The Arlberg Railway

The Arlberg Railway is Austria's only east-to-west mountain railway, climbing to over 1,300 meters as it crosses the Alps between Innsbruck and Bludenz. It is the second-highest standard-gauge railway in the country, surpassed only by the Brenner line. Built in the 1880s and electrified in 1925, the line was a major engineering achievement of its time and remains one of the most scenic train rides in Europe today.

The route spans 136 kilometers and crosses the Arlberg massif via a 14-kilometer tunnel. Along the way, trains pass through the Inn Valley, climb steeply through the Verwall and Lechquellen mountains, and descend through the forested Klostertal Valley. You'll travel past jagged peaks, follow glacier-fed rivers like the Rosanna and Alfenz, and see snow-streaked limestone cliffs well into spring due to the high elevation. The line connects alpine towns and valleys otherwise difficult to reach without a car, making it an essential part of overland journeys between Switzerland and Austria.

Read on for everything you need to know about the Arlberg Railway: the trains, tickets, and what you’ll see along the way.

Pechristener Austria/ Lencer/Open Street MapAustria/CC BY-SA 2.0

Arlberg Railway map.

Arlberg Railway: the train

The Arlberg Railway is a major east-to-west corridor in Austria’s rail network, linking the western provinces of Vorarlberg and Tyrol. It’s a vital route for both domestic and international trains. There are around 20 daily trains between Innsbruck and Bludenz, with travel times around 1h 45m, depending on the train type. Trains running along the route include:

• Railjet: High-speed intercity trains with First, Second, and Business Class. Amenities include Wi-Fi, power outlets, quiet zones, and a full dining car. Reservations optional with standard tickets, but required for Interrail passholders.

• InterCity (IC): National long-distance trains with open-plan and compartment seating. Slower than Railjet but still comfortable. Reservations optional with standard tickets, but required for Interrail passholders.

• REX (Regional Express): Slower regional trains that stop at every station. No reservation required.

• Nightjet: Austria’s overnight train service, with sleeper and couchette cars. Reservations required for all passengers, including passholders. Several sleeper routes run across the Arlberg Railway, including Zürich to Vienna/Graz/Budapest.

• EuroCity (EC): Cross-border daytime trains connecting Zürich with Vienna, Graz, and Budapest, all of which use the Arlberg line. Some Germany–Switzerland–Austria–Hungary routes also pass through, and the line is occasionally used for diverted trains when the Brenner route is closed or congested. Reservations optional with standard tickets, but required for Interrail passholders.

Classes and tickets

• Second Class: Spacious open seating, access to all standard facilities.

• First Class: Quieter cars, more legroom, and larger seats.

• Business Class (Railjet only): Includes at-seat service and extra space. Requires an additional supplement on a First Class ticket.

Tickets from Innsbruck to Bludenz start at €10.50 for advance 2nd class fares, or around €32 for a flexible 2nd class ticket on Railjet and REX trains. Standard fare tickets allow stopovers en route.

Interrail

Interrail passes are valid on all services. Reservations are optional but recommended for Railjet trains during peak season.

Is it worth making a stop?

If you've got time and are traveling light, breaking up the trip is well worth it. Places like St. Anton am Arlberg and Landeck-Zams offer direct access to hiking trails, with trailheads and buses leading into lesser-visited corners of the Alps. And even if you don’t get off, the train itself is a front-row seat to some of Austria’s best mountain scenery.

Josef Saurwein/CC BY-SA 2.0 de

Train on the Arlberg Railway near Pians village (west of Landeck).

Arlberg Railway: the route

Innsbruck

The Arlberg Railway trip begins in Innsbruck, the capital of the Tyrol region, framed by the Nordkette and Patscherkofel mountains. If you're staying overnight beforehand, climb the Stadtturm for views over the old town rooftops, or ride the Nordkette cable car into the Karwendel mountains. For food, head to Weisses Rössl for Tyrolean classics like Gröstl (a fried dish of potatoes, bacon, beef, and caraway seeds) or stop at Verenas Cafe for vegan cakes and coffee.

Leaving the city, the train runs west along the Inn River, with views of traditional Tyrolean farmhouses and the broad valley floor. The Mieming Plateau rises to the south, backed by pale limestone peaks, and the terrain rises gradually as the train approaches Imst and Landeck.

Alexandra Smielova

Innsbruck.

Telfs-Pfaffenhofen and Imst-Pitztal

Between Telfs and Imst, the valley narrows and the mountains feel closer. These are working towns with little tourist infrastructure, but you can join long-distance trails like the Starkenberger Panoramaweg, passing castle ruins, alpine lakes, and old Roman roads, directly from the edge of town.

Beyond Imst, the railway traces the Gurgltal Valley before curving back toward the Inn. The slopes steepen and the track begins to climb. On the right, you’ll glimpse sections of the Fern Pass road.

Siegele Roland/Public Domain

Trisanna Bridge, near Landeck.

Landeck-Zams

Landeck is a practical stop as the rail hub for western Tyrol and a springboard for reaching the Kaunertal and Paznaun valleys by bus. The Inn Valley becomes a rocky gorge, and the track starts to wind more steeply. From Landeck, the Kaunertal Glacier Road climbs to one of the highest car-accessible points in the Alps, with views over glacial basins and boulder-strewn slopes. To the west, the Paznaun Valley leads into a quieter landscape of meadows and scattered villages.

