RegioJet canceled the night train to the Alps (Austria, Italy) – 2021
People prefer to ride rather than drive themselves. This is a financially interesting conclusion of RegioJet, which paid for night trains to Croatia to the sea. With the same entrepreneurial spirit, RegioJet set out in the summer to plan the delivery of people by train to the mountains, specifically to the Austrian Alps and Italy. Perhaps the Austrian lockdown will soon subside and skiers will be able to set off. RegioJet is currently canceling this service.
Night trains to the Austrian Alps – canceled
Austria by train: route – timetable – price
Italy by train: timetable – price
Austria – covid-19, lock
Photo: ČTK / Štěrba Martin
RegioJet: by ski train to the Austrian Alps, winter 2021
In the summer, RegioJet announced that it would be possible to take a night train directly to ski destinations in Austria. The first tickets were to be available for purchase in mid-December. The plans were great – three times a week the trains were to depart from Prague, Warsaw and connect in Břeclav.
The total capacity was planned up to 850 seats. Night trains from Prague were not planned – because it is too close to Austria and it would not be for sleeping cars.
The carrier thus continued last year’s premiere of trains to the Adriatic. The connection was used by over 60,000 people last year. With a capacity of 500-560 passengers, the trains were almost fully occupied.
Probably due to the covid situation, however, RegioJet’s management withdrew from the night trains to the Austrian. And given the national lockdown in Austria, their decision was not bad at all.
In the future, RegioJet would like to transport passengers comfortably and in sleeping cars to the Netherlands and Belgium.
RegioJet Austria: Břeclav, Vienna, Salzburg, Brenner and Landeck
The originally designed “ski” timetable envisaged a plan to connect trains from Prague and Warsaw in Břeclav. Both sets were to continue overnight to Vienna, Linz and Salzburg to the alpine resorts. In Innsbruck, the train was to be divided again: one part continued to the Brenner station, the other further west to the Landeck-Zamst station. The train would thus serve a number of ski resorts in the federal states of Salzburg and Tyrol along the way.
Currently, RegioJet offers the opportunity to get to both Austria and Italy, but by classic daily connections. RegioJet has established cooperation with the Austrian company WESTbahn and thus allows its customers to get from Prague to Vienna and beyond.
In Vienna, passengers must travel on their own axis from Wien-Hauptbahnhof (Südtiroler Platz) to Wien-Westbahnhof by public transport. They can reach other Austrian cities via the WESTbahn train lines.
Traveling within Vienna takes about 50 minutes and in total there is always a time reserve of 80 minutes. The advantage is that you buy one ticket for the Czech and Austrian trains. The problem is certainly that such a move between stations is not for everyone.
Holidays in Austria and covid – entry conditions (vaccinations and tests)
RegioJet, by train to Austria, timetable
The first train connection from Prague departs 04:49 (07:48 from Brno) and you can get to Salzburg at 13:08. If you are from Moravia, you can leave the train and bus combination from Brno at 03:30 and in Salzburg you will be at 09:08. The question, however, is how much energy you will have on the slopes.
All connections are listed on the RegioJet website in the “tickets” section. It is currently not possible to get to the mountains by train with the Regiojet in a way that makes sense for skiers. RegioJet does not provide night lines.
Table: By train to Austria, timetable
Destination country | Train stops |
Austria | Prague, Brno, Bratislava, Vienna, St. St. Pölten, Amstetten, Linz, Wels, Attnang-Puchheim, Salzburg |
RegioJet: by train and ski to Italy, Alps, winter 2021
It is possible to get to Italy by direct bus. For example, you can get to Udine from Prague in less than 12 hours at five in the morning. There is also a variant that you will travel to Vienna by train and from Vienna in the direction of Italy by Austrian train. You can also combine buses. But to spend the whole day on the slopes after a difficult journey is probably just for the tough and true ski enthusiasts.
Table: RegioJet, train and bus to Italy, timetable
Destination country | Bus stops |
Italy | Prague, Brno, Vienna, Udine, Venice, Padua, Bologna, Florence, Rome |
Prague, Pilsen, Munich, St. St. Gallen, Zurich, Lucerne, Lugano (Switzerland), Como, Milan |
Traveling by bus and overnight is not the most comfortable, but it also has its charm. Regardless of affordable prices, the opportunity to have coffee on the bus and watch a movie.
