Ljubliana to Vienna

[williamn]

I'm planning a trip from Ljubliana to Vienna next month and wondered if there is any reason to chose the route via Graz over the route via Villach or vice versa? I'm aware there's a direct train but the time doesn't suit me, as I want to travel earlier in the day. I'll be travelling into Ljubliana from Munich, so will have seen the scenery on the Villach-Ljubliana route already.

 

[railfan99]

The route from Graz follows a river for some distance, which usually means pleasant scenery.

Taking this different railway gives you new track coverage.

 

[YorkshireBear]

The route from Graz follows a river for some distance, which usually means pleasant scenery.

Taking this different railway gives you new track coverage.

I did this route via Maribor and Graz and thought it was very scenic so would recommend it!

 

[bananas]

Bled to Villach is also quite scenic - rickety single track through a narrow gorge. Ljubljana to Bled will be boring though. I imagine Villach to Vienna won't be quite as good as Graz to Vienna, but it's the alps so you can't go that wrong.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

(Trieste-) Ljubljana-Maribor-Graz-Vienna was the original Austrian Südbahn route, with left hand running throughout until the Vienna-Glöggnitz section was upgraded recently.
This will change in Austria when the new Koralmbahn/Semmering tunnels are opened (the former opens this December).
Both routes are very interesting and scenic, the Sava gorge around Zidani Most on the Maribor route being special (with old JŽ steam locos plinthed at various places in Slovenia).

 

[Austriantrain]

I imagine Villach to Vienna won't be quite as good as Graz to Vienna, but it's the alps so you can't go that wrong.

IMO Villach to Vienna is much more interesting than from Graz, and you go over the Semmering on both routes.

 

[williamn]

Thank you for the info, this site provides a wealth of info as usual!!

A slightly related question - on this trip I’m also taking the Vienna - Zurich direct train, but the train I want, a month from now is almost completely full! Is this normal and might any extra availability open up? I’m in first and really wanted a seat on my own but the only seat left in first was a single seat in a bay of four!

 

[NCT]

Head straight to the restaurant car and sip beer all day.

 

[Tester]

Thank you for the info, this site provides a wealth of info as usual!!

A slightly related question - on this trip I’m also taking the Vienna - Zurich direct train, but the train I want, a month from now is almost completely full! Is this normal and might any extra availability open up? I’m in first and really wanted a seat on my own but the only seat left in first was a single seat in a bay of four!

If you are on your own and prepared to be flexible, you will be unlucky not to end up with a decent seat without reserving.

Suss out the reservation information above the seats, and keep an eye out for no-shows.

Because reservation is cheap and easy, no-shows are not unusual.

 

[NCT]

I never reserve in non-compulsory reservation land. Yes sometimes it's a bit of a gamble and I've had to stand in the vestibule occasionally, but you always find an unreserved / no show seat eventually. It also takes off the pressure of having to stick to a premade perfect plan.

 

[dutchflyer]

Thank you for the info, this site provides a wealth of info as usual!!

A slightly related question - on this trip I’m also taking the Vienna - Zurich direct train, but the train I want, a month from now is almost completely full! Is this normal and might any extra availability open up? I’m in first and really wanted a seat on my own but the only seat left in first was a single seat in a bay of four!

THere will be very, very few people doing the complete run-it probably only means that on a short intermediate section occupation is as high as you think. At every intermediate people get off and on. Plus as above already stated: a fair number of no-shows too.
I dont know how efficient OeBB is at organising REServations for multiple trips on 1 seat for shorter trips, but in general on the tiny screens one can see what is taken.
EXception-its still summer and 1st cl will also be limited: there is just on that day a big group of international tourists on an organised tour who still think that trains here in EURope are dangerous in 2nd (unsafe in another variety of /en/) so its only do-able in 1st!

 

[williamn]

THere will be very, very few people doing the complete run-it probably only means that on a short intermediate section occupation is as high as you think. At every intermediate people get off and on. Plus as above already stated: a fair number of no-shows too.
I dont know how efficient OeBB is at organising REServations for multiple trips on 1 seat for shorter trips, but in general on the tiny screens one can see what is taken.
EXception-its still summer and 1st cl will also be limited: there is just on that day a big group of international tourists on an organised tour who still think that trains here in EURope are dangerous in 2nd (unsafe in another variety of /en/) so its only do-able in 1st!

yes it did occur to me that it’s unlikely to be full throughout! And the possibility of tour groups too. The 13.28 has lots of space but I suspect I’d miss some of the best scenery as it gets into Zurich quite late.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Have you thought of taking the Transalpin EC164?
This is Graz-Zurich but you could pick it up at Schwarzach St Veit, changing at Salzburg.
This carries a Swiss panorama car in 1st and is a great way to cross the Alps from east to west.
Wien Hbf 0828, Salzburg 1153/1212, Schwarzach 1309/13, Zurich 1920.
Unless it's the first leg with limited seats...

 

[Austriantrain]

IMO Villach to Vienna is much more interesting than from Graz, and you go over the Semmering on both routes.

