There are no kangaroos in Austria... (Austrian Railways (ÖBB))

Member Name: Morgenhund

Product:	Austrian Railways (ÖBB)
Date:	02/08/05 (2214 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: efficient, dense network, reasonably priced

Disadvantages: none

Before I begin, I should say that ÖBB is an Austrian, not Australian, rail company!

Austria is a country that I first fell in love with during my year abroad, in 1997/98, and during this time I travelled extensively, racking up some 34,000 km by train over the year (that's twenty two thousand miles!) most of which were within Austria. The reliability of the train service was what allowed me to travel so much whilst not having to spend that much on train tickets.

First of all I have a confession. Namely that in order to get the half priced fares back then, I did have to tell a little white lie, by pretending to be a school pupil, which I did very easily, by getting the blank form and getting the friendly school secretary to stamp and sign the form, although I was actually a language assistant. The Ermäßigungsausweis für Schüler (the aforementioned piece of paper) saved me not only EUR 100 (£68 - the cost of the VorteilsCard - the ÖBB railcard), but on my travels an estimated ATS13,500 (ca. £675!!!) in train fares, as I paid half price rather than full whack back then. Naughty boy, but a common ruse for assistants.

The situation is now a bit different - I am not a language assistant but nevertheless I have been able to enjoy half-price rail travel thanks to the Vorteilscard. I used to qualify for the VorteilsCard<26 which allows you to get the advantages of a VorteilsCard but for a mere EUR 15 (that's just over a tenner!), and now gladly splash out EUR 100 a year for my Vorteilscard. I recoup that fee usually on a couple of trips (more later!) The VorteilsCard offers 45% reduction on ticket-prices if bought at a station, or for tickets bought online 50% reduction. You would effectively make the saving back on an Under 26 Vorteilscard after just one journey from Vienna to Graz and back - similar sort of distance as London-Birmingham. This year I did the 770km trip to Bregenz and back - travelling first class and spending EUR 86 return - it would normally cost EUR 172 to do the route!

If you are exploring Austria, then the train can often be your best bet, especially if you travel in groups. If you travel together, and get your tickets together there is a sliding scale of ticket prices (the 1 Plus ticket is what to ask for!). If two travel together then you are entitled to a 25% discount each, if three then it is 33% and if there are four of you 50% off each. Alternatively if you are not travelling around Austria as part of an InterRail package, you might try the EuroDomino pass, which allows you to travel on all trains for periods of 3 days, 5 days, 7 days or a fortnight. You don't have to use the days concurrently, and if you travel after 7:30pm, you don't use up a day on it (very useful if you go for the three day option!)

For skiers amongst you there is an interesting option called "Wedelweiss" which allows you to book a train ticket and skipass in one at a very competitive price, if you are travelling from Vienna. All of the resorts included are either in Salzburgerland, Tirol, Osttirol or Vorarlberg, when normally a full priced train ticket alone would cost more from Vienna. Of course the only catch is that you have to book in advance (at least 2-3 days before departure), but this offers a great solution. This year I took up the Wedelweiss option for two friends. They paid EUR 286 per head for 1st class returns to St Anton from Vienna (650km each way) and six days skipass - and also their transfers to the station were chucked in to boot.

Whilst travelling by rail is very safe in Austria, I can understand that travelling overnight as a single female passenger is not the most pleasant of things to have to do. ÖBB have special "Damenabteile" - Ladies Compartments, so that you have one less worry when travelling alone. I would recommend that you make the reservation in advance to be sure, but generally there tends to be space in the compartments, according to female friends who have used the service.

If you have a lot of luggage then you can arrange for it to be transferred direct to your hotel from the station, which can be great, although it can get pricey. There is often a lot of room in the guard's van, which is just as well, as Austrians love taking skis, bikes, and lots of luggage.

The trains are clean and there are plenty of smoking and non-smoking carriages (Austria is still a smoker's paradise!) and the on board restaurants are better than those you get in Britain although just as exorbitant - €5 for a can of beer and a bar of chocolate available for under €2 at a supermarket. There are also assorted motorail solutions, which are very reliable, and which are worth considering for the 800 km journey from Vienna to Bregenz, particularly if the weather looks back. The Semmering pass is not fun to drive across by car, but the train never has any problems. The personel are helpful, invariably also speak English and are usually very good in checking that you know where you have to change.

For international connections, I would however advise that if you are strapped for cash, you only buy the ÖBB ticket to the first station over the border, and that you then buy a ticket in the neighbouring country, as they make handsome profits on these tickets otherwise. So for example, for a Vienna-Prague journey, buy a ticket from Vienna to Breclav (Breslau) and then onwards once you get to Breslau. Similarly for Vienna-Budapest, buy Vienna-Sopron (Ödenburg) and onto Budapest from there.

The scenery is often spectacular, particularly the trip from Vienna to Salzburg via Villach, during which time you will go over the Semmering Pass, through the Carinthian mountains, past the Wörthersee and then on the leg Villach to Salzburg, you get back into the mountains - Wow! I travel down to the Wörthersee regularly and the journey by train is always a real treat.

The OEBB website (www.oebb.at) has a lot of info as well as fare info, but is mainly in German, but it can be a very useful resource if you plan on heading to Austria.

Summary: If only the train services in Britain were this good!