RailJet is Austrian Railways (OBB's)
high-speed train, capable of 230 km/h (143 mph) where the route allows this
speed. RailJet trains now operate on both the
Munich-Salzburg-Vienna-Budapest route and the Zurich-Innsbruck-Salzburg-Vienna route. Later they
may
operate on the
Vienna-Graz-Venice & Vienna-Graz-Zagreb routes. At present, Railjets run at up to 200 km/h (125 mph) on
sections of upgraded track, and at lower speeds on more curvaceous (and usually
more scenic!) sections of
line.
All aboard! The
morning RailJet about to leave Munich for Vienna & Budapest. Munich
Hauptbahnhof is just 15 minutes walk from Munich's famous Dom & Marienplatz.
The RailJet has landed...
The RailJet has arrived spot on time in Budapest's historic Keleti station,
built 1881-1884.
What's it like on board RailJet?
RailJet is unusual in having three classes,
Economy, First & Premium. Premium class
costs 25 euro more than the normal 1st class, and features comfortable leather
armchairs in a unique arrangement of intimate semi-partitioned 2, 3 or 4 seat
compartments. Snacks & soft
drinks are included in the premium class fare. The train is all non-smoking, though station
stops at Salzburg & Vienna are long enough for a smoke! Wheelchair-accessible toilets and
several wheelchair spaces are available in each train. For more
information for travellers with disabilities,
see the Europe page.
Free WiFi: Railjets
are being progressively fitted with WiFi, with all Railjets fitted by the end of
2012. It's free, but will only work while the train is within Austria.
Premium class
consists of spacious 2, 3 & 4 seat semi-compartments with reclining leather
armchairs with footrests.
First class
consists of reclining leather seats, some around tables for 2 or 4 people,
some unidirectional. A welcome drink of fruit juice is included.
As in Premium class, meals & drinks can be served at your seat for an extra
charge. There are power sockets at all seats.
Economy class
(2nd class)
consists of comfortable seating with good legroom, some around tables for 4,
most unidirectional. A trolley service serves drinks and snacks, or
you can go to the bistro car for meals. Power sockets at all seats.
Bistro car
serving snacks, drinks, beer, wine, hot & cold dishes. The
Budweiser (Czech, not American!) & Paulaner beers are very good...
Meals &
drinks are served at your seat in both first & premium class using proper china
& glasses (meals & drinks are not included in the fare). You order
from the menu as the steward comes by...
Kid's cinema...
The end car has a children's TV screen with cartoons to keep them entertained.
New restaurant cars:
All Railjet bistros will be converted to 14-seat restaurant cars by the end of
2012...
What's the RailJet journey like from Munich to Vienna & Budapest ?
The train soon leaves the
Munich suburbs behind and snakes through pretty Bavarian countryside, past tiny
villages nestling in green valleys, picturesque chalets and Bavarian churches with tall, slender spires.
Approaching Salzburg the Alps come into view, making a great backdrop to your
train ride, often
with snow on the highest peaks even in June. Just before arriving at
Salzburg the train crosses the Salzach river - look to the right for great views
of Salzburg's citadel & castle (see the photo below). Soon after Salzburg the train leaves the
Alps behind and snakes through hilly Austrian scenery, past Austrian churches
with their bulbous spires, so different from those in Bavaria. The train
calls at Linz before reaching its maximum 200 km/h (125mph) speed on the fastest
part of the journey, then
it slows down again through more green hilly countryside into Vienna Westbahnhof, where the train reverses.
The train spends ten minutes in Vienna and you can stretch your legs if you like. From Vienna to Budapest the landscape is flat, wide open farmland, now sporting
more wind turbines that you've ever seen before, allegedly over 200. Just before
arriving in Budapest the train crosses the Danube, although a modern road bridge
obscures the view along the river. The train
normally keeps good time, so expect an on-time arrival into Budapest's historic
Keleti station, built 1881-1884. Travel tip: For breakfast in
Munich before boarding the RailJet to Vienna or Budapest, try the typically
Bavarian
Mongdratzerl restaurant, located in the hauptbahnhof
itself. It's also good for an evening meal between the RailJet arriving
from Budapest & Vienna and the City Night Line sleeper departing for Paris.
The view from the train:
This is the view of Salzburg as the RailJet crosses the Salzach river
approaching Salzburg station...
TV
screens show the arrival times at the next station stops, the train's current speed, and
maps show your current location...
How to buy tickets...
If you book in advance, you can find airline-beating cheap deals on these
RailJet trains, from as little as 39 euro from Munich or Zurich to either Vienna or
Budapest.
For any journey starting in or ending in Germany, buy tickets online at
www.bahn.de (English
button top right).
For any journey starting in Austria, buy tickets online at
www.oebb.at (English
button top right).
For any journey starting in Switzerland, buy tickets online at
either
www.oebb.at or
www.sbb.ch (English button at
the top).
For journeys starting in Budapest, the MAV (Hungarian railways) website has
problems with credit card acceptance and the Austrian site oebb.at annoyingly
won't sell 'inbound' tickets from Budapest to Austria. If
you're going from Budapest to Munich, buy at
www.bahn.de. If you're going from Budapest to Vienna, just buy your
ticket at the station in Budapest. If you're going to Salzburg, buy a
cheap Budapest to Munich ticket from 39 euros using the German site
www.bahn.de and simply get off in Salzburg, this will be cheaper than buying
on the day at the station.
