Austrian rail network
The railway company ÖBB offers hourly services of modern InterCity and EuroCity trains on the main routes between Vienna and Linz, Salzburg, Graz and the district of Carinthia. InterCity and EuroCity trains are furnished to first- class standard and you can enjoy 'service to your compartment' in each car.
There are frequent connections between the major cities and international destinations like Budapest, Bratislava, Ljubljana, Venice, Basel, Prague and Munich.
S-Bahn
The S-Bahn is a suburban metro railway network in Vienna and other cities in Austria. It is operated by the railway company ÖBB. Eurail Passes are valid on the S-Bahn. In Salzburg und Graz some S-bahns are operated by private companies and therefore not included.
Railway services
To make the trip as enjoyable as possible, the Austrial railway company offers dining cars in international and selected top trains, all managed by partner companies. In more than 60 trains they provide cabin- to- cabin refreshment service, serving our passengers an attractive selection of drinks and snacks.
To ensure that you will enjoy your train ride ÖBB offers Club Lounges with a comfortable space with all kinds of facilities, to stay while waiting for you next train ride, InterCity and EuroCity trains, meeting international 1st class standards, with 'service to your compartment' in each car.
Scenic trains
Recommended train routes in Austria with great views where your Eurail Pass is valid:
- Arlberg Line (from Bludenz to Innsbruck)
- Semmeringbahn (from Wiener Neustadt to Semmering)
Seat reservations
For domestic trains in Austria reservations are not required, so you can just hop on any train with your Eurail Pass. Reservations for InterCity and EuroCity trains are optional if you want to be sure of a good seat. They can be made at a train station, or contact the ÖBB CallCenter. Online seat reservation is also possible for domestic trains at oebb.at (service in German only).
There are some international trains from Austria that require a reservation fee, like the Allegro Day to Venice, the Railjet to Budapest or the Eurocity to Munich / Rome. See the reservation fees for international trains.
Airport - station link
From Vienna Schwechat airport there are connections to train stations Wien-Nord and Wien-Mitte. Please note: Eurail Passes are valid on the S-Bahn, but not on the City Airport Train (CAT). More details on the airport website.
Eurail Aid Office in Austria
For questions about Eurail, you can go to the international ticket office at Wien Westbahnhof, Wien Meidling, Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof or Salzburg Hauptbahnhof. See the page Eurail Aid Offices for opening hours and more aid offices in Europe.
Rail tour suggestion
Innsbruck - Salzburg - Vienna
Your Austria Rail Pass offers breath taking trans-Alpine journeys from the heart of Tyrol to Salzburg, famed as Mozart's birthplace, before ending up at the Austrian capital Vienna.
Tour stages and average journey times
- Innsbruck - Kitzbühel (1 hr 4 mins)
- Kitsbühel - Salzburg (2 hrs 26 mins)
- Salzburg - Linz (1 hr 18 mins)
- Linz - Vienna (1 hr 45 mins)
From Vienna you can explore more of Austria. The Austrian capital also has many international rail connections on offer.
Read a detailed description of this tour in the recommended guide Europe by rail, available from Thomas Cook Publishing.