Table: Current ticket price, RegioJet, Prague – Italy
Departure | Final destination | Ticket price |
Prague | Venice | from 1 299 CZK |
Florence | from 1 299 CZK | |
Fringe | from 1 499 CZK | |
How | from 1 499 CZK | |
Lugano (Switzerland) | from 1 499 CZK | |
Milan | from 1 099 CZK | |
Padua | from 1 249 CZK |
Student Agency train to the Austrian mountains, RegioJet tickets + price
The notorious Yellow Student Agency trains were to transport tourists to Austria 3 times a week. Tickets would be booked directly on the RegioJet website. The train was to be direct, no transfer. The journey would take about 8.5 hours from Prague.
The business plan is certainly good and we will see if another transport company will take it. In most coronavirus, it is possible that the plan will remain the plan for some time.
Table: Current ticket price, RegioJet, Prague – Austria
Departure | Final destination | Ticket price |
Prague | Vienna | from 359 CZK |
St. Pölten | from 859 CZK | |
Amstetten | from 859 CZK | |
Linz | from 859 CZK | |
Wels | from CZK 1,009 | |
Attnang-Puchheim | from CZK 1,009 | |
Salzburg | from CZK 1,009 |
Prague – Vienna: RegioJet train and bus line
People were going to the Christmas markets in Vienna rather than going skiing. However, even these do not have a rosy future this year due to the national lockdown in Austria. From Prague you can get to Vienna either by direct train in 4 and a half hours. Or RegioJet will take you from Prague on the D1 to Brno and then by train to Vienna. Travel time is also around 4:30.
By train to Austria to the lake
If you are an adventurer, go to Vienna by train with RegioJet and then along your own axis by Austrian railways, for example to Lake Zell am See. RegioJet does not offer tickets to this city, but it is possible to plan your trip and buy a ticket online, for example on raileurope.com. Lake Zell am See can be reached in 4 hours.
You can use public transport within Vienna. On the Wiener Linien website, choose a ticket for tourists (Vienna visitor), which is valid for 24 hours to one week. The system is very similar to public transport in Prague.
If the lockdown subsides, you can enjoy the perfect Christmas holiday here. With current statistics, however, the spring holidays are more likely.
RegioJet – new trains
The RegioJet fleet includes more than 200 compatible cars that can travel up to 200 km per hour. The basis of RegioJet’s train fleet consists of railway cars from the Austrian and Swiss federal railways. RegioJet also commissioned the Romanian company ASTRA Vagoane Călători to produce completely new state-of-the-art RegioJet – ASTRA cars with the type designation Bpmz 20-90. Astra wagons have the format of an aircraft deck-open space with touch screens, as well as cars with children’s and quiet coupes. A combination of new kits and alpine skiing we probably won’t enjoy this year, but not all days are over. You may eventually decide to set the Alp on your own axis. Then don’t forget to wave in the direction of the Czechia and the Treetop Trail in Lipno, which has a great view of the Alps.
Austria and Italy: coronavirus
Whether you decide to travel to Austria or Italy, remember that you must monitor the travel conditions yourself in these difficult times of covid. Prepare all documents or you will find that you have a confirmed covid person status in the Dot application. Border checks may take place. When traveling by train or bus, at least you will not risk defects on your own car or tackle a highway sign.
Train trip to Austria discussion and frequently asked questions
For the sake of clarity, we conclude with some of the most frequently asked questions that fall on discussion forums and which are not always clearly stated:
* ️⃣ RegioJet: how to get to Austria in the Alps by night train to Austria?
Although RegioJet planned to transport skiers by train to Austrian ski centers, it abandoned its plans. There are variants of tickets, for example, to Salzburg, but with a transfer in Vienna. These are not night trains. More about travel in the article.
* ️⃣ RegioJet Austria 2021: Where can I buy a train ticket?
You can buy a train ticket, ie the entire route, including the Austrian carrier, on the RegioJet website under the Tickets tab. The RegioJet train will take you to Vienna, from there you have to move to another station by public transport and continue by Austrian train.
* ️⃣ How much does a train ticket to Austria cost?
The ticket price varies depending on whether you are leaving Prague or Brno. Of course also according to the destination. Ticket prices start at CZK 359. You can find the full price list on the RegioJet website or in the article.
* ️⃣ How long does it take to travel to Austria by train?
The journey from Prague to Salzburg takes 8 hours and 20 minutes. It is 3 hours less from Brno.
* ️⃣ How to get to Italy by RegioJet by train?
It is possible to travel to Italy by a combination of trains and buses. Or by direct bus via Vienna to central and southern Italy. If you are heading north, you will drive through Pilsen to Lugana.