An Austrian Railway Feast
April 30 May 14, 2000
Itinerary
Sunday, April 30
Depart the U.S. In flight overnight.
Monday, May 1 D Arrival in Vienna, Semmering Pass
to Graz Arrive at Vienna's
Schwechat airport after a light breakfast on
the plane. For those who arrive
by 10:30 a.m. today, your tour leader will meet you at Vienna's
Schwechat airport and guide you to the Sudbahnhof, Vienna's station
for trains to the south. Please meet them just outside customs
and immigration in the arrival hall. Before long, you'll be taking
your first train ride through the beautiful mountains to lovely
Graz,
our home for the first few days. You will be met at the station
by the
hotel's staff, who will take your bags, for a walking transfer
to the Hotel
Daniel. On the way to Graz, we will ride an Austrian Federal
Railways
express train over Semmering Pass on a line that is considered
the world's
first mountain railroad, then follow the River Mur downstream
to Graz,
Austria's second largest city. If you wish, sample the moderately
priced
dining car, with its goulash soup, Austrian beer and ever-changing
mountain
scenery outside big picture windows. After checking in at the
hotel, we
will have the balance of the afternoon free to explore. There
is much to see
in Graz, the outstanding Opera House, the main square with its
many markets
of vegetables, fruit and flowers, the arcades with shops in the
17th century
Luegghaus. The famous carved wood figures perform at 6 p.m. in
the
Glockenspielplatz. Enjoy a festive welcome celebration, with
cocktails and
dinner, in the early evening at our hotel. Overnight Graz, Hotel
Daniel
Tuesday, May 2 B Graz-Koflach Railways In the morning,
we'll take a private
ride on our chartered Oldtimer Streetcar, with a guide, to see
Graz and the
Tramway Museum Graz. In the afternoon, we will ride out to the
west on the
privately-owned coal-hauling Graz-Koflach Railway out to the
end and back.
An option while in Koflach: to visit the stud farm which is an
auxiliary of
Vienna's Spanish Riding School, breeding thoroughbred horses
since 1798.
Dinner is on your own. Overnight Graz, Hotel Daniel.
Wednesday May 3 B The Aspangbahn The Semmering Route isn't
Austrian Federal
Railways' only route from Vienna to Graz. We'll head out early
for a ride on
local trains on the Aspangbahn, a secondary line through the
beautiful
eastern foothills of the Alps. After several changes of trains,
we'll reach
the junction of Wiener Neustadt. We'll find lunch on our own,
watch trains,
and return to Graz on either an express or a series of local
trains - it's
your choice - over the Semmering Pass. Keep your camera handy:
the scenery,
with its mountains crowed with snow, is outstanding. Overnight
Graz Hotel
Daniel.
Thursday, May 4 The Murtalbahn The Murtalbahn, a narrow
-gauge division of
the Steiermark Local Railways, runs along the upper reaches of
the River
Mur. It's what Maine's 2-foot-gauge Sandy River & Rangeley
Lakes would be
like if it had survived to 1998. We'll make a round trip from
Graz west to
the end of the line to tiny, remote Tamsweg, boarding the red,
white and
green cars of the Styrian Local Railways. We'll have plenty of
time at
Tamsweg for lunch on your own at any of several restaurants.
Overnight Graz
Hotel Daniel.
Friday, May 5 B, D Salzburg While your luggage travels
to our hotel in
Salzburg, we will take a mid-morning train from Graz to Salzburg
- through
gorgeous mountains and along river gorges all the way. The train
carries a
dining car where you can enjoy lunch on your own. After arrival
in Salzburg
we'll check in at the hotel. At 4 p.m., we have a walking tour
of Salzburg
with local guide, Lieselotte Mayrhofer. One of our stops is the
famous
Mozart House. At 7:15 p.m., we'll leave the hotel to walk to
the Restaurant
Stiftskeller where we will enjoy our delightful Mozart Dinner,
complete with
beautiful music. This night, your excellent meal will be rounded
out by
several short concerts from a string quintet and several singers.
As one IRT
member put it last time we were in Austria: "Nothing can
top this evening!"
Overnight Hotel Bayrischer Hof
Saturday, May 6 B Stern & Hafferl Railways In the
lake district east of
Salzburg are several local railways operated by Stern & Hafferl.
We'll ride
Gmunden's streetcar line, shortest in the world, which runs a
mile and a
half down to the town's lakestrong; a meter-gauge line from Gmunden
to
Vorchdorf-Eggenberg, a standard gauge line from there to Lambach,
and a
second standard gauge line from Lambach to Haag am Hausruck.
Here, you are
welcome to diverge on your own: some may wish to take another
S&H narrow
gauge line to Attersee. Tonight you will enjoy an 8 p.m. dinner
at our
hotel.
