Getting into Austria

"...be creative in getting to Linz and Vienna...." Good choices. To avoid the Munich -Freilassing- Salzburg route, flank it, go through Platting, cross at Passau, then on to Linz and Vienna. That's the route taken by the ICE coming from Frankfurt or Nürnberg. Since you'll be in Munich anyway, take the train to Passau for the border crossing (Grenzübergang) , then to Linz via Wels.

Thank you, Fred! I didn't think about going directly to Linz from Munich and will try that train. I was hoping to book seat reservations but in light of how changes are happening every day, I'd better wait until we arrive in Munich. I'd still like to spend a few days in the Alps and hopefully the Austrian trains are running more normally so I can go from Linz.

Hi,

You're welcome. As long as the trains in Austria are not disrupted, once you cross at Passau, the next stop en route to Linz is Wels. On the return you can do likewise, Vienna to Linz to Passau, assuming that crossing (Grenzübergang) is open. I've not seen anything saying otherwise, since all the attention has been focused on the obvious and the most direct, ie, Munich-Salzburg via Freilassing. Passau Hbf. is a junction point for the ICE trains. On the way back at Passau . you can take the ICE to Munich or Nürnberg or Frankfurt.

leon,

I'm in Salzburg now, and asked the clerk at the hotel about taking the train to Freilassing and then taking a Taxi to Salzburg. He estimated the Taxi would cost about €20. The only problem could be that if there's a vehicle queue at the border, something that's not too desirable with a Taxi meter running, the cost would be far higher! He suggested simply getting out of the Taxi, walking across the border and then getting another Taxi from there into Salzburg. I haven't tried this route, but in theory it sounds like it should work.

I arrived in Salzburg yesterday by train from Italy, via Innsbruck. I had no problems at all, and the RailJet from Innsbruck to Salzburg was almost empty. There was a noticeable police presence in many of the stations.

Good luck!

Leon,

I went from Munich to Salzburg this morning. Here is my first hand report.

The train from Munich to Salzburg going one-half hour before ours was cancelled and those passengers were transferred onto our 9:55 AM train. We left on time but were only able to go as far as Frielassing. When we arrived at Frielassing city style buses were waiting for us. There was adequate bussing to handle everyone on the train. We traveled from Frielassing to Salzburg uneventfully, and arrived at the Salzburg HBF. It was no trouble going from Freilassing to Salzburg, but it was impossible to go from Salzburg to Munich through Frielassing. In Salzburg we heard the DB desk worker tell other passengers that the border is closed. There were cars and trucks backed up at the border and none were moving. The line stretched for more than a mile. Plain and simply it appears to be highly difficult to pass from Salzburg into Germany by car or train. At least that was the case today. I don't know what the airport is like.

As for the refuge situation, we saw hundreds of refuges. Some on trains awaiting departure in Frielassing into Germany, and many more waiting at the border on the Austrian side awaiting transport into Germany. There was a heavy police presence at the border and at the train stations in Frielassing and Salzburg as well as in Munich. And we saw many aid workers and the presence of the Red Cross. Many supplies, food and clothing were being distributed.

If you are planning travel from Salzburg to Munich, I suggest you have an alternate plan.

Hugh

@ leonap...The station at Linz has been remodeled, very stylish, and large too Trains such as the RJ head for Munich, the ICE trains from Linz Hbf go to Passau , where presumably you can still go into Germany, then to Frankfurt, or in the opposite direction to Vienna. (Wien Hbf), changed from Westbahnhof.

Thank you for your suggestions. I am not going back into Germany once I get into Austria. Will fly home from Vienna after a stopover in Amsterdam.