Leslie Massey
Rail transport in Austria is mainly owned by the railway company ÖBB, which offers the ÖBB Vorteilscard. This card offers a discount on every ticket purchased, and cardholders can travel on ÖBB trains as well as many private railways. The ÖBB Vorteilscard is available in Classic, Youth, Senior, and Family versions. It can be purchased via the ÖBB app, in the ÖBB ticket shop, at ÖBB ticket counters, and in ÖBB travel agencies.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Card Name | ÖBB Vorteilscard |
| Card Types | Classic, Youth, Senior, Family, Comfort |
| Discount | 50% on every ÖBB standard ticket |
| Price | €19-€29 for Youth, €29 for Senior, €71 for Classic, €86 for Comfort |
| Validity | 1 year |
| Age Limit | Youth (under 26), Senior (over 65) |
| Other Benefits | Discounted fare to Vienna-Schwechat Airport, rental bicycles at 59 ÖBB stations, free ticket on your birthday |
| Where to Buy | ÖBB app, ÖBB ticket shop, ÖBB ticket counters, ÖBB travel agencies |
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What You'll Learn
ÖBB Vorteilscard options
The ÖBB Vorteilscard is a great option for flexible travel throughout Austria. It offers a 50% discount on every ÖBB standard ticket and is valid for 12 months. The card can be purchased up to 6 months before your desired start date. The ÖBB Vorteilscard is available in a few different versions, each with its own unique benefits and discounts. Here is a breakdown of the different ÖBB Vorteilscard options:
ÖBB Vorteilscard Classic
The ÖBB Vorteilscard Classic is the standard option, offering a 50% discount on ÖBB standard tickets for €71 a year. This option includes the usual cheque card and can be saved digitally in your ÖBB account. The Classic version can be purchased via the ÖBB app, in the ÖBB ticket shop, at ÖBB ticket counters, and in ÖBB travel agencies.
ÖBB Vorteilscard Youth
The ÖBB Vorteilscard Youth, or Jugend, is designed for individuals under the age of 26. This option also offers a 50% discount on standard tickets and costs €19 per year. The Youth version can be a great way for younger individuals to save on train travel throughout Austria.
ÖBB Vorteilscard Senior
The ÖBB Vorteilscard Senior is available to anyone over the age of 65. This option also includes a 50% discount on standard tickets and costs €29 per year. It's important to note that for journeys within most regional public transport networks in Austria, the senior citizen reduction applicable may be lower than the ÖBB Vorteilscard reduction. Senior citizens with a compensatory or supplementary allowance can receive the ÖBB Vorteilscard Senior for free.
ÖBB Vorteilscard Family
The ÖBB Vorteilscard Family is designed for families travelling with children. This option allows up to four children under the age of 15 to travel free of charge for only €19 per year. It's important to note that the card is only valid for journeys where children are accompanied by adults, and each accompanying adult must have their own ÖBB Vorteilscard Family.
ÖBB Vorteilscard Comfort
The ÖBB Vorteilscard Comfort is a premium option that includes all the benefits of the Classic version, plus an additional 50% discount on seat reservations for national and international long-distance trains. The Comfort version costs €86 per year and is only available in the ÖBB app and the ÖBB ticket shop. If you already have a current ÖBB Vorteilscard, you can upgrade to Comfort at a discounted price of €76.
The ÖBB Vorteilscard offers a range of options to suit different needs, making train travel in Austria more accessible and affordable. Whether you're a senior citizen, a family, or simply looking for flexible travel options, there is an ÖBB Vorteilscard that can help you save on your journeys.
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Discounts on private railways
Rail transport in Austria is mainly owned by the railway company ÖBB. While the tickets can be expensive, ÖBB offers the so-called Vorteilscard, which is a yearly card that ensures a discount on every ticket you buy. The card can be used on ÖBB trains as well as on many private railways.
The ÖBB Vorteilscard is ideal if you want to travel flexibly by train throughout Austria. It gives you a 50% discount on every ÖBB standard ticket. The card pays for itself with just a few journeys per year. The ÖBB Vorteilscard is available in Classic, Youth, Senior, and Family versions. The Classic version includes the usual cheque card and can also be saved digitally in your ÖBB account. The Youth version is intended for people under 26 years old and costs 19 euros for one year of validity. The Senior version is available to anyone over 65 years of age for 29 euros per year. As a senior citizen with a compensatory or supplementary allowance, you are eligible to receive the Senior version for free. The Family version is the only one that is not recognized on most Austrian private railways.