Overnight Hotel Bayerischer Hof, Salzburg.
Sunday, May 7 B Salzburg Today we're at leisure. Among
the choices are
exploring Salzburg in depth; a trip to nearby Berchtesgaden;
a train ride
around a circle through Attnang-Puchheim, Stainach-Irdning, and
Bischofshofen - lake and mountain scenery - or a visit to the
town of
Hallstatt and its salt mines. Last time, our members took off
in such
diverse directions as Villach, Hallstatt, Linz and across the
German border
to Berchtesgaden. (Your Eurail Pass will work just fine outside
the
boundaries of Austria.) The most amusing place in Europe is just
outside
Salzburg, Hellbrunn Palace. Alternatively, go to the old part
of Salzburg,
ride a cable car 5,800 feet up to Untersberg for a breathtaking
view of the
Alps. Ride the Salzburg Local Railway on one of Owen Hardy's
favorite little
trains to the church in nearby Oberndorf, where "Silent
Night" was written
and first performed. Dinner is on your own. Overnight Hotel Bayerischer
Hof,
Salzburg.
Monday, May 8 B, D Innsbruck Today we head to the mountains
and Innsbruck.
While our luggage is transferred separately, we will ride from
Salzburg to
Innsbruck on the route that stays inside Austria's borders, via
Bischofshofen, Zell-am-See, and Kitzbuhel. This trip is one of
the most
scenic rides in Austria, with exceptionally beautiful views of
gorges,
lakes, mountains and rivers. After arrival and lunch on your
own, we'll have
a walking tour of Innsbruck with local guide Willy Flicker. Later,
we'll
ride the Stubaitalbahn, a mountain-climbing streetcar to Fulpmes,
high above
Innsbruck on the south wall of the Inn Valley. It affords wonderful
views
over the entire Valley. We enjoy dinner together at the hotel
at 7 p.m.
Overnight Innsbruck, Hotel Goldener Adler
Tuesday, May 9 B Innsbruck Streetcar Museum In the morning
we'll visit the
local streetcar museum; early risers may want to take a streetcar
ride 4
miles up to the village of Igls, a great ski resort, for fantastic
views
beforehand. We'll have the afternoon free for further exploration
of the
city, the streetcar system, the funicular up the Hungerberg to
the Alpen
Zoo, or the main lines that run south up Brenner Pass, west to
the Arlberg
Tunnel, and northwest to Seefeld in Tirol and that jewel of the
region, tiny
Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Innsbruck, famous as a winter resort,
is the gateway
to many cable railway trips, including Hafelekar, Igls, Patscherkofel.
See
the enormous and magnificent tomb of Maximilian I in the 16th
Century Court
Church and the effigy of King Arthur there. The Museum of Tyrolean
Folk Art
is considered the most important collection of costumes and rustic
furniture
in Austria. Overnight Innsbruck, Hotel Goldener Adler.
Wednesday May 10 B Achenseebahn and Zillertalbahn This is a mostly steam,
mostly narrow-gauge day. We'll ride a local train to Jenbach,
22 miles east,
and board a train of the meter-gauge Achenseebahn, a steam-powered
cog
railway. We'll ride to the Achensee, largest lake in Austria,
then take a
boat to the far end of the lake. In 1998, this was a highlight
of the
journey. After lunch we'll return to Jenbach by the same route,
cross the
Austrian Federal Railways tracks, and board the 31-inch gauge
train of the
Zillertalbahn for a round trip behind steam up the flat, broad
Ziller valley
to the resort town of Mayrhofen. We'll be back in Innsbruck in
plenty of
time for dinner. Overnight Innsbruck, Hotel Goldener Adler.
Thursday, May 11 B, L, D Vienna We travel today to Vienna
and enjoy
marvelous views of the Alps and pretty farmland. We have an easy
and fast
day - a mainline train ride from Innsbruck through Salzburg and
Linz to
Vienna. Today, we'll also sample one of the delights of railroading
a
luncheon on the train's restaurant car. We'll catch occasional
glimpses of
the Danube , and we will have a good view of the Baroque abbey
at Melk. Upon
arrival, we will transfer by motorcoach to the hotel. There will
be time
after our arrival in Vienna for a preliminary look at Vienna's
extensive
subway and streetcar system using your included Vienna transportation
cards.
We'll enjoy an afternoon walking and tram tour of Vienna with
our
English-speaking guide. Dinner will be together at the hotel
at 8 p.m.
