The West Route (Weststrecke) is one of Austria’s most important railway lines, and its significance continues to grow. Around one-third of long-distance trains travel on the West Route, even though it only makes up a little more than ten percent of the operational length of the Austrian rail network.
To ensure that passengers continue to reach their destinations punctually and in an environmentally friendly manner, the railway line requires regular maintenance and renewal. To manage extensive construction work efficiently, multiple sections of the West Route will be closed simultaneously from August 1 to 30, 2024. This allows for the work to be carried out quickly and without long-term disruptions to train traffic.
In the section of the West Route from Amstetten to St. Valentin (NÖ), between Marchtrenk and Wels, and at Schwanenstadt station in Upper Austria, new switches and tracks will be installed, among other things. Additionally, construction work for the new Seekirchen Stadt stop (Sbg) will take place.
In long-distance travel, travel time between Vienna and Salzburg, as well as further west, will be extended by up to 30 minutes in both directions. Trains between Vienna and Linz will need about 20 minutes longer. The direct connection to Vienna Airport remains available for West Route travelers. In local and regional transport, particularly in the Mostviertel and on the approaches to Linz Hbf, there will be station closures, timetable changes, and rail replacement bus services.
Timetable Changes in Long-Distance Travel
August 1 – 30
– Changed departure and arrival times and timetable changes:
– Budapest / Vienna Airport / Vienna – Linz Hbf – Salzburg Hbf / Munich / Innsbruck Hbf / Feldkirch / Bregenz or Zurich
– All long-distance trains (ÖBB and Westbahn) depart up to 30 minutes earlier from Vienna than scheduled.
– All long-distance trains (ÖBB and Westbahn) arrive up to 30 minutes later in Vienna than scheduled.
– Travel between Budapest and Salzburg will take up to 50 minutes longer.
– Most RJ connections between Graz Hbf and Vienna Airport will end or start at Vienna Hbf.
– During the entire closure, D724 will be canceled between Amstetten and St. Valentin, with a rail replacement bus service provided.
– On August 18, RJ820 will be canceled between Amstetten and Linz Hbf, with a rail replacement bus service provided.
Restrictions in Local and Regional Traffic
Amstetten – St. Valentin, August 1 – September 9 (4:00 AM):
– Rail replacement bus service for most connections and other timetable changes.
St. Valentin – Linz Hbf – Wels Hbf – Vöcklabruck, August 1 – 30
– Timetable changes, especially for S1 and S2 lines, cancellation of REX trains between Linz Hbf and Attnang-Puchheim.
– Trains from Linz towards St. Valentin that are scheduled to depart from Linz Hbf at minute 23 will depart at minute 26 and will not stop at Linz Ebelsberg, Linz Pichling, Asten-Fisching, Enns, and Ennsdorf stations.
– Station closures at Lambach Markt, with a rail replacement bus service between Lambach station and Lambach Markt.
Linz Hbf – St. Nikola-Struden, August 1 – 30
Timetable changes for individual trains
– Note: To ensure connections at night, local and regional trains from Linz Hbf, St. Pölten Hbf, and Tullnerfeld will depart at different times.
Seekirchen/Wallersee – Hallwang-Elixhausen
– Cancellation of some local and regional trains on weekends (August 3–5, August 10–12, August 17–19, and August 24–26).
Timetable Changes for Individual Night Trains
August 1 – 30
– Night trains on the West Route will have changed departure or arrival times by up to +/- 30 minutes.
Customer Information
Passengers will be informed about timetable changes through posters at stations, displays on monitors, announcements on trains, and online at [ÖBB’s construction site page](https://www.oebb.at/baustellen). Travel information can also be obtained via the SCOTTY mobile app, the ÖBB app, or the ÖBB customer service at 05-1717. (ÖBB Press Office)