Austria - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services

Introduction

This list is based on the timetable – Fahrpläne Österreich – dated from 12 December 2021 until 10 December 2022, unless otherwise shown. Standard abbreviations used are explained in General Information.

Map references for each route entry are given in parentheses ( ). References prefixed "ERA-E" refer to the European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition) by M.G. Ball. Template:Map Refs ERA-R-AT References prefixed "S+W", or in italic, refer to Eisenbahnatlas Österreich by Schweers + Wall.

Obscure services

Wien Meidling – St. Pölten – Linz Hbf

[100, 110] (ERA-E 64B1-B4; ERA-R 126A3-125C3; 99B2-106C2) AT23/1

Fast lines, known as the Neue Westbahn, were opened in stages between 2005 and 2016 and are in use all the way from Wien Meidling to Linz, except for a short section of around 12 km from St Pölten to the west. However, St Pölten is bypassed by a Güterzugumfahrung (freight avoiding line) (see AT23/31). For parts of the route the Neue Westbahn runs adjacent to the old line, but there are substantial sections on entirely new alignments, including some long tunnels.

The old and Neue Westbahn routes between Wien and St. Pölten cross at Abzw Knoten Wien Hadersdorf, to the west of Wien Hütteldorf. Trains from Wien Westbahnhof can join the Neue Westbahn at this junction.

There is a grade-separated junction at Knoten Wagram, east of St. Pölten, 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. Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.

Connections link the old Westbahn and Neue Westbahn lines at several places between St. Pölten and and Linz. These have no booked passenger use but may be used occasionally as required.

The Neue Westbahn is used as follows:

• IC, ICE, Railjet/Railjet Xpress and Nightjet services between Wien Hbf, Linz Hbf and beyond use the full length of the Neue Westbahn unless it is unavailable.
• Trains operated by Westbahn GmbH between Wien Westbahnhof and Salzburg and beyond use the Neue Westbahn between Abzw Knoten Wien Hadersdorf and Linz Hbf.
• Semi-fast CJX trains between Wien Westbahnhof and Amstetten use only the section of the Neue Westbahn between Abzw Knoten Wien Hadersdorf and St. Pölten via Tullnerfeld.

Any local service that calls at a station other than Tullnerfeld, St. Pölten Hbf, Amstetten, St. Valentin or Linz Hbf has to use the old Westbahn.

Wien Süßenbrunn

At this location, north-east of Wien, the Laaer Ostbahn (Wien - Mistelbach) crosses the Nordbahn (Wien - Břeclav).

Note that there are no scheduled services covering the entire north-south line between Wien Süßenbrunn Nord and Wien Süßenbrunn Mitte. However, Wien-bound trains over the east to south curve (AT23/2) and northbound trains over the west to north curve (AT23/3) together cover at least one of the two tracks for the whole length of the north-south section.

There are no longer any scheduled services over the south to west curve at Wien Süßenbrunn but occasionally REX 3 services between Wien and Retz/Znojmo are diverted this way, also using the Floridsdorfer Hochbahn curve between Wien Leopoldau and Wien Jedlersdorf.

Wien Stadlau Fbf – Abzw Wien Süßenbrunn Ost

[901] (ERA-E 64B5; ERA-R 133C5; 105C2) AT23/2

This line is used only by non-stop Railjet or EC trains between Wien Hauptbahnhof (platforms 3 - 12) and Břeclav and beyond, which run at hourly or two-hourly intervals. As there is right-hand running, northbound trains use the direct curve at Wien Süßenbrunn and southbound ones use the spur on to the flyover line from Mistelbach.

Wien Stadlau Fbf (Frachtenbahnhof) is located 0.4 km north of Wien Stadlau station and is deemed to be the divergence of the Mistelbach and Marchegg lines,

Wien Süßenbrunn West – Wien Süßenbrunn Nord

[902] (ERA-E 65B5; ERA-R 133C5; 105C2) AT23/3

These west-to-north curves at Wien Süßenbrunn are used by frequent S2 and REX2 services between Mödling, Wolfsthal or Flughafen Wien and Wolkersdorf, Mistelbach or Laa an der Thaya via Wien Floridsdorf. With right-hand running, the direct curve is used by trains heading towards Wien and the curve to the flyover line by those heading towards Mistelbach.

