Best in Austria Semmering Railway
The Semmering Railway is a mountain railway line between Gloggnitz and Mürzzuschlag that carries scheduled passenger trains over the Semmering pass.
Semmering Railway operates in the UNESCO World Heritage railway segment.
Semmering Railway: Disambiguation
Semmering Railway is not a heritage steam operation. Semmering Railway is not the Semmering Base Tunnel. Semmering Railway is not a cable car. Semmering Railway is not the village of Semmering on its own.
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Semmering Railway: Core Facts
- Type
- Standard gauge mountain railway
- Route
- Gloggnitz to Mürzzuschlag
- Length
- 41 km
- Built
- 1848 to 1854
- Engineer
- Carl Ritter von Ghega
- Structures
- 14 tunnels and 16 viaducts
- Highest point
- 898 m at Semmering station
- UNESCO inscription
- 1998, first railway on the World Heritage List (source)
- Rail time from Vienna
- About 80 to 90 min to Semmering (source, )
- Operator
- ÖBB (source)
- Walking route
- Bahnwanderweg trail follows the line between stations
- Semmering Base Tunnel
- 27.3 km, under construction, opening planned for 2030 (source, )
- Verified
- 2026-09-15
Compare: Baden bei WienVienna WoodsWachauLake NeusiedlSalzburgKlosterneuburg Monastery
Semmering Railway: Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a special ticket to ride it?
No. The Semmering Railway carries ordinary ÖBB services, so a standard ticket to Semmering, Breitenstein or Mürzzuschlag is all you need.
What is the best way to see the viaducts?
Walk part of the Bahnwanderweg between Semmering, Breitenstein and Payerbach. The trail gives views of the line that passengers on board cannot get.
How demanding is the walk?
The classic Semmering to Payerbach section takes roughly four hours with a steady descent, and it runs on marked paths rather than open mountain terrain.
Is the line open in winter?
Yes. The Semmering Railway operates year-round, though the hiking trail can be icy between December and March.
Will the base tunnel replace it?
Passenger express trains will use the tunnel once it opens, but the historic line is protected World Heritage and is planned to keep regional services.
Semmering Railway: Related entities
Semmering Railway: Where this entity is mentioned
Semmering Railway: Further reading
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