Travel in Austria by Train

In comparison to other European countries, travelling in Austria by train is a much more pleasant experience. This is because the trains in Austria tend to run more or less on time than in other European countries, not to mention the fact that the Austrian rail network is quite extensive as well. Moreover, when you choose to travel by train in Austria, you will more often than not get a seat. For these reasons, the Austrian rail network is quite impressive, especially if you take into account the fact that it has to go around the Alps, unlike other European rail systems such as the British network.

If you want to see Austria in the best way possible but do not have a car, then traveling by train is the best way to go. You may want to avoid the buses as these tend to be much less comfortable, are slower and there isn’t much of a price difference either. In order to cut down considerably on your train travel costs, it is advisable to purchase a rail pass which operates throughout the entire country, both on the national and regional rail networks. Be sure to inquire at the train station or even at a tourist information desk about which rail pass would be best for all your travelling needs.

Another way to cut down your train travel costs in Austria is buying a single ticket for a long distance journey which you intend to break up into stages. Once you work it out, you will find that this is a much cheaper way to travel than it would be if you bought several tickets for short trips. In addition, this enables you to get on and off the train whenever you wish, and continue on with your journey once you have had your fill of your present stop. However, you should ensure that you have your ticket stamped only for that particular segment of the journey.

The general rule of thumb for traveling long distance by train in most countries is to ensure that you get on an express train. This is in order to avoid all the stopovers which tend to double the amount of time it would take you to arrive at your intended destination. On the other hand, if you wish to take the scenic route around the Alps, you may take the ordinary Austrian trains which stop anywhere. You will be able to identify the express trains as these are marked with a “C” and they are quite fast.

 
The rail network in Austria is divided into the private railway lines and the state owned/ operated railway lines. The private lines are fewer and do not normally accept some rail passes or cards. It is therefore advisable to inquire at the train station beforehand in order to find out whether or not your rail card is valid for the private line routes. You can also make use of the good rail connections that Austria has with its European neighbors, in the event that you are planning a train trip all around Europe.

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