Wien Hauptbahnhof (platforms 3 to 12) – Wien Simmering

[901, 910] (ERA-E 65C5, not shown; ERA-R 133B3, not shown; 106D2-107B2A) AT23/4

All departures from Wien Hbf to the line via Wien Simmering use a diveunder at the east end of the Hauptbahnhof, to avoid conflicts with incoming trains on the Ostbahn. There are two separate inward ramps to the diveunder:

• The ramp from the lower-numbered platforms is booked to be used by the hourly REX services to Bratislava hl.st via Marchegg

• The ramp from the higher-numbered platforms is booked to be used by non-stop trains to Břeclav and beyond from platforms 9 to 12.

• The half-hourly S80 Wien Hütteldorf - Wien Aspern Nord S-Bahn services and the hourly (two-hourly at weekends) R81 services to Marchegg via Siebenbrunn-Leopoldsdorf will use the appropriate ramp for the platforms they depart from. Normally S80 uses platforms 3 or 4 and R81 services use platform 12, but this may vary.

Planned platform use can be derived from the ÖBB journey planner but should be checked against departure screens on the day.

In the opposite direction, these services use the surface level tracks.

Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.

Wien Matzleinsdorfer Platz – Wien Hauptbahnhof (platforms 3 and 4)

[900, 910] (ERA-E 65C5, not shown; ERA-R 133B3, not shown; 106B2-C2) AT23/5

The S80 Wien Hütteldorf - Wien Hbf - Wien Aspern Nord S-Bahn service, which runs half-hourly, uses this link to access platforms 3 and 4 at Wien Hauptbahnhof.

Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.

Wien Hauptbahnhof – Wien Meidling via flyover line

[100, 900 and others] (ERA-E 65C5, not shown; ERA-R 133B3, not shown; 106B2-C2) AT23/6

The main running lines pass either side of Wien Matzleinsdorf rolling stock maintenance facility at surface level. However, to enable westbound trains to the Wien Inzersdorf line (for Donauländebahn and Pottendorfer Linie) from Wien Hbf platforms 4 to 8 to avoid conflicting with inbound trains to the higher numbered platforms, a flyover crosses above the maintenance facility. It reaches the surface at km 1.7, to run parallel with the inbound alignment as far as Wien Meidling platforms 7 and 8. This flyover is used by:

• the hourly S60 Bruck an der Leitha - xx:11 Wien Hbf - Pottendorf-Landegg - Wiener Neustadt service (table 511).
• the generally two-hourly REX6 Bratislava-Petrzalska - xx:23 Wien Hbf - Deutschkreutz services, with afternoon extras starting from Wien Hbf at xx:46 (table 512).

In the opposite direction, these services use the surface level tracks.

• the three outbound trains using the Wien Inzersdorf – Kledering line.

Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.

Wien Speising (Stw Maxing) – Wien Meidling

[900] (ERA-E 65C5, not shown; ERA-R 133A3, not shown correctly; 106B2-C2) AT23/7

There are two routes between Wien Speising and Wien Meidling - a northern route via Flohberg Tunnel and a southern route via Abzw Matzleinsdorf-Oswaldgasse.

The Flohberg Tunnel route is used by trains shown under Wien Penzing – Wien Speising and the half-hourly S80 Wien Hütteldorf – Wien Hbf – Wien Aspern Nord S-Bahn services, which all run via platforms 1 (westbound) and 3 or 4 (eastbound) at Wien Meidling.

As S80 runs to the low-numbered platforms at Wien Meidling, no passenger services appear to use the longer route via Abzw Oswaldgasse during this timetable period.

Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.

Wien Penzing – Wien Speising (Abzw Wien Hütteldorf 1)

[110, 902] (ERA-E 65B4-B5; ERA-R 133A3; 106B1) AT23/8

This east to south curve, which connects Wien Westbahnhof with the Wien southern ring line to Wien Meidling and Kledering, carries only a few peak hour passenger services.

