Austrian Train Travel: Ticket Checks And Rules Explained

Austria's rail network is extensive, covering over 6,000km, and the country is known for taking its public transport seriously. The majority of trains are operated by the ever-reliable Austrian Federal Railways (OBB), which offers comfortable, punctual, and climate-friendly services. Tickets can be purchased online, at stations, or on the OBB mobile app, with discounted tickets only available online. Reservations are not required for most daytime trains, and passengers can simply hop on with a rail pass. However, reservations are necessary for some international routes and all overnight trains.

Do you need to buy tickets in advance?

Buying tickets in advance

If you want to save money on your train travel in Austria, it is advisable to buy your tickets in advance. The Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) offers discounted 'Sparschiene' tickets for journeys within Austria by express Railjet trains and IC trains, as well as on international trains departing from Austria. These tickets are only available online or on the ÖBB app and cannot be purchased at train stations. Online bookings for Sparschiene tickets usually open six months before the travel date, and they tend to sell out quickly, especially for popular trains. Therefore, it is recommended to book early to secure the cheapest fares.

Buying tickets at the station

While buying tickets in advance can save you money, it is not always necessary to do so. If you are travelling on regional REX trains, the ticket price will be the same whether you buy it online or at the station. Additionally, second-class tickets for journeys wholly within certain states, such as Salzburg and Vorarlberg, are typically not released for sale more than a month in advance. In such cases, you may not need to buy your tickets in advance.

Last-minute bookings

If you are booking last-minute, it is still worth checking for Sparschiene tickets online before heading to the station. Online bookings for Sparschiene tickets no longer close three days before the travel date, so you may be able to find discounted tickets even on the day of travel. However, these tickets are subject to availability and tend to sell out quickly.

International journeys

When travelling internationally from Austria, it is recommended to compare prices offered by ÖBB with those of the national rail operator in the country you are travelling to. There can be significant price discrepancies, with ÖBB sometimes being much cheaper or more expensive. Additionally, keep in mind that international Sparschiene tickets cannot be exchanged or refunded.

Rail passes

If you plan to take multiple train journeys within Austria or Europe, consider purchasing a rail pass instead of individual tickets. Rail passes offer more flexibility than Sparschiene tickets, as they do not require you to commit to a specific departure. Eurail and InterRail passes are accepted on most trains within Austria and can provide significant savings compared to buying individual tickets. However, some private train operators, such as Westbahn, may not accept rail passes, so be sure to check before your journey.

What are the different types of trains?

Trains are vehicles that operate on tracks, with a rake of connected carriages, or "cars", pulled or pushed by a locomotive or self-propelled. Trains can be categorised in various ways, including by speed, distance, track type, and whether they carry passengers or freight.

High-Speed Trains

High-speed trains operate at 125mph or faster and connect large metropolitan areas with very few stops. They are designed to be competitive with airlines in terms of overall travel time. They require dedicated tracks to achieve high speeds but often share tracks with regular trains at major stations. High-speed rail first emerged in the 1960s and has since expanded across Europe and Asia, offering fast and reliable service. Examples include the French TGV and German Intercity Express.

Inter-City Trains

Inter-city trains travel long distances and connect metropolitan areas. While they generally operate at highway speeds, they may offer amenities like sleeper cars and dining cars. They are typically slower than airlines but serve smaller cities that aren't accessible by plane. Amtrak operates inter-city trains in the United States.

Commuter/Regional Trains

Commuter trains connect suburban areas with central cities, catering primarily to commuters during rush hours and typically running on weekdays. Examples include the Altamont Commuter Express and Caltrain. Some commuter rail systems, like Metrolink, operate in both peak directions throughout the day.

Rapid Transit

Also known as metros, subways, or heavy rail, rapid transit trains serve the urban core and have a large passenger capacity. They operate separately from road traffic, either underground or elevated above street level. Many major cities, like New York, London, and Washington, D.C., have extensive rapid transit systems.

Light Rail

Light rail, also known as trolleys or streetcars, functions as local transit in an urban core and can operate on street level. It is more cost-effective, pedestrian-friendly, and flexible than rapid transit but has a lower passenger capacity. Light rail systems are often integrated with local transit networks and have similar fares to buses. Examples include systems in Sacramento, San Diego, Portland, and San Jose.

Monorails

Monorails are trains that run on a single rail, typically elevated, and are designed for medium-demand traffic in urban areas. They are powered by electricity and are commonly found at airports and amusement parks.

