ÖBB, Austrian Train System

The last couple of years we have learned (sometimes painfully) that it pays to research the DB Bahn website and the train system in Germany. Take for example a trip from München to Würzburg. Prices for two people:

ICE :122 Euros

RE : 76 Euros

Bayern Ticket on RE : 27 Euros

Are there different levels of service and/or group tickets on the ÖBB? If so, how do I research them on-line? I am specifically interested in Wien to Salzburg or Wien to Passau.

Thank you, Gary

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No, the tariff system still entitles the use of all train types. The only money-saving action you can pursue is to purchase the EINFACH-RAUS-TICKET which allows unlimted rides on all REGIONAL trains of ÖBB for one day (28€/day for a 2 to 5 passengers). This ticket is very similar to the Bayern Ticket. As far as I know there is an EZ-Train (Erlebniszug) from Vienna to Passau on which the ticket mentioned is valid. Just prepare for a longer trip duration. It also usable between Vienna and Salzburg but takes much longer....

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There are no different tariffs for long-distance and regional trains.. but mind that REX (like RE in Germany, RegionalEXpress) and R (Regional train) are much slower than in Germany!

So with any ticket you can take any train! There is a discount from the 2nd passenger on which is issued without asking (you will see the print %26quot;1-Plus-Ticket%26quot; on your ticket).

For travel within a Bundesland (Austria has 9 of them) and the eastern region of Austria (Niederösterreich, Vienna, Burgenland) there are local tariffs. The difference is that these tickets are valid on any means of transport from from the start to the destination (for example you can buy one ticket for a bus-train-bus connection).

Group discount (huge discount!) from 6 passengers on. But as said above, there%26#39;s also a discount from the 2nd passenger on... increases the more people travel together.

More information can be found at:

http://www.oebb.at/pv/en/

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Thank you both. The prices seem fairly reasonable for either of the trips that I am considering.

Regards, Gary

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Visit this fare information about the Einfach-Raus-Ticket (ERT):

oebb.at/pv/…index.jsp

Some examples:

The EZ 5914 departs at 7:46a from Südbahnhof and arrives at 12:50p (=5h04min travel duration) in Passau, while the ICE from Westbahnhof takes 2h44min.

ICE: 77€ for 2 persons

EZ: 28€ for 2 persons

As the ERT is only valid after 9am on weekdays, you would need to buy a ticket to the stop where it turns 9am or accept a later connection with at least two transfers.

http://fahrplan.oebb.at/bin/query.exe/en

(select the ERT as product to see allowed trains)

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Correction of the fare as I did only double the price for two persons just to display an approximate amout.

Taking a normal train for 2 persons: 69.40€

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MIkey,

Thank you for the further links. It certainly seems that the ERT options are much slower. I also appreciate the corrected fare for 2 people on the ICE. I had been doubling the single fare to estimate the cost of the trip.

We are thinking that Wien, Passau, Regensburg %26amp; Freising will be a good trip for the first week in December.

Thanks again for all the help.

Regards, Gary

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