There are many scenic railways in Austria. Some are famous among railway enthusiasts and tourists from all over the world, others are ordinary local lines with nice views along the route. Many local lines lead through picturesque forests, along rivers and through mountainous areas.
Below I briefly described the most important scenic railways in Austria.
Scenic railways in Austria
Semmering – a railway line also known as Semmeringbahn. The term Semmering refers to the section Gloggnitz – Mürzzuschlag. The line was put into operation on July 17, 1854 as the first mountain railway line in Europe. Construction had started 6 years earlier. The line through the Semmering Pass is 41 kilometers long, the train passes through 14 tunnels with a total length of 3,090 m, the longest of which is 1,434 m long, 14 viaducts, over 100 stone bridges and 11 steel bridges. In 1998, the line was included on the UNESCO World Heritage List as the first railway line in the world. Already in 1923, it was included on the list of monuments.
Arlbergbahn – railway line connecting Innsbruck in Tyrol with Bludenz in Voralberg. The route includes one of the largest railway tunnels in Austria, the Arlbergtunnel under the Arlberg Pass, measuring 10,670 m. It is worth noting that when the tunnel was opened in 1884, it was one of the longest tunnels in the world. Another attraction of the line is the bridge over the Trisanna River valley, 210 meters long and 88 meters high. There are 14 tunnels on the line. The length of the Arlbergbahn is over 136 kilometers. Numerous long-distance trains from Vienna to Bregenz and from Vienna to Zurich, among others, pass through the Arlbergbahn.
Brennerbahn – railway line built in 1864-1867. It connects Innsbruck with Italian Bolzano, on Austrian territory there is a section from Innsbruck – Brenner, where the train goes through 14 tunnels. The total length of the line is 275.4 km. On the Italian section, part of the route is planned to be upgraded and a 55-kilometer-long railway tunnel under the Brenner Pass is also under construction. Once built, it will be the longest railway tunnel in Austria, but it is not scheduled to be put into operation until 2028. Eurocity trains run from Munich and Innsbruck to Italy.
Karwendelbahn (Mittenwaldbahn) – a railway line connecting the Austrian Innsbruck with the German winter resort of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Built in 1910-1912, the first electrified standard-gauge railway line in Austria. The length of the line is 63.7 km. The biggest attraction of this line is the ride on the rock shelf between Kranebitten and Hochzirl stations, during which the train passes through numerous tunnels. The longest of them is 1,810 meters long.
Tauernbahn – a line leading from Salzburg to Villach, through which trains from Munich to Villach and further to Ljubljana and Zagreb pass. The 79-kilometer-long line is one of the highest standard-gauge railway lines in Austria and is known for its beautiful landscapes, especially on the Golling-Abtenau – Werfen and Mallnitz-Obervellach – Spittal-Millstättersee sections. The longest tunnel on the route is over 8 kilometers long.
Salzkammergutbahn – a lesser-known railway line from Stainach-Irdning to Schärding (174 km). Numerous arches, tunnels, views of the steep peaks of the Northern Limestone Alps. The line’s route includes, among others, the famous town of Hallstatt and the equally famous resort of Bad Ischl.
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Train travel in Austria
Narrow-gauge railways in Austria
Rack railways in Austria