Maglev Trains

Maglev trains use magnetic levitation to float above a guideway, reducing friction and allowing extremely high speeds. The Shanghai maglev train, for instance, operates at speeds of up to 431 km/h (268 mph). However, maglev technology has seen limited use for intercity mass transit routes.

How do you buy tickets?

The Austrian Federal Railways (OBB) is the national rail operator in Austria. Tickets can be purchased online on the OBB website or via the OBB mobile app. Tickets can also be purchased at the train station, either at the counter or from a ticket machine.

It is worth noting that discounted tickets can only be purchased online or on the OBB app. These tickets are called 'Sparschiene' tickets and are limited in number, so it is recommended to book them in advance.

If you are travelling on regional REX trains, tickets can be bought at the station immediately prior to travel, as these tickets are not discounted online.

For international journeys, it is worth checking the price offered by OBB and comparing it with the price offered by the national rail operator of the country you are travelling to or from. There can be significant discrepancies in price, with OBB sometimes being over 50% more expensive or cheaper.

For journeys within Austria, Rail Ninja is an online tool that allows you to find all available train tickets on one page with just a few clicks.

If you are travelling with a group, group-ticket discounts are available and get better as you add more people. Youths (under 26), seniors (62+), and families with kids under 15 can save up to 50% on point-to-point train tickets with a Vorteilscard, which costs €19-29 and is valid for one year.

If you are travelling with a rail pass, you can book seat reservations for OBB's national day and night trains online on the OBB ticketing site without paying any booking fees. Seat reservations can also be arranged without booking fees at the Reisezentrum desks at major stations.

What discounts are available?

There are various discounts available for train travel in Austria. The national rail operator in Austria is OBB (Austrian Federal Railways). OBB offers discounted 'Sparschiene' tickets for long-distance journeys within Austria by express Railjet trains and IC trains, and on international trains from Austria. These tickets can only be booked online or on the OBB app and are for specific departures.

OBB also offers a range of Vorteilscards, which are railcards granting discounts on OBB tickets within Austria and neighbouring countries for one year. The Vorteilscard 66, which costs €66, can be purchased online and used when booking tickets on the OBB website. It offers a 50% discount and is valid for a year. The Vorteilscard Classic offers the same discount but costs €99 and can be purchased and used at ticket counters.

The Vorteilscard Jugend costs €19 and offers anyone aged 26 or under a 50% discount on Austrian rail tickets. The Vorteilscard Family costs €19 and allows an adult travelling with a valid adult ticket to travel with up to four children aged 14 or under at no additional charge.

Group-ticket discounts are also available, starting at two travellers with better rates for larger groups.

How do you get to the airport by train?

If you're travelling to Vienna Airport, the City Airport Train (CAT) is the fastest way to get there from the city centre. The non-stop CAT will get you to the airport in just 16 minutes. The train departs from Platform 3A and arrives at the railway station below the airport, which is just a short walk from the Arrivals terminal.

If you're flying with Austrian Airlines, you can also check your baggage in at the CAT terminal in Wien Mitte station. You can also make use of the machines for baggage check-in and hand luggage. You can check your luggage up to 75 minutes before departure or the evening before your flight and receive your boarding pass.

The Vienna Airport Lines buses also connect the airport with important transport hubs. These buses are fully accessible and offer WiFi and USB sockets. They depart every half-hour or hour from Morzinplatz/Schwedenplatz (U1, U4), Wien Westbahnhof (U3, U6) and the Donauzentrum (U1).

Cost-effective alternatives to the CAT are the ÖBB Railjets and the S7 S-Bahn, which go to Vienna Airport from all major Vienna railway stations. The trip takes around 25 minutes, which is a little longer than the CAT.

Every two hours, ICE trains run from Vienna Airport via Wien Hauptbahnhof and Wien Meidling directly to St. Pölten and Linz.

If you're travelling to or from Linz or Salzburg, you can use the AIRail Rail & Fly combi-ticket. This ticket allows you to check in at the Linz and Salzburg railway stations.

For other airports in Austria, such as Graz, Klagenfurt, Innsbruck, Salzburg and Linz, you can also get there by bus, train or car.

For example, Klagenfurt Airport is approximately 4 kilometres north of the city centre. There is an hourly train connection from Klagenfurt Central Station to Klagenfurt Annabichl Airport, which takes only five minutes.

Linz Airport is located northwest of Linz city centre in the town of Hörsching. Trains leave every hour from Linz Central Station to Hörsching station (travel time approx. 11 minutes). At Hörsching station, passengers with a valid ticket can use a free shuttle bus to the airport, which takes around 3 minutes.

Frequently asked questions