Ice Vs Railjet

[Carri Seargent]

Railjetis a high-speed rail service in Europe operated by Austrian Federal Railways (BB) and Czech Railways (ČD). Branded as Railjet Express (RJX) for the fastest services and as Railjet (RJ) for services with additional stops, it was introduced in 2008 and operates at speeds of up to 230 km/h (143 mph). Railjet is BB's premier service and operates both domestically within Austria and on international services to adjacent major cities in the Czech Republic, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Hungary and Slovakia.[1]

In September 2011 Siemens agreed the sale of sixteen Railjet trainsets to the Czech Railways (Česk Drhy); the sets should have been originally built for an uncompleted order for BB,[7] ČD's trainsets were to be hauled by Škoda's ČD Class 380 electric locomotives.[8] In 2012 Czech Railways cancelled the order.[9] A reduced order of seven Viaggio Comfort trainsets was agreed in August 2012.[10]

The industrial design company Spirit Design was contracted to provide an exterior and interior design,[16] three colour schemes were presented and the livery to be used was decided by poll conducted by the Austrian tabloid Kronen Zeitung.[17] In 2009 the railjet design was given a Red Dot award.[18][19]

The first twenty three BB Class 1116 locomotives used in Railjet service were given a number of modifications: a third pantograph and the relevant train safety systems for operating outside Austria (Hungary, Switzerland and the Czech Republic) and a silver-colored side skirt below the floor level, giving a more streamlined appearance. A second set of twenty locomotives were equipped only for work in Austria and Germany and did not receive the side panels or extra systems for international working.[17]

Siemens is the main contractor for the vehicles and markets the coach design as Viaggio Comfort.[27] Brake equipment is supplied by Knorr-Bremse, air-conditioning by Liebherr, and doors, carriage connections, toilets and seats are manufactured by other subcontractors.[2]

Some services are served by two joint trainsets which might be coupled and separated on their way. For example, a trainset incoming from Budapest is coupled with another incoming from Vienna International Airport at Vienna main station. They travel together until Salzburg (providing more passenger capacity on the Vienna - Salzburg core route), where one is separated and continues to Munich, while the other heads to Innsbruck.

All Railjets from and to Innsbruck, Bregenz and Zrich use the Deutsches Eck (German corner) transit route through Bavaria without stopping as this is the fastest route between Salzburg and western Tyrol due to the topography of the Austrian Alps. The Deutsches Eck provides a dedicated rail bypass near Rosenheim for this purpose.

From December 2018 faster Railjet trains were denominated as Railjet Express (RJX) between Salzburg and Vienna stopping only in Linz and Sankt Plten in order to distinguish them from those with the additional stops in Vcklabruck, Attnang-Puchheim, Wels, Sankt Valentin, Amstetten and Tullnerfeld.

In December 2009 service started between Vienna via Innsbruck to Bregenz and Zrich.[31] Services between Vienna and Bregenz/Zrich via Salzburg and Innsbruck were increased by the end of 2010.[31][32] Following the completion of the track improvement works on the Westbahn in December 2012, the journey time between Vienna and Innsbruck is now about 4hr15min. From Wien Hauptbahnhof trains also serve Vienna Airport. Since 2011, Railjet trains also run on the Southern Railway line from Vienna to Graz and Klagenfurt/Villach. From 2013 to 2017 trains also served Lienz in East Tyrol. This service has been replaced by an Inter City Train.

From December 2016, newly delivered Railjet trainsets replaced further InterCity trains on existing routes within Austria.[1] From December 2017, the existing Vienna-Villach route was extended to Venezia Santa Lucia via Udine.[1][30] This is the first Railjet connection to a coastal region.

Business class has the highest level of service, containing premium seating for 16 passengers located in the front part of the control car at the opposite end of the train to the locomotive. The seating plan is in an 'open compartments' style similar to a corridor coach layout, but open plan and doorless, and intended to be a considerable improvement over previous first class accommodation. A galley separates the business and first class compartments.

First class seating occupies the remainder of the control car, the second coach and half of the third coach which also contains spaces and facilities for wheelchair users. 76 seats are provided in [2+1] formation. The remainder of the third coach contains the restaurant which provides an at seat service. The remaining four coaches provide 316 economy class seats in [2+2] formation, the fourth coach also contains an area for families and children.[34]

Does anyone know if the BB (railjet) reservations for interrail pass holders are limited the same way for instance Eurostar reservations are? Can I just book a reservation on the BB main homepage or am I bound to the interrail website?

Background: For some reason booking a seat doesn't work with the interrail website, I wpuld have to book it at a ticket machine of the departure station. I am only in said city for a shortish transfer time and don't particularly fancy stranding there in the middle of this extreme heatwave. Depending on my chances of not being taken on board I would want to readjust my travel plans.

Thank you for your help! Unfortunately, the train I was going to take runs from Budapest to Vienna, so not inside Austria. The rail planner sais reservations are requiered on this leg, though I am not sure if they are capped in any other way than train capacity- do you happen to know this? Thank you again for your help!

for a trip from Salzburg to Zurich (or all the way through to Luzern), I see a nice 5 hour direct Railjet available. Though my understanding now is you can book a ticket later, I would like to book seats since this is our only opportunity on our first Europe winter trip to see scenery . (later in trip we will have chance to do Golden Pass train ride from Luzern to Interlaken).

My Railjet questions for Salzburg to Zurich:

1) worth 1st class? It's double the price at 400 total for both my daughter and I. Second class is 200total.

2) if choosing 2nd class, It also says I can either request the seat selection or let them choose for me. Any seat or cabin tips?

3) there is one railjet that says zurich (departing morning) and one that says innsbruck (departing later)....any difference in routes? I cannot tell which exact route but I believe here in this forum, I read that the Innsbruck route is more scenic?

My sister and I opted for 1st class on our railjet train from Innsbruck to Switzerland. For us, the extra room and less crowds were worth the additional expense. For seats, we like 2 across with a table near the luggage rack.

I just read on another post of yours that you are actually travelling to Lucerne. so, you want to buy a ticket from salzburg to Lucerne. The salzburg to zurich part will be on the railjet and then you'll transfer in zurich to a train that will take you to lucerne. The zurich-lucerne leg will not have a seat reservation so you can sit anywhere. And as mentioned on the other post, if you miss the connection in zurich, no worries as you can just take the next train to lucerne.

The 31st is a Saturday, and the Arlberg route servers several ski resorts. So that makes Saturday a peak travel day on that line. That explains why the tickets are expensive. Look a few days later and you will see that you can do this trip for 39 euro...

3a8082e126