Trains will leave Vienna’s Westbahnhof every hour from 5:38 a.m. As usual, there are stopovers in Innsbruck and Salzburg. From Friday, ICE trains will run again in Austria, but only to Linz.
The floods in Lower Austria hit the railway hard. The new western route is so damaged that it has to remain closed for months; only one track is free on the old one until October 10th. The Westbahn is therefore confronted with many questions from uncertain travelers. Therefore, here is an overview of the current operations of the private railway:
Despite the closure, Westbahn trains run directly from Vienna to Salzburg and Munich as well as Innsbruck and Bregenz (and back again). They depart from Vienna Westbahnhof every hour every day from 5:38 a.m. The last train leaves the station at 8:38 p.m. The remaining departure times are here to find.
Double sets on the way
Due to the restrictions between Vienna and St. Pölten, the journey takes around 30 minutes longer. In order to be able to bring the same number of people from A to B as before the flood, the company largely uses double sets between the federal capital and Salzburg. Normally, simple trains run here every half hour.
The ÖBB runs a Railjet from Vienna Central Station to Salzburg every hour from 4:55 a.m., the last one at 8:55 p.m. To get further towards Munich, Bregenz or Zurich, travelers have to change to the RJX in Salzburg. This leaves every hour at minute 56. The Railjet journey between Vienna and St. Pölten currently takes around an hour and three hours to Salzburg.
ICE will be running again from Friday – but only to Linz
ICE trains from Germany will be running in Austria again from Friday – but only to Linz or Wels. On the S40, all stops between St. Pölten and Tulln must be served by buses that run every hour. On the S50, all stops between Hütteldorf and Eichgraben-Altlengbach are served by rail replacement services.
Westbahn tickets are also recognized on ÖBB trains and ÖBB tickets on Westbahn trains between Vienna and Salzburg. Excluded are “Einfach-Raus-Tickets” and ÖBB bicycle tickets. (ed.)
