown; 65A4-64C4) AT15/15

On Ascension Day (May/June) and the Saturday immediately following, a DMU shuttle service is operated between Knittelfeld, Zeltweg and Pöls (note: no access to train at Pöls). The dates for the 2015 event were not known at the time of writing but are assumed to be 14 to 17 May. 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) AT14/20

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. The last known special from Wien ran in 2011, and the event itself was cancelled in 2013. Prospective travellers should check for special tours on the ÖBB Erlebnis Bahn website and those of other such operators. If this event does not occur in 2014 this entry will be removed.

Wien Erdbergerlände – Wien Handelskai

(77A3-B2; ERA1 65B5; 107B1-105A3) AT14/21

No passenger service is currently booked to use this route, although the occasional Erlebnisbahn excursions from Wien Franz-Josefs Bhf appear to cover this route. Prospective travellers should check with ÖBB Erlebnis Bahn

The following excursions may use this route: 21 April 2014 (to Székesfehérvár), 28 August 2014 (to Schladming), 14 December 2014 (to Mönschof), 31 December 2014 (to Semmering). and 5 January 2015 (to Mürzzuschlag). All of these excursions stop at Wien Meidling and the 14 December trip also picks up at Wien Handelskai.

Villach (Hbf Ostbahnhof) - Villach Westbahnhof (via high level line)

[651] (82A1; ERA1 63C5; 97C2) AT14/22

Most local services to Rosenbach (plus one to Kötschach-Mauthen), some of which start back from St Veit a d Glan or Feldkirchen, depart from Villach Hbf platform 8, which is situated on the high level route to Westbahnhof. These services can be identified from the ÖBB journey planner. (N.B. only westbound services use this route.)

Wien Liesing – Waldmühle

(77A2, ERA 65C5-4; 106B5-A5) AT14/23

Excursions operated by the Verein Pro Kaltenleutgebnerbahn traverse this line, which has no other booked traffic. The line did not close as predicted at the end of 2013, but instead it will continue to be operated by ÖBB during 2014, and the intention is that VPK will run excursions once a month. The local authority wishes to buy the line and, if it succeeds, VPK may become a preservation outfit based at Waldmühle. If this happens then passenger services would no longer be able to run into Liesing station, and a new halt would be built ca 500 metres away. The connecting line would stay, but would be used only for exceptional moves such as stock transfers. See the Kaltenleutgebnerbahn website.

Schrambach - Markt St Aegyd am Neuwalde

(75A2, ERA64C3; 33B2-4) AT15/23

This line, which was closed to passengers in 2010, is being visited by an Erlebnisbahn excursion from St Pölten on 27 April 2014. Prospective travellers should check with ÖBB Erlebnis Bahn

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:

• 130/131 Weißenbach-St.Gallen - Selzthal
• 133 St. Nikola-Struden – Sarmingstein
• 152 Haiding – Aschach an der Donau
• 172 Vöcklabruck – Kammer-Schörfling
• 524 Deutschkreutz - Neckenmarkt-Horitschon (final services ran on 28 June 2013)
• 532 Feldbach – Bad Gleichenberg
• 600/670 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 Altnagelberg - Heidenreichstein
• 811 Krems a. d. Donau - Emmersdorf a. d. Donau
• 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:

• 311 Achenseebahn
• 523 Schneebergbahn
• 801 Gmünd NÖ – Groß Gerungs
• 802 Gmünd NÖ – Litschau
• 802 Altnagelberg - Heidenreichstein
• 811 Krems a. d. Donau - Emmersdorf a. d. Donau
• 931 Korneuburg – Ernstbrunn
• 941 Retz - Drosendorf

Deletions since previous edition

AT13/11

Ebenfurth avoiding line: Pottendorf Landegg (km 36,7) - Untereggendorf (Ebenfurth Stw 3 (km 39,4). The services that were shown in table 511 as not stopping at Ebenfurth now do so.