Austria. Media News.

Dear friends of Austria and fellow travelers,

2023 marks the 100th anniversary of Austria's national railway company, ÖBB. In 1923 the company took over the assets of the former Emperor Franz Joseph Railway, constructed during the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. Franz Joseph early recognized the importance of railways for economic and social development and put great effort into the expansion, modernization and connection of the vast empire. 

Since then, it has played an integral role in Austria's infrastructure development for locals and visitors alike, as well as in our sustainability efforts.
ÖBB's network covers over 3,400 miles of railways, serving around 461 million passengers and transporting 108 million tons of goods annually. Quite impressive, right?

Let us take you on a very relaxing train journey through Austria, majestic views passing by while you are sipping some coffee or enjoying a snack. 

With warmest regards,
Sigrid Pichler & Helen Bitschnau

Managers of Public Relations
Austrian Tourist Office New York City
sigrid.pichler@austria.info
helen.bitschnau@austria.info 
tel 212 575 7723 x 119 or x 112
www.austria.info 

Did you know that all of Austria’s cities are connected by train? That reaching the next big city, on average, takes just two to three hours? That Austria has one of the cleanest, safest and most comfortable rail services out there? That you can conveniently tour the entire country by train in just two weeks? Read on and we’ll show you how:

Imagine sitting in a spacious rail car with enormous windows that afford unimpeded views of the scenery around you. Imagine it is late afternoon, and the low sun basks the surrounding mountain tops in a warm glow as the train passes over historic viaducts that have made train travel possible here for 180 years.  

The Semmering Railway, a UNESCO World heritage site, is just one of many stretches in Austria’s rail network, where the train tracks diverge from the highways and afford views that you would not be able to enjoy otherwise. There are many other advantages to exploring by train: You can use the train's wifi to look up the history of the region or chat with your seat neighbor about the best restaurants to try at your next destination. And once you arrive, you know that the entire region is at your fingertips, the next attractions just a bus or tram ride away.

Austrians have always loved using the train as an alternative to taking the car. Students enjoy train trips to nearby ski destinations, seniors take advantage of reduced fares, families love the adventure and the extra time to play board games or just watch the varying landscape roll by. And for vacationers, train travel is a sustainable, affordable and surprisingly luxurious means of exploring this scenic country.

Over the last few years, infrastructure improvements (Vienna’s new Hauptbahnhof, new rail cars, new first-class lounges, direct connection to Vienna’s International Airport) and programs such as the Sparschiene, which offers affordable fares when reserving in advance, have enhanced the experience even more. A punctuality rate of 91% makes planning itineraries a breeze. There is ample space in the cars for your luggage, a restaurant car provides Austrian fare for those who are hungry and first-class passengers can even have their food brought to their seats. And did we mention that you don’t have to look for parking spots?

To give you a sense for the distances between Austria’s major cities and help with planning, we’ve put together an itinerary that takes you from Vienna in the East to Bregenz in the West in roughly 14 days, with stops in must-see locations such as Graz, Salzburg, and Innsbruck, as well as a few excursions along the way. The itinerary is easily adaptable, and you can start or end it at any point that is convenient. How much time you spend in each location is entirely up to you, but we’ve outlined suggestions for the most important sights and attractions in each location for some guidance.