	SSuX	REX2408	Wien Westbahnhof - 14:39 Wien Penzing - Laa an der Thaya
	SSuX	REX2410	Wien Westbahnhof - 15:39 Wien Penzing - Laa an der Thaya
	SSuX	REX2412	Wien Westbahnhof - 16:39 Wien Penzing - Laa an der Thaya
	SSuX	REX2414	Wien Westbahnhof - 17:39 Wien Penzing - Laa an der Thaya
	SSuX	REX2403	Laa an der Thaya - 06:34 Wien Speising - Wien Westbahnhof
	SSuX	REX2407	Laa an der Thaya - 08:34 Wien Speising - Wien Westbahnhof
	SSuX	REX2409	Laa an der Thaya - 09:34 Wien Speising - Wien Westbahnhof

Wampersdorf – Gramatneusiedl

(ERA-E 64C4; ERA-R 126B2-133C1; 36B3-2) AT23/9

This line is used by a few evening peak REX services from Wien Hbf to Deutschkreutz. These depart Wien Meidling on Mondays to Fridays at 15:53 (REX7690), 16:53 (REX7692) and 17:53 (REX7694). They also use the Inzersdorf Ort – Kledering route (AT23/10).

The line is also used when the direct Pottendorfer Linie route between Wampersdorf and Wien Meidling via Achau (tables 511 and 512) is blocked by engineering work (which should be found from the ÖBB engineering work page).

Inzersdorf Ort – Lanzendorf-Rannersdorf via Wien Oberlaa

[512,700] (ERA-E 65C5; ERA-R 133B3; 106D3-107B3) AT23/10

This line links Wien Meidling with the Ostbahn towards Gramatneusiedl via the Wien southern avoiding line through Wien Oberlaa.

Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.

To reach the Ostbahn from Wien Oberlaa there are two possible routes, a direct curve to the north of Kledering station and a flying junction to the north of Lanzendorf-Rannersdorf station, reached via the line from Wien Zvbf Nord through Wien Zvbf Ost. Persistence may be required to have both routes.

It is used by the following services. These may either use the Wien Inzersdorf avoiding line to the north of the former station, or the connection between the former station and Wien Inzersdorf Ost, depending on operating convenience.

• Evening peak REX services from Wien Hbf to Deutschkreutz, departing Wien Meidling on Mondays to Fridays at 15:53 (REX7690), 16:53 (REX7692) and 17:53 (REX7694). These use the direct curve to Kledering.

• Trains between Ebenfurth and Wien which are diverted over the Wampersdorf - Gramatneusiedl line because of engineering work on the Pottendorfer Linie and call at Wien Meidling. These services may use either route (direct curve or via Zvbf Ost).

• Two daily RegioJet train pairs between Praha, Wien and Budapest. Note that the next stop towards Budapest from Wien Meidling is Hegyeshalom (HU). These services may use either route (direct curve or via Zvbf Ost).

[Wien Meidling –] Wien Oberlaa (Abzw Wien Zbvf Nord) – Schwechat (via Wien Kaiserebersdorf yard)

[100,901 not shown] (ERA-E 65C5; ERA-R 133B3; 107A3-B3) AT23/10A

This line links the Donauländebahn through Oberlaa to Abzw Wien Zbvf Nord ( AT23/10) with the Flughafen Wien line via a single-track continuation of the Donauländebahn. This crosses over the main Flughafen Wien line, passes through the middle of Wien Kaiserebersdorf (formerly Klein Schwechat) yard, and joins the Flughafen Wien line just after Wien Kaiserebersdorf station.

It is used by the three Regiojet trains originating in Praha or Brno that run to Flughafen Wien, to avoid reversal at Wien Hbf. The return workings of these trains run via the normal route through Wien-Grillgasse.

		RJ1029	Brno hl.n – 05:30 Wien Hbf – Flughafen Wien
		RJ1033	Praha hl.n – 13:28 Wien Hbf – Flughafen Wien
		RJ1037	Praha hl.n – 20:28 Wien Hbf – Flughafen Wien

Wien Hütteldorf – Purkersdorf Zentrum

[110] (ERA-E 64B3-B4; ERA-R 126A3-133A4; 23D3, 106A1) AT23/11

There are two routes between these stations - a route in tunnel on the northern side of the formation via Abzw. Knoten Wien Hadersdorf, and a surface route via Wien Weidlingau.

REX services between Wien Westbahnhof and St. Pölten, which are not booked to call at intermediate stations between Wien Hütteldorf and Purkersdorf Zentrum, use the tunnel route whereas S50 trains to/from Unter Purkersdorf or beyond use the surface route.

