Narrow-gauge railways in Austria are well maintained. Most run seasonally, some run daily. The most famous is the Mariazellbahn from Sankt Pölten to Mariazell. Very popular is the narrow-gauge forest railway near Bregenz. Below is a list of most important narrow-gauge railways in Austria. The list does not include miniature railways.
Narrow-gauge railways in Austria
Bregenzerwaldbahn – forest railway near Bregenz, also known as Wälderbahn. One of the most popular narrow-gauge railways in Austria. Trains run on a five-kilometer route between the stations of Schwarzenbergia Bezau. This is a remaining stretch of a closed railway line connecting Bregenz with Bezau (33 km). Rail gauge 760 mm, steam or diesel locomotives. Until recently, the route was one kilometer longer, but due to road construction, one kilometer of the line was dismantled. Travel time is 20 minutes.
Bregenzerwaldbahn – official website
Feistritztalbahn – 760 mm narrow-gauge railway from Birkfeld to Anger (10.7km) in Styria. Usually steam-hauled trains. Originally trains ran from Weiz to Ratten (42.2 km). The train has ended in Birkfeld since 1981. The original scenic route leads through three tunnels and over some striking viaducts. The longest of these, the Grub Viaduct, is 276 meters long.
Feistritztalbahn – official website
Gurktalbahn – steam-hauled 760 mm narrow-gauge railway in Carinthia from Treibach-Althofen (ÖBB station) to Pöckstein-Zwischenwässern. Total length of the route is 3,3 km, journey time is 25 minutes.
Gurktalbahn – official website
Höllentalbahn – a five-kilometer narrow-gauge railway line near the Semmering line. Trains run between the cities of Payerbach Reichenau and Hirschwang. The line is electrified. We can reach Payerbach Reichenau by long-distance trains of the Austrian Railways, narrow-gauge trains depart from a separate platform at the standard-gauge railway station.
Höllentalbahn – official website
Mariazellbahn – one of the most interesting railway lines in Austria from Sankt Pölten to Mariazell. A narrow-gauge line with a length of over 91 kilometers – trains run all year round. The line has been electrified and the most picturesque section starts from Schwarzenbach station (39 km). Currently, the railway is a tourist attraction and a means of transport for residents. It is managed by NÖVOG (Niederösterreichische Verkehrsorganisationsges.m.b.H) – a regional public transport operator owned by the local government of the state of Lower Austria. NÖVOG took over Mariazellerbahn from Austrian Railways in 2010.
The rolling stock consists mainly of electric multiple units from Stadler, delivered in 2012-2014. Previously, 4090 series vehicles belonging to the Austrian Railways operated. On selected days, retro trains operated by a steam locomotive run.
Mariazellbahn – official website
Murtalbahn – narrow gauge railway in Styria. The trains are operated by the regional carrier Steiermärkische Landesbahnen. Trains run between Uzmarkt and Tamsweg stations (64.5 km). Rolling stock fleet consists railbuses, trains comprised of carriages hauled by a diesel locomotive, and on selected days by steam locomotives. The journey time one way is about an hour and a half, at the Uzmarkt station narrow-gauge trains are connected with trains from various parts of Austria. Rail gauge 760 mm.
Murtalbahn – official website
Museumsfeldbahn Großgmain – a short but scenic and steep narrow-gauge railway in Open-Air Museum in Großgmain near Salzburg. The 1,7 km long line was opened on 13 June 2010. The railway is managed by Salzburg AG company. Rail gauge 600 mm, three stations, maximum speed 15 km/h. Diesel-hauled trains.
Salzburg Open-Air Museum – additional information
Pinzgauer Lokalbahn – a a very popular narrow-gauge railway near Salzburg built to 760 mm gauge. It runs between Zell am See and Krimml stations. The length of the route is 53 kilometers. The railway is managed by the Salzburger AG concern. A bus connection is provided between Krimml station and Krimml Falls. The route is vulnerable to natural disaster such as flooding and mudslides and passenger services are sometimes interrupted due to damages. The route was was interrupted in several places due to the floods in Western and Central Europe in 2021.
Pinzgauer Lokalbahn – official website
Rheinbähnle – a remnant of the former industrial railway network running on both banks of the Rhine at the mouth of the river into Lake Constance. The railway runs along the Austrian-Swiss border from Lustenau to the shores of Lake Constance. Formerly, the railway was used by companies exporting sediment deposited by the waters of the Rhine. The narrow-gauge line is electrified. The train runs on selected days, prior registration on the website is required.
Rheinbähnle – official website
Stainzerbahn – tourist narrow-gauge railway between Preding-Wieselsdorf (GKB station) and Stainz in Western Styria. Total length of the route is 11.3 km, rail gauge 760 mm.
Stainzerbahn – official website
Steyrtalbahn – the oldest narrow-gauge railway in Austria with a rail gauge of 760 mm. Trains are composed of steam locomotives and retro wagons. Passenger trains connect the cities of Steyr and Grünburg (17 km). The route leads through forests along the Steyr River. In the past, the narrow-gauge railway network around Steyr was much longer, but most of the tracks were dismantled and bicycle paths were built along the former railway route.
Steyrtalbahn – official website
Taurachbahn – seasonal narrow-gauge railway connecting the towns of Mauterndorf and Sankt Andrä im Lungau (9.5 km) in the state of Salzburg. It runs on weekends from the second half of June to the end of September and on selected days. Depending on the day, the trains are hauled by a steam or diesel locomotive. In Mauterndorf it is worth seeing the castle.
Taurachbahn – official website
Waldviertelbahn – a network of narrow-gauge railways near the picturesque town of Gmund, right next to the Czech-Austrian border. The total length of active railway lines is 80 kilometers, trains run seasonally (from May to the end of October) on the Gmünd – Groß Gerungs and Gmünd – Litschau routes. Retro trains run on selected days. Ticket prices are very high.
Waldviertelbahn – official website
Ybbsthalbahn Bergstrecke – 760 mm narrow-gauge railway in Austria from Kienberg-Gaming to Lunz an See. Diesel or steam hauled trains run on Saturdays or weekends from June to October. Total length of the route is 17.6 km. Two lines of the narrow-gauge railway network were closed and dismantled. Tracks were replaced by a bicycle path.
Ybbsthalbahn Bergstrecke – official website
Zillertalbahn – narrow gauge railway running between Jenbach and Mayrhofen (31.7 km). The carrier also operates local bus connections and runs a bicycle rental service. Trains run all year round. Regular trains are operated by diesel railcars, steam hauled vintage trains run on selected days from late spring to early autumn.
Zillertalbahn – official website
Related articles:
Train travel in Austria
Rack railways in Austria
Scenic railways in Austria
