We plan to take the train from Vienna to Venice in mid-July. The schedule allows just 12 minutes to change trains in Villach unless you wait for the next train. Anyone have any experience making this or similar connections?
When we did it (about 4 years ago) it was still direct train. Now only overnight is direct. I think 12 minutes should be enough if there is no delay.
I haven't checked the Austrian Rail website yet, but on the Bahn site, the only daytime all rail connections shown between Vienna and Venice are via Innsbruck and Verona, with a change of trains in Innsbruck and possibly Verona. The daytime connection via Villach uses an Intercity bus run by Austrial Rail from Villach to Venice. There is also a direct night train connection via Salzburg and Villach as well as a quicker connection changing in Salzburg to the same train to Venice, and there is a night train from Vienna to Rome that stops in Venice Mestre, but you have to walk across the bridge to Santa Lucia at 3 AM. I think the schedules are firm until early/mid-June. Mid-July schedule is probably not complete yet, but probably won't change much.