The tunnel route joins the Neue Westbahn from Tullnerfeld at Abzw. Knoten Wien Hadersdorf. Services between the Neue Westbahn and Wien Westbahnhof (Westbahn and semi-fast Amstetten trains) use the same eastern ramp at Wien Hütteldorf.

Korneuburg – Ernstbrunn

(ERA-E 64B4; ERA-R 64B4; 24A2-14A3) AT23/12

One return trip, operated by Regiobahn and branded as ErlebnisZug in die Leiser Berge, runs on this branch on certain days in summer and autumn. In 2023 trains operate on the first Sunday of the month only, from May to October. Trains run through from Wien Praterstern, departing at 09:14, and return from Ernstbrunn at 16:32. For further details and to book, see the Regiobahn website.

Tulln avoiding line: Tulln Donaubrücke – Tulln Stadt

[903] (ERA-E 64B3; ERA-R 126A3; 23B2) AT23/13

This curve links the lines from Tullnerfeld and Absdorf-Hippersdorf to the west of Tulln an der Donau station. It is used in the mornings and evenings by the following services which run seven days a week:

		S4 21182	Wien Floridsdorf – 05:58 Absdorf-Hippersdorf – Tullnerfeld
		R/S4 21222	Wiener Neustadt Hbf – 06:58 Absdorf-Hippersdorf - Tullnerfeld
		S4 21974	Stockerau – 07:58 Absdorf-Hippersdorf – Tullnerfeld
		S4 21980	Stockerau – 17:00 Absdorf-Hippersdorf – Tullnerfeld
		S4 21982	Stockerau – 18:00 Absdorf-Hippersdorf – Tullnerfeld
		S4 21971	Tullnerfeld – 06:53 Tulln Stadt – Stockerau
		S4 21973	Tullnerfeld – 07:54 Tulln Stadt – Stockerau
		S4 21981	Tullnerfeld – 16:53 Tulln Stadt – Stockerau
		S4 21983	Tullnerfeld – 17:53 Tulln Stadt – Stockerau
		S4 21985	Tullnerfeld – 18:53 Tulln Stadt – Stockerau

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

[100, 133] (ERA-E 64B1; ERA-R 124C2; 19D3) AT23/14

This curve, opened in 2005, is used by direct trains between Linz Hbf and St. Nikola-Struden, which run every two hours SSuX with peak extras. These are shown in Table 133 as not calling at St. Valentin.

Traun – Marchtrenk

[101, 140] (ERA-E 62B2; ERA-R 124B2; 19A3-18D3) AT23/15

This route provides an alternative to the Linz – Wels main line, allowing slower trains to be overtaken. Trains using this route can be discerned by their having a Traun call shown in Table 140, and/or by having a wavy line shown in Table 101 against the stations on the direct route between Linz Hbf and Marchtrenk. The following trains are expected to use this route; REX3204 being the only train that has a Traun call, so is certain to run this way.

	SSuX	REX5051	Freilassing – 07:11 Marchtrenk – Linz Hbf
		NJ425/491/40421	Bruxelles-Midi (MWFO)/Hamburg-Altona/Amsterdam Centraal – 07:17 Wels Hbf – Wien Hbf
	SSuX	REX3204	Grünau im Almtal – 07:32 Marchtrenk – Linz Hbf
		IC1019	Stainach-Irdning – 19:25 Attnang-Puchheim – Wien Hbf

Wels – Marchtrenk via Wels Vbf

[101] (ERA-E 62B2; ERA-R 124B2, 18C3 - D3) AT23/16

This route via Wels Vbf (Verschiebebahnhof / marshalling yard) is used every day by one overnight service to allow a Westbahn service to overtake it. This train runs with portions from Hamburg, Amsterdam and, thrice weekly, Bruxelles/Brussel.

NJ425/491/40421

Bruxelles-Midi (MWFO)/Hamburg-Altona/Amsterdam Centraal – 07:17 Wels Hbf – Wien Hbf

Local and/or long-distance services between Wels and Marchtrenk/Linz may be diverted over this route if the main Westbahn is blocked.

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

[101] (ERA-E 62C5; ERA-R 124B2; 18B4) AT23/17

A tunnel avoiding Lambach is used by all trains between Wels Hbf and Attnang-Puchheim not booked to call at Lambach. These comprise all IC, ICE, Railjet/Railjet Xpress, Westbahn and Nightjet services. All local R and REX services run via Lambach.

