I want to go from Innsbruck to Hallstatt on September 16 but it appears that the track will be under construction and OBB is offering a rail replacement bus service for part of the route. How difficult is it to drive from Innsbruck to Hallstatt?
Posted by
Huntsville, AL, USA
8304 posts
The drive should be very easy as you'll be on autobahn from Innsbruck up into Germany and east to Salzburg. In total, it's 155 miles and takes about 3.25 hours.
Posted by
Fort Myers, FL
1845 posts
Three and one half hours drive.
Posted by
Beverly Hills, MI
811 posts
The drive is very easy. Don't forget you must have an IDP to drive in Austria. You also might want to do some research about parking once you get there, it is not as easy as it used to be.
Posted by
2163 posts
... do some research about parking once you get there ...
You will find that parking space is scarce if any at all. Room for parking is given mainly to busses.
It is not a good idea to go by car to Hallstatt.
Posted by
2163 posts
... it appears that the track will be under construction and OBB is offering a rail replacement bus service for part of the route.
When reading OeBB's timetable there is a note that certain trains will be rerouted and some will be subjected to a rail replacement service for part of the trip.
But (at the moment) this is not reflected in the display of the different train connections; they are shown as if they were unaffected. This is not a mistake, this is intentional, to wit, this indicates that the changed train timetable, valid during the track repair days, has not been decided on, yet.
Therefore you must be patient, have a look on the timetable from time to time. When the changed train schedule is shown eventually, you will see which trains wil be rerouted and which will have a train replacement service by bus. Then you can select a train for your trip having no change to a bus.
When travelling with OeBB from Innsbruck to Hallstatt you will have a change in Salzburg, and then the usual one in Attnang-Puchheim for the local train to Hallstatt. Eastbound trains from Innsbruck are RJX trains (RailJet Express) which do not stop at the minor station Attnang-Puchheim, hence you must change in Salzburg to a regular RJ train (RailJet).
As an alternative, you may consider travelling with Westbahn which offers direct trains from Innsbruck to Attnang-Puchheim. Of course, Westbahn is also affected by the track repairs, i.e., they cannot show their changed schedule yet, too, having to negotiate the time slots for their trains with OeBB. Westbahn allows booking only 90 days ahead, so you cannot see even the regular schedule for September 16 at the moment.
Under normal circumstances one would choose the south route from Innsbruck to Hallstatt, i.e., not going via Salzburg, but having one change in Stainach-Irdning, but by an unfortunate coincidence there is track maintenance as well.
Stay calm, wait, and decide later.