| The Österreichische Bundesbahn (ÖBB) is Austria’s national privatized railway company. Austria has an excellent rail system, with countless national and international destinations and reliable train schedules. Tickets are issued by destination and are valid for a month, meaning travelers can rearrange their travel plans at the last minute without hassle. However, some trains, especially those used to commute between Austria’s major cities can get quite full, especially on weekends (e.g. Vienna-Graz and back), so it may be advisable to reserve a seat for a specific train. For people under the age of 26 who are planning to stay in Austria for some length of time, it would be quite prudent to purchase a “Vorteilskarte” (“Advantage Card”) for €19.90. This card is valid for a year and card holders receive discounts of at least 45% for every train ticket they buy. Similar discount cards are available for seniors, families and commuters. Check www.oebb.at for details on “Vorteilskarten,” cheap deals to various major European locations and other offers. The website has a route planner; however prices are only given for national trains. To get prices for international travel, one can go to an information counter at any major train station or call 05 1717 to access the ÖBB hotline |
