Vienna to Salzburg by Train: ÖBB Railjet vs WESTbahn

ÖBB Railjet vs WESTbahn at a glance

Each row uses that operator's own pages, checked 19 October 2026. The "from" prices are the lowest fares and are limited, so the fare on your train may be higher.

Verdict: Pick by which Vienna station is nearer your hotel, then by the fare on your train. Coming straight from the airport, take ÖBB. If you want to come back whenever Salzburg is done, WESTbahn's WestFlexpreis is the easiest flexible option.

ÖBB Railjet: stations, time and Sparschiene fares

The ÖBB Vienna–Salzburg route page promises trains "twice an hour without any changes". It names the RJX (Railjet Xpress) as ÖBB's fastest train on the route but gives no journey time. ÖBB's airport page says Railjets and Intercity trains serve Vienna Airport via Wien Meidling and Wien Hauptbahnhof twice an hour, with the fastest Salzburg–airport run taking 2 h 50 min. WESTbahn's timetable lists no airport stop, so from the airport the Railjet is the direct option.

For a time from the city, ÖBB's March 2025 brochure gave 2 h 18 min from Wien Meidling. That figure was for the 2025 timetable, so check your train in the ÖBB app.

Sparschiene is ÖBB's cheap fare. The Sparschiene Austria page sets these rules:

• From €9.90 in second class and €19.90 in first, within Austria
• Valid only on the train you booked, with limited availability
• Bookable up to 180 days ahead, only online and in the ÖBB app
• No cancellation or refund (only Sparschiene Komfort allows that)
• No further discounts; up to four children under 15 travel free per paying passenger

Those are Austria-wide "from" fares, not a quote for this route. The only route-specific Sparschiene figure ÖBB has published is in its March 2025 brochure: from €19.90 in second class, Wien Hbf to Salzburg Hbf, for offers valid until 13 December 2025.

Standard tickets cost more but follow different rules. ÖBB's pricing page says the price depends on when you book: cheapest from 180 to 15 days out, higher from 14 days to 1 day, and highest on the day of travel. Buying online or in the app is cheaper than at a machine or the ticket desk. A Vorteilscard gives 50% off standard tickets.

WESTbahn: Westbahnhof every 30 minutes

WESTbahn's Salzburg page says trains run 28 times a day at 30-minute intervals, from Vienna Westbahnhof to Salzburg's main station, in "less than 2½ hours". Its timetable valid 14 June to 12 December 2026 shows typical runs such as 08:08 from Westbahnhof arriving at 10:38, and a first departure at 05:38. Trains also call at Wien Hütteldorf, St. Pölten and Linz. The last Salzburg departure back to Vienna in that timetable is 20:22.

WESTbahn has two fares that matter here:

• WestSuperpreis: from €13.99 on this route. It is train-specific, online only and sold in price tiers by availability. You can book from 6 months ahead until 1 minute before departure, and cancel online until the day before for a 25% fee (minimum €4.99). For an extra fee you can switch to another WESTbahn train the same day. The ticket is not personalised, so someone else can use it.
• WestFlexpreis: valid on any WESTbahn train on your chosen day, with free cancellation until the day before. Buy it online, at a WestShop (+€2), at selected tobacconists (+€3) or from the crew on board (+€5.10).

Booking online in Standard Class includes a free reserved seat, which WESTbahn calls WestFixplatz, and the trains have free Wi-Fi.

Worked fares for a family

Two adults and a 10-year-old, one way, at the lowest advertised fares (checked 19 October 2026):

• ÖBB Sparschiene: 2 × €9.90 = €19.80 if the Austria-wide minimum is offered on your train, or 2 × €19.90 = €39.80 at the 2025 route from-price. The child is free.
• WESTbahn WestSuperpreis: 2 × €13.99 + €3 = €30.98.

So ÖBB is cheaper only if a near-minimum Sparschiene is left on your train. These are best cases. Cheap fares sell out train by train, and ÖBB's standard fares rise as the date approaches. If either cheap fare is gone, compare the next price tier on both sites for the same departure hour rather than assuming one operator is always cheaper.

Getting to the station and choosing a day trip

For the ride across town to Hauptbahnhof, Meidling or Westbahnhof, our Vienna transit tickets guide explains what to buy. If you are heading straight from the plane, our airport-to-city guide covers the trains from Schwechat.

Still deciding whether Salzburg is the right day out? Our comparison of Bratislava, the Wachau and Salzburg as day trips weighs the travel time against what you get on arrival.