This scenic train journey is a joy, even at 230km/h

The train: OBB Railjet, Austria

• Route Vienna to Innsbruck
• Distance 500 kilometres
• Operator OBB (Austrian Federal Railways)
• Class First class
• Frequency Up to 15 services daily

The journey

The train travels from the Austrian capital of Vienna to Innsbruck, in the western state of Tyrol. Known as the “Capital of the Alps”, the medieval city of Innsbruck sits in a valley on the Inn River, surrounded by mountains. The 500-kilometre, high-speed service takes four hours and 16 minutes from Vienna’s central station (Hauptbahnhof); you can also board the train at the airport. Rocketing through the Austrian countryside at speeds of up to 230km/h, the scenic journey is marked by rolling green hills and villages dotted with steeples; the views intensifying beyond Salzburg as snow-capped peaks close in.

The seat

There are two classes – economy and first (passengers in the latter can pay extra for a “business class” upgrade which brings an added layer of service to your first class seat). I’m in first-class, seat K81, in compartment 36 (€131 return). Seats are in a one-two configuration, with a handful of quads facing each other with a table in between. I’m grateful for a single seat, but it’s facing the wrong way. I don’t mind travelling backwards (some people can’t stomach it) but the orientation makes it harder to enjoy the view. My reclining leather seat is spacious and comes with a reading light, seat pouch, footrest, 230V power outlet and pull-down window shades. There’s also a drop-down table, but it doesn’t have extendable arms and is not quite long enough to comfortably work from a laptop. It’s a compromise I’m happy to make for the extra legroom. The impressive OBB website (oebb.at/en/) has a portal for the journey, accessible via the free onboard Wi-Fi, and providing real-time trip information as well as access to entertainment, audiobooks, newspapers and magazines (via your device). You can even report a defect.

Boarding

Letters on the platform make it easy to locate my seat without having to dash blindly down the carriages when the train arrives. The stations in Vienna and Innsbruck are modern, with escalators and lifts and a handful of options to buy travel snacks. Mind the three big steps when boarding the train with a heavy case.

Baggage

Luggage must not exceed 90cm x 60cm x 40cm, and there’s a mid-carriage storage rack for suitcases and large bags. I had no trouble storing my large suitcase, but the rack filled up quickly after leaving Vienna, with some luggage protruding well into the aisle. Large overhead compartments accommodate smaller bags, but there was ample room for a backpack at my feet.

Food + drink

The food service is a standout. An extensive in-seat menu offers 19 pages of snacks, hot meals, sandwiches, desserts and hot and cold alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages for reasonable (relative to Europe) prices. The best part is you can order online and either opt for in-seat service or pick up in the dining carriage. I order a cup of tea and within 15 minutes an attendant in a white shirt and red waistcoat delivers a teacup and saucer to my seat. For lunch, I order the beef goulash; it takes 35 minutes to arrive but is delicious. Passengers can also opt to dine in the restaurant car.

One more thing

Innsbruck is a champion of sustainability, and if you can produce a ticket to show you arrived in the city by public transport, you receive 20 per cent off an Innsbruck Card. This is a great saving that gets you entry to 22 museums and attractions, as well as public transport and selected ski lifts and cable cars.

The verdict

This journey was a joy. It ticked all the boxes for comfort and efficiency, with alpine views to boot (even if the service was a little officious).

Our rating out of five

★★★★½

The writer was a guest of Austria Tourism (Austria.info).