Salzburg Hbf – Salzburg Sam (Salzburg Mitte) via diveunder line

[200, 220] (ERA-E 62C4, not shown); ERA-R 123C1, not shown; 30C, 102A) AT23/18

This route from Salzburg Hbf to the Bischofshofen line runs to the west of the Westbahn towards Linz, then dives under the Westbahn to join the curve to the Bischofshofen line at Salzburg Mitte. It is more likely to be used by trains to or from the low-numbered platforms at Salzburg Hbf to avoid conflicting movements on the main line.

The following trains are booked to arrive and depart from platforms 1 or 2 at Salzburg Hbf:

		IC513	08:16 Salzburg Hbf – Graz Hbf
		REX3 1512	11:08 Salzburg Hbf – Wörgl Hbf
		RJ596	Flughafen Wien – 12:12 Salzburg Hbf – Klagenfurt Hbf
		REX3 1516	13:08 Salzburg Hbf – Wörgl Hbf
	SSuX	REX3 1546	14:16 Salzburg Hbf – Schwarzach-St. Veit
		REX3 1520	15:08 Salzburg Hbf – Wörgl Hbf
		IC611	16:16 Salzburg Hbf – Graz Hbf
	SSuX	REX3 1550	16:43 Salzburg Hbf – Schwarzach-St. Veit
	FSX	RJ696	17:16 Salzburg Hbf – Mallnitz-Obervellach
	SSuX	R3 1552	17:43 Salzburg Hbf – Saalfelden
		RJ698	Flughafen Wien – 18:12 Salzburg Hbf – Klagenfurt Hbf
		REX3 1528	19:08 Salzburg Hbf – Wörgl Hbf
		IC615	20:16 Salzburg Hbf – Graz Hbf
		IC794	21:12 Salzburg Hbf – Klagenfurt Hbf
	SuX	REX3 1553	Schwarzach-St. Veit – 07:06 Salzburg Süd – Salzburg Hbf
		D618	Schladming – 07:11 Salzburg Süd – Salzburg Hbf / Wien Hbf (TThSuO)
		REX3 1503	Wörgl Hbf / Saalfelden (SuO) – 08:42 Salzburg Süd – Salzburg Hbf
		EC218	Graz Hbf – 09:35 Salzburg Süd – Frankfurt (Main) Hbf
		REX3 1507	Wörgl Hbf – 10:42 Salzburg Süd – Salzburg Hbf
		REX3 1511	Innsbruck Hbf – 12:42 Salzburg Süd – Salzburg Hbf
		EC112/212	Klagenfurt Hbf / Zagreb gl. kol. – 13:28 Golling-Abtenau – Frankfurt (Main) Hbf
		EC216	Graz Hbf – 15:35 Salzburg Süd – Saarbrücken Hbf
		REX3 1519	Wörgl Hbf – 16:42 Salzburg Süd – Salzburg Hbf
		REX3 1557	Schwarzach-St. Veit – 17:19 Salzburg Gnigl – Salzburg Hbf
		REX3 1523	Wörgl Hbf – 18:42 Salzburg Süd – Salzburg Hbf
		IC610	Graz Hbf – 19:35 Salzburg Süd – Salzburg Hbf
		RJ110	Klagenfurt Hbf – 19:28 Golling-Abtenau – München Hbf

Wörgl Kundl (Abzw Knoten Radfeld) – Volders-Baumkirchen (Abzw Fritzens-Wattens 2) (Neue Unterinntalbahn)

[300] (ERA-E 63A2; ERA-R 128C4-B3; 38C4-56C2) AT23/19

This line, opened in December 2012, is mostly in tunnel, parallel with the old Westbahn. All Westbahn and about half of Railjet Xpress services run non-stop between Wörgl and Innsbruck, so use the entire length of the line. The remaining Railjet/Railjet Xpress and all IC/EC, ICE and semi-fast CJX services call at Jenbach and so run via the old Westbahn between Wörgl and Jenbach, normally joining or leaving the Neue Unterinntalbahn at Abzw Knoten Stans, to the west of Jenbach station.

