Salzkammergut Railway
The route from Attnang-Puchheim to Stainach-Irdning in Styria is one of the most picturesque you can travel by train from Upper Austria: it takes about two hours to get to the Along the banks of Lake Traunsee, with a view of the “Guardian of the Salzkammergut” – the Traunstein.
The first stops can be made, for example, in Gmunden, Ebensee, the imperial city of Bad Ischl or Obertraun with its pleasantly cool Dachstein caves. Hallstatt train station is in the middle of the route, from where you have the best view of the picturesque town center on the opposite side of Lake Hallstatt.
After leaving Bad Aussee train station, an adventurous section begins with numerous bends, bridges and a tunnel through the Dachstein with a gradient of up to 25 percent. The old route along the banks of the Traun including the tunnels is now in a hiking trail between the Koppenbrüller cave because of the risk of avalanches and flooding and Bad Aussee integrated. Passing Bad Mitterndorf in Styria, you reach the highest point of the entire route at Tauplitz station on the Klachauerhöhe. Up to the Stainach-Irdning terminus, the route then descends steadily and sometimes steeply.
Nostalgia horse train
A different kind of train journey can be experienced in the municipality of Rainbach im Mühlkreis (district of Freistadt): In a journey in carriages of the historic Budweis-Linz-Gmunden railway line, you can imagine yourself back in the days of the Habsburg Empire on a short section of about half a kilometer .
The one that opened between 1827 and 1836 horse railway was the second public railway line on mainland Europe and was mainly used to transport salt from the Salzkammergut to Bohemia. From St. Magdalena you can also explore the route of the former railway via viaducts, bridges and dams on foot.
Schafbergbahn
Since 1893, the steepest steam cog railway in Austria has been running from St. Wolfgang up the Schafberg. Starting from its valley station in Upper Austria, the cog railway climbs 1,190 meters in altitude and 5.85 kilometers to the Schafbergspitze in Salzburg in just under forty minutes. The historic cogwheel steam locomotives are among the oldest operational steam locomotives in the world. Today he will Most of the journeys are taken over by new oil-fired steam locomotives.
The summit of the Schafberg is considered one of the most beautiful vantage points in the Salzkammergut. When the weather is nice, the summit offers a panoramic view of a total of 13 lakes: on a clear day, you can spot Wolfgangsee, Attersee, Mondsee, Fuschlsee or the Bavarian Chiemsee. All around rises an imposing mountain world from the Höllengebirge to the Dachstein massif to the Watzmann in the Berchtesgaden Alps.
Pöstlingbergbahn
Probably the most beautiful way of climbing Linz’s local mountain and the Pöstlingbergschlössl on its summit is with the cable car of the same name. In operation since 1898, the Pöstlingbergbahn passes the Danube and the Ars Electronica Center on its way from Linz’s main square. It connects the Urfahr district of Linz with the Pöstlingberg. Depending on availability, trips with the modern low-floor railway or the revitalized old wagons are offered. In the summer months, the train runs every 15 minutes on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., and every half hour Monday to Friday.
High above Linz you can either enjoy the view over the federal capital or move on rails in the “Grottenbahn”: In an electrically operated train in the shape of a dragon you travel on a circular track through a tourist fairytale world, built in a Tower of the Maximilian fortifications around Linz.
Almtalbahn
The regional connection between Wels and Grünau im Almtal – located on the northern edge of the Dead Mountains – is also known as the “Almtalbahn”. The Almtalbahn was originally built to promote the timber and iron industries. With stops in the communities of Pettenbach and Scharnstein, you drive through the Almtal, which is characterized by gentle cycling and hiking tourism.
As reported, the scenic route is still closed for ten days in the course of modernization work: Due to the precautionary renewal of tracks, it is closed until July 31st. Rail replacement transport in the form of buses on the way. In the future, the so-called “Cityjet Eco” with electro-hybrid battery operation is to be used on the route between Wels and Sattledt.
Source: Nachrichten