I should add that from December 2025, there will be very few long-distance trains on the current Villach - Bruck an der Mur - Vienna Route since those trains will use the new Koralmbahn.

 

[williamn]

I should add that from December 2025, there will be very few long-distance trains on the current Villach - Bruck an der Mur - Vienna Route since those trains will use the new Koralmbahn.

Another reason to go that way then!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Aug 2025 ==

Have you thought of taking the Transalpin EC164?
This is Graz-Zurich but you could pick it up at Schwarzach St Veit, changing at Salzburg.
This carries a Swiss panorama car in 1st and is a great way to cross the Alps from east to west.
Wien Hbf 0828, Salzburg 1153/1212, Schwarzach 1309/13, Zurich 1920.
Unless it's the first leg with limited seats...

Interesting idea! Will take a look...

 

[Tester]

Another reason to go that way then!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Aug 2025 ==


Interesting idea! Will take a look...

The Swiss panorama cars are highly recommended - a most pleasant way to travel!

 

[Austriantrain]

The Swiss panorama cars are highly recommended - a most pleasant way to travel!

It is an excellent idea, probably the best train in Austria if you want to have scenery.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Aug 2025 ==

Another reason to go that way

Need to note that I cannot comment on the route on the Slovenian side.

 

[30907]

Bled to Villach is also quite scenic - rickety single track through a narrow gorge.

Are you referring to the main line through Lesce-Bled or the secondary Transalpina through Bled Jezero? Your description fits my memory of the latter route.

 

[43096]

The Swiss panorama cars are highly recommended - a most pleasant way to travel!

Agreed. To my mind they are the finest first class vehicles ever built.

 

[bananas]

Are you referring to the main line through Lesce-Bled or the secondary Transalpina through Bled Jezero? Your description fits my memory of the latter route.

You're right, I was thinking of the branch.

 

[Austriantrain]

Maybe of interest: from December, the main Ljubljana - Vienna Route with direct trains will be via Villach. Of course, going via Maribor with a change there and in Graz will still be possible, and the Maribor - Graz timetable will be much improved.

 

[ivorytoast28]

Make sure to check the slovenian railways own website for any disruption/timetable changes as engineering works don't seem to make it into international apps like obb scotty (despite them directing you to use that for international planning)

 

[rvdborgt]

Make sure to check the slovenian railways own website for any disruption/timetable changes as engineering works don't seem to make it into international apps like obb scotty (despite them directing you to use that for international planning)

It's a bit hit and miss whether such changes make it into the planners. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't, not even in their own planner, which will then show trains that don't run, with a link to a PDF with the replacement buses.

 

[ivorytoast28]

It's a bit hit and miss whether such changes make it into the planners. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't, not even in their own planner, which will then show trains that don't run, with a link to a PDF with the replacement buses.

Yes, that has been my impression this weekend

I went Villach>Ljubljana>Rijeka and back. On their own website their is a section of disruptions which clearly lists that there would be replacement buses Kranj>Ljubljana and Ljubljana>Logatec this weekend with a full timetable. On OBB scotty it also gives a warning for the kranj>Ljubljana leg but still gives the normal timetable and no mention of the Ljubljana>Logatec closure at all

Within their own planners you can only search for local stops but selecting those it just shows the normal timetable and even their live tracker shows magically the trains running through those stations (to be fair it says it is not using gps but it did make me wonder it's purpose)

But to be fair, everything worked perfectly, the buses were there and didn't really take any longer than the trains anyway so certainly no complaints, just interesting from an information perspective

They're saying the night trains to Budapest are running as normal despite running through the Logatec section so I'm curious as to whether that is the case or not

 

[williamn]

Have you thought of taking the Transalpin EC164?
This is Graz-Zurich but you could pick it up at Schwarzach St Veit, changing at Salzburg.
This carries a Swiss panorama car in 1st and is a great way to cross the Alps from east to west.
Wien Hbf 0828, Salzburg 1153/1212, Schwarzach 1309/13, Zurich 1920.
Unless it's the first leg with limited seats...

I think I'm going to do this! Would you say that OBB is reliable enough for that 4 min connection in Schwarzach to be safe? I note it's a cross platform connection.

 

[Tester]

I think I'm going to do this! Would you say that OBB is reliable enough for that 4 min connection in Schwarzach to be safe? I note it's a cross platform connection.

Sample of one, but I observed it to work on 4th July, and can confirm cross platform.

ÖBB take connections seriously - while nothing can be guaranteed, you can reasonably expect it to work.

The Swiss panorama carriages are really good.


Edited for accuracy - I originally said 5th July (principle remains of course!).

 

[Austriantrain]

Maybe of interest: from December, the main Ljubljana - Vienna Route with direct trains will be via Villach. Of course, going via Maribor with a change there and in Graz will still be possible, and the Maribor - Graz timetable will be much improved.

Need to correct myself here: apparently there still will be a Vienna - Maribor - Ljubljana direct train pair from december.

The timetable should be out by 16 September so we should know for sure by then.