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

[401] (ERA 127A4; 52B2) AT23/20

This curve enables trains to run between St. Margrethen SG (CH) and Feldkirch without reversal at Bregenz. It is used by the following peak-hour services on Mondays to Fridays only.

	SSuX	R25850	Feldkirch – 06:28 Wolfurt – St. Margrethen SG
	SSuX	R25852	Dornbirn – 07:23 Wolfurt – St. Margrethen SG
	SSuX	R25854	Feldkirch – 15:28 Wolfurt – St. Margrethen SG
	SSuX	R25856	Feldkirch – 16:28 Wolfurt – St. Margrethen SG
	SSuX	R25858	Feldkirch – 17:28 Wolfurt – St. Margrethen SG
	SSuX	R25851	St. Margrethen SG – 06:47 Lustenau – Dornbirn
	SSuX	R25853	St. Margrethen SG – 07:49 Lustenau – Feldkirch
	SSuX	R25855	St. Margrethen SG – 15:49 Lustenau – Dornbirn
	SSuX	R25857	St. Margrethen SG – 16:47 Lustenau – Dornbirn
	SSuX	R25859	St. Margrethen SG – 17:49 Lustenau – Feldkirch

It is also used for diversions when the Buchs SG – Feldkirch line is closed for engineering works, which usually occurs in late April and early May. Diverted trains may also use the Romanshorn avoiding line in Switzerland.

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

[501, 600] (ERA-E 65A2; ERA-R 131B4; 66B2) AT23/21

This south 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. These comprise IC/EC services to/from Graz, generally every two hours with occasional extras, and REX services between Graz and Leoben in the morning and evening peaks.

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

[600] (ERA-E 65A2; ERA-R 131A4; 65D2-C2) AT23/22

This east to west chord of the St. Michael triangle enables trains to run between Leoben Hbf and Knittelfeld without reversal at St. Michael station. All Railjet, IC/EC and Nightjet services which run non-stop between Leoben Hbf and Knittelfeld or Klagenfurt use this route, also one westbound Graz Hbf – Unzmarkt REX service at 17:58 SuX from Leoben Hbf.

St. Michael – Kraubath (St. Michael West)

[600] (ERA-E 65A2; ERA-R 131A4; 65C2) AT23/23

This north to west chord of the St. Michael triangle is used by the hourly local services between Bruck an der Mur or Mürzzuschlag and Unzmarkt or Friesach, which reverse in St. Michael station. There are no through trains between the Selzthal line and Knittelfeld.

Villach St Ruprecht (Villach Hbf Ostbahnhof) – Villach Westbahnhof (via Villach Hbf high-level line)

[651] (ERA-E 63C5; ERA-R 130B1; 97C2) AT23/24

Only a single weekday S-Bahn service is booked to arrive at and depart from Villach Hbf high-level platform 8 in the current timetable:

SSuX

S4/S1 4250

Hermagor – 16:39 Villach Westbahnhof – St. Veit a d Glan

Platform 8 may also be used occasionally by other services if no suitable low-level platform is available.

Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.

Puch b. Villach (Abzw Gummern 2) – Villach Westbahnhof (Abzw Draubrücke)

[220, 601] (ERA-E 63C5; ERA-R 130B1; 97C2) AT23/25

This north to south connection (the Tauernschleife) avoiding Villach Hbf links the Drautalbahn via Spittal-Millstättersee with the line via Villach Westbahnhof to Rosenbach or Tarvisio Boscoverde. It is used by one weekday S1 service, except in the summer months:

D1

SSuX

S1 4931

Spittal-Millstättersee – 07:07 Puch b. Villach – Villach Warmbad

D1: Not 10 July to 8 September 2023

If the Brenner route is blocked by engineering work, certain EC trains between München and Italy may be diverted this way.

It can also be used by the München – Zagreb sleepers if Villach station is unavailable. This occurred in July 2022.

Obscure services: Lines used on an occasional basis

Ebenfurth avoiding line: Pottendorf-Landegg (Abzw Ebenfurth Nord) – Untereggendorf (Abzw Ebenfurth Süd)

[511] (ERA-E 64C4; ERA-R 126A1-B1; 36A3) AT23/30

This line which avoids Ebenfurth station is used by fast services between Wien Hbf and Wiener Neustadt Hbf when the line via Baden is unavailable.

