Vienna - Munich - Frankfurt - Brussels - London: Any tips?

[itfcfan]

I'm travelling from Vienna to London using a Europa-Spezial (on an OBB Railjet) followed by a London-Spezial (ICE, ICE, Eurostar).

For the journey from Munich to Frankfurt (on Saturday morning), I'm booked on ICE598 departing Munich at 10:28, running via Stuttgart, arriving in Frankfurt at 14:08 (where I have a 21 min change on to ICE14). However, after booking my ticket I've realised another option would have been ICE1120 departing Munich at 10:22, running via Nuremberg, arriving in Frankfurt at 14:04. Changing a London-Spezial incurs a change fee, so I'm unlikely to it change this time, but I'm curious about the two routes. Would anyone recommend one over the other in terms of scenery?

My first choice was to travel via Paris on LGV Est, but DB's London-Spezial are so much cheaper for the Eurostar leg that it made it an easy choice.

It will be my first time travelling from Vienna to Munich (aside from part of the route at night on EN468 & EN460) - anything to look out for?

Thanks,

John

 

[gordonthemoron]

AFAIR the Stuttgart route is more scenic, there's an apartment block next to the railwayline to the west of Ulm that has had a Hundertwasser makeover

 

[DaiGog]

Vienna to Salzburg is quite dull scenery-wise, especially when compared with much of Austria, but it picks up after that towards Munich.

Of the two routes to Frankfurt, it's pleasant either way but not dramatic. Via Stuttgart, it's more or less flat to Ulm but then you climb over the Steige, a steeply graded section up to Geislingen and then drop down into Stuttgart. On the Nürnberg route, once you are past Würzburg it's quite pretty to Aschaffenburg.

 

[Groningen]

The only scenic thing between Muenchen and Stuttgart is the Geislinger Steige.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geislinger_Steige

Via Nürnberg Hbf it is ICE 720 to Essen. Departing Muenchen at 10.54 and arriving in Frankfurt at 14.04.

 

[30907]

There's a number of minor independent lines on the section west of Wels, almost all on the south side. At Prien you might be able to spot the steam tram (north side). However, you'll be non stop at all these.

 

[grid56126]

Not much use to you, but I was lucky enough to do this in the late 90s when there was still a through overnight portion all the way to Brussel. It was one of my usual make it up as you go trips (FIP boxes) and after another trip to the Mariazell this seemed a good way home. I managed to chat up the sleeper attendant for a "cash in hand" couchette compartment to myself all the way. We ran via Salzburg, Munchen, Stuttgart and Koln. I am not sure of the loco's and portion swaps now (they are in the loft). I know we had a DB class 215 banking out of Aachen. We never got a banker out of Liege though as the fun all ended when we hit somebody close to Welkendraedt. Being in the front coach the noise created had me suspicious as to the reason and the locos brakes were finished off to the point that we had to to a ballast leap onto a unit that was brought to the front of our train to get us to Liege. No covering up of the body either.

Still, a superb overnight !