The ÖBB Vorteilscard Comfort is a digital premium product without a cheque card. It can be purchased through the ÖBB app or the ÖBB ticket shop. It includes all the benefits of the Classic version and also grants a 50% discount on seat reservations on national and international long-distance trains. The Comfort version costs 86 euros per year, but if you order it through your ÖBB account while your current Vorteilscard is still valid, you can get it at a reduced price of 76 euros.
The ÖBB Vorteilscard can be used on the following private railways:
- Citybahn Waidhofen (CD)
- Graz-Köflacher Bahn
- Mariazellerbahn (MzB)
- Montafonerbahn
- Pinzgauer Lokalbahn
- Raab-Oedenburg-Ebenfurter Eisenbahn (Austrian routes)
- Salzburger Lokalbahn
- Steiermärkische Landesbahnen
- Stern & Hafferl
- Stubaitalbahn
- Wiener Lokalbahnen
- Zillertalbahn
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Youth discounts
The ÖBB website is the main site used to book trains and buses in Austria. To obtain a Vorteilscard, you need to fill out an application and provide a birth date in the European format (day/month/year). You will then receive a temporary card, and the hard copy will be mailed to you. You can also download the ÖBB app to your phone.
It is worth noting that ticket-selling machines will not give you discounts when booking online in advance. Additionally, the ÖBB Vorteilscard may not be the best option if you are only taking a small number of trips. Discounted tickets called Sparschiene are also available, but these are bound to a specific train and are non-refundable.
There is also a Bayern Ticket for Germany that may be useful for those travelling between Germany and Austria.
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Senior discounts
Austria's national rail system, ÖBB, offers a senior discount card called the Vorteilscard Senioren. This card is available to anyone over the age of 63 or 65, depending on the source. The card costs €29 per year and gives you a discount of up to 50% on standard-fare tickets. The card can be purchased online via the ÖBB website or at ticket counters in Austria. Some sources mention that a passport or other proof of age is required.
In addition to the ÖBB Vorteilscard, there are other ways for seniors to save on train travel in Austria. For example, Westbahn used to offer a discount for seniors, although this may no longer be available. However, with the so-called Trafik-Aktiv Ticket, passengers aged 60 or above can travel from Monday to Thursday for a special price starting from €9.99, depending on the route. This ticket can be purchased in one of 3,000 tobacco stores (Tobaccoland) throughout Austria.
Furthermore, the Austrian National Tourist Office offers various discounts for senior citizens when buying a train ticket directly in Austria. Also, the German railway offers a bahncard for seniors, which offers a 50% discount on prices and is available for around $65 USD.
It is worth noting that there are other types of ÖBB Vorteilscards available, such as the Classic, Youth, and Family versions, which may be more suitable depending on your circumstances. The ÖBB website provides more information on these options and can help you determine which card is the best choice for your needs.
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Family discounts
If you're travelling as a family by train in Austria, you can benefit from several discount options, ensuring a cost-effective and enjoyable journey for all. Here are some of the key discounts available:
ÖBB Family Ticket:
The ÖBB Family Ticket is a fantastic option for families travelling together. This ticket allows up to two adults (over 19 years old) and up to four children (aged 6 to 18) to travel as a group for a flat rate. The best part?
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Frequently asked questions
Discount cards for trains in Austria can be purchased via the ÖBB app or online ticket shop, or at an ÖBB ticket counter.
There are several types of discount cards available for trains in Austria, including the ÖBB Vorteilscard, which offers a 50% discount on standard tickets and comes in Classic, Youth, Senior and Family versions. There is also the Vorteilscard Comfort, which offers an additional 50% discount on seat reservations. Other options include the Einfach-Raus-Ticket, a cheap day pass for small groups or families on local and regional trains, and the Sparscheine discount, which offers deals on tickets bought at least three days in advance.
The price of the discount cards varies depending on the type of card and the category of the passenger. The Vorteilscard Classic costs €71 per year, while the Comfort version costs €86 per year. The Vorteilscard Senior is available for €29 per year for passengers over 65 years of age. The Vorteilscard Youth costs €19 per year for passengers under 26 years old. The Einfach-Raus-Ticket costs €36 for two travellers, with an additional €4 for each traveller up to a total of five.
Yes, there are alternative options if you don't want to purchase a discount card. You can look for Sparschiene tickets, which offer discounts on specific trains, or the "D" ticket if you are travelling on German trains within the same calendar month.