From December 2023 it is planned that all fast trains between Wien Meidling and Wiener Neustadt Hbf will run via Wampersdorf over the rebuilt Pottendorfer Linie and thus use this line to reach Wiener Neustadt Hbf.

Knoten Wagram – Knoten Rohr via GZU (Güterzugumfahrung St. Pölten)

[100] (ERA-E ; ERA-R ; 22A4-C3) AT23/31

This avoiding line, which runs mainly in tunnel on a completely new alignment to the south of St. Pölten, opened in December 2017. It is mainly used by freight services but is used occasionally, especially at holiday periods, by relief trains to allow them to be overtaken. These have generally been westbound services but a few eastbound services have also run. All have used the connections at Knoten Wagram onto, or off, the Neue Westbahn. The signalling on this line requires ETCS-2 fitted trains.

Salzburg Hbf avoiding line: Salzburg Kasern (Abzw Hallwang-Elixhausen 3) – Salzburg Gnigl Vbf – Salzburg Parsch (Salzburg Gnigl)

(ERA-E 62C4; ERA-R 128B3; 30C, 102A) AT23/32

This curve allows trains between Wels and the Bischofshofen line to avoid Salzburg Hbf. No booked services have been identified as using it in the current timetable. It may be used, particularly by overnight services, if the route to Wörgl and Innsbruck through Bayern via the Rosenheim avoider (DE23/665) is unavailable.

Innsbruck avoiding line: Volders-Baumkirchen (Abzw Fritzens-Wattens 2) – Inntaltunnel – Unterberg-Stefansbrücke (Abzw Innsbruck 1; Gärberbach)

(ERA-E 63B1; ERA-R 128A2; 60B-60C) AT23/33

This line via the Inntaltunnel avoiding Innsbruck Hbf was opened in 1994. It is normally banned to passenger trains, but it may be used for diversions of EC services between München and Italy routed via the Brenner line when there is engineering work at Innsbruck Hbf.

Wien Zvbf Nord – Wien Zbf Ost – Wien Zvbf Abzw Felixdorf

(ERA-E 65C5; ERA-R 133B2-B3; 107A3-A4) AT23/34

This loop line (line 118 11) provides a route between Oberlaa (on the Donauländebahn) and Wien Hbf. It is common with the line from Wien Zbvf Nord to Lanzendorf-Rannersdorf (see AT23/10) as far as the point on the loop where the lines to Felixdorf and Lanzendorf-Rannersdorf diverge.

The line saw use in 2022 by one train on one day.

Tullnerfeld (Üst Abzw Knoten Hetzendorf) – Inzersdorf Ort

(ERA-E 65C5; ERA-R 133A3; 106A2-C3) AT23/35

This connection links the Neue Westbahn from Tullnerfeld, via a continuation of the Lainzer Tunnel to the Donauländebahn at Inzersdorf Ort. Trains can then run via Oberlaa (AT23/10) or to the Pottendorfer Linie via Wien Blumental.

It is not normally used by passenger trains, but in 2022 the line saw use by one train on one day.

Trams

See Austria - Tram services over obscure routes

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	Two weekend R train pairs plus one D train westbound on Fridays and eastbound on Sundays
532	Feldbach – Bad Gleichenberg	Weekends only from mid-March to late October plus early December to mid-January
801	Gmünd NÖ – Groß Gerungs
802	Gmünd NÖ – Litschau
802	Altnagelberg – Heidenreichstein
811	Krems an der Donau – Emmersdorf an der Donau	Weekends only in spring; daily in the summer and autumn
941	Retz – Drosendorf	Weekends only from late April to early November plus Friday evenings in high summer
10 (SŽ)	Bleiburg – Holmec (Slovenia)	Five trains on weekdays but weekend service of three trains only in the summer

The following lines do not have service throughout the winter:

173	St. Wolfgang Schafbergbahnhof – Schafbergspitze
311	Jenbach – Achensee Seespitz
523	Puchberg am Schneeberg – Hochschneeberg (Schneebergbahn)
532	Feldbach – Bad Gleichenberg
801	Gmünd NÖ – Groß Gerungs
802	Gmünd NÖ – Litschau
802	Altnagelberg – Heidenreichstein
811	Krems an der Donau – Emmersdorf an der Donau
941	Retz – Drosendorf

Deletions since previous edition

None