The railway here begins to follow the Rosanna River, a cold, fast-flowing tributary that cuts into the Verwall mountains. Shortly after leaving Landeck, the train crosses the Trisanna Bridge, a dramatic 211-meter iron span high above the gorge. Look to the left for Castle Wiesberg, perched just above the bridge on a rocky outcrop. Built in the 1880s and later reinforced, the bridge is one of the most striking engineering landmarks on the Arlberg Railway.

Oskar Kadakso

St. Anton am Arlberg.

St. Anton am Arlberg

The climb continues toward St. Anton am Arlberg, the highest point of the Arlberg Railway at 1,310 meters. Just before arriving, look out for Hoher Riffler (3,168 m), one of the most prominent peaks in the Verwall Alps. The approach is one of the highlights of the route, with the track curving along the mountainside above the Rosanna River.

St. Anton is a popular stop, especially in summer when the town is quiet and hiking trails open up. Take the Galzigbahn and Vallugabahn cable cars to reach the Valluga ridge, with circular routes offering panoramic views. For a gentler option, follow the Verwallsee trail, which leads to a turquoise reservoir backed by cliffs. Back in town, Kaminstube am Moos serves hearty Tyrolean staples in a cozy, wood-paneled dining room.

Shortly after leaving the station, the train enters the 14-kilometer Arlberg Tunnel, built in the 1880s to travel under the Arlberg Pass. It marks the transition from Tyrol into Vorarlberg.

Boehringer Friedrich/CC BY-SA 3.0

Langen am Arlberg train station, with views of the Allhöhe.

Langen am Arlberg

Emerging at Langen am Arlberg, the landscape changes again. The train enters the Klostertal Valley, with the Alfenz River running below and the Lechquellen mountains forming a dark, angular skyline to the north. Langen is a small station, mainly used for connecting to Lech and Zürs by bus, but most travelers stay on board.

The train starts its descent here. The line clings to the valley’s northern flank, passing through a sequence of avalanche galleries and short tunnels. Openings reveal glimpses of hamlets, pastures, and forested ledges.

Marcus Ganahl

Klostertal Valley.

Dalaas and Braz

These small stations serve the lower Klostertal. Dalaas is a good stopping point for local hiking trails, including the climb to Formarinsee, a glacial lake high above the valley. Braz sits on the edge of the flatter Walgau basin, where the mountains finally start to fall away.

Between these two, you’ll see the terrain softens from tight valley walls to open, sunlit slopes with small farms and clearings. Look north for glimpses of the Rote Wand, a 2,704-meter limestone peak often topped with snow.

Shidza D.

Bludenz.

Bludenz

The line ends at Bludenz, a small alpine city where five valleys meet, including the Walgau, Montafon, and Klostertal. It’s a short walk from the station to the historic center, where arcaded lanes and painted facades cluster around Nepomukbrunnen, the 18th-century fountain on the main square. For lunch, head to Café Konditorei Dörflinger, a local favorite for homemade pastries and light dishes, or try das Tschofen, a stylish inn and bistro serving modern Austrian food in a restored townhouse.

If you’ve got time, take the Muttersberg cable car to 1,400 meters for wide views over the valley junction and easy hiking trails. Bludenz is also the home of Milka chocolate. Unfortunately, the factory isn’t open for tours, but you’ll spot the branding throughout town and can pick up a bar in local shops.

From here, trains continue west to Lake Constance, south into Liechtenstein and Switzerland, or east back through the Arlberg Tunnel toward Tyrol.

Marcus Ganahl

Lünersee, near Bludenz.

Onward from Bludenz

Switzerland and Austria

Regular direct trains continue west via Feldkirch and Buchs SG, reaching Zürich in under two hours. The Arlberg Railway is the mountain section of the route from Zürich to Innsbruck, Salzburg, and Vienna (no train change required). This connection is part of many long-distance European services, making it a natural overland link between Austria and Switzerland.

Lake Constance and Germany

From Bludenz, trains continue to Bregenz and Lindau on Lake Constance. This route offers lakeside scenery and access to smaller towns like Dornbirn. It’s good for connecting to southern Germany or taking regional trains along the lake.

The Montafon Valley

A narrow-gauge railway runs from Bludenz to Schruns every 30 minutes. This short ride brings you into the heart of the Montafon Alps, with hiking, climbing, and panoramic cable cars. It’s not covered by Interrail passes, but fares are low and trains are frequent.

Liechtenstein and Eastern Switzerland

Heading south from Bludenz via Feldkirch, trains cross into Liechtenstein (briefly stopping in Schaan) before reaching Buchs SG. From there, you can connect to Chur, St. Gallen, or continue north to Zürich. Good for scenic routes like the Bernina Express route or the Glacier Express route, as well as lesser-known Swiss rail lines.

Travel across the Arlberg Railway from Switzerland to Austria, or check out more slow travel vacations to Austria by train.

Find out about another of Austria's scenic train rides, the Semmering Railway. Read about the art of slow travel, why we love taking the local train, or about six of the most scenic train rides in Europe.

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