Overnight Vienna, Hotel Wimburger
Friday, May 12 B Mariazellerbahn Today we head to charming
St. Pölten and
ride the electrically powered 31-inch gauge Mariazellerbahn up
into the
mountains. The line was electrified in 1911, and its six-axle,
siderod-drive
locomotives are the original equipment, though rebuilt with new
bodies. The
line also has a new electric-powered train set that reportedly
cost as much
as a TGV. If you like, dine on your own at the Mariazell station
restaurant,
known for excellent meals. Overnight Vienna, Hotel Wimburger
Saturday, May 13 B, D Amstetten and Ybbs Today we have
an excursion to
Amstetten and Ybbs, which will take us out of the Westbahnhof
to Amstetten
and along the Ybbs and Enns rivers. Our route: Vienna-Westbf
-Amstetten-Waidhofen a.d. YBBs-Lunz am See. We'll take in the
museum there.
An optional trip: a journey to see the Wolfgangsee, the warmest
lake in
Austria. The narrow gauge steam rack railway climbs 5,682 feet
to the top of
Schafberg, from where there are glorious views of 13 lakes and
many
mountains. Alternatively, spend the day exploring Vienna's cultural
treasures, including the marvelous museums and palaces. We'll
bring our tour
to a festive close with a farewell dinner at Mayer am Pfarrplatz.
We'll get
there by streetcar! Overnight, Vienna, Hotel Wimburger
Sunday, May 14 B Depart Austria Today, we say "Auf
Wiedersehen!" until we
meet again! Transfer to Vienna's Schwechat airport on your own
and the
flight back to the United States.
Included in this tour:
- All first class hotels, with excellent location to the railway
stations.
- All train transportation to cover all train rides listed above.
- First class Eurail Pass for 15 consecutive days (Please inquire
if you wish
a longer pass at the time of booking.)
- Seat reservations wherever they are possible
- Wochenkarte in Vienna (transportation pass)
- Extras for private trains not covered by the Eurail pass
- Riding the 100-year old Mariazellerbahn between St. Pölten
and Mariazell
- The 100-year-old Ybbstalbahn from Waldhofen/Ybbs to Lunz am
See and back.
- Museum entrance fee. Accommodation as mentioned above with
full buffet breakfast daily, service charge, taxes
- Porterage of one larger bag in and out of hotels
- Welcome cocktail party and welcome dinner with wine and coffee
in Graz Dinner with coffee on the first evening in
Salzburg, Innsbruck and Vienna
- Special Mozart dinner in Salzburg with music Farewell diner
in Vienna
- Dinners at the hotels May 6, May 8, May 11.
- Lunch on the train May 11
- English-speaking assistant at Vienna airport to bring clients
to the train to Graz Olde Tram tour through Graz
by nostalgic streetcar.
- Visit to the railroad museum in Graz English-speaking local
guides for city tours in Salzburg, Innsbruck and
Vienna.
- Entrance fee to the Mozart House in Salzburg
- Separate luggage transfers, where bags are taken "room
to room" from Graz to
- Salzburg, Salzburg to Innsbruck, Innsbruck to Vienna. This
does not include
porterage from/to the airport.
- A professional tour guide throughout..
- A copy of Mr. Drury's most recent edition of A Railfan's Guide
to Austria.
Prices are land only:
Early-Bird Discount! Book by November
30, and save $200 per person
Early-bird discount: $2,499 per person, double
After November 30, 1999: $2,699 per person, double
Single supplement: $402
Please note: Non-members please add $50 per person to the above rates
If you wish extra hotel nights pre- and
post-tour, please book them when you
book the tour. All rates include buffet breakfast, service charge
and taxes.
Pre-tour
Hotel Novotel, Vienna Airport
$213 per night, double
$167 per night, single.
Hotel Wimberger, Vienna
$311 per night, double
$222 per night, single.
Call us at (800) IRT-4881 and make your reservation!
Tour Conditions
How to Book: Call our tour desk at 1-800-IRT-4881
to make a reservation. A
deposit of 15% of the total trip cost is required. Deposits can
be made by
check or credit card (Mastercard, Visa, or Discover). Reservations
are on a
first-come, first-serve basis. Final payment is made by check
90 days
before departure.
Passport:
A valid passport is required, valid for 6 months after your
return.
Cancellations:
Notice of cancellations must be received by this office in
writing before 90 days prior to departure and are subject to
a $250 per
person administrative fee. Final payment is due 90 days before
the trip.
Cancellations occurring within 90 days prior to the trip are
non-refundable
unless the space is resold. In the event the space is resold,
a refund,
equal to the resale value of the space, is made after deduction
of the $250
per person administrative fee and applicable airline cancellation
penalties.
No refunds will be made in the event of "no-shows"
or cancellations the day
of the trip. No refund will be given for unused portions of the
tour. No
refund for airline tickets once issued.
Insurance:
We highly recommend that all passengers protect themselves with
tour insurance to cover your costs in case you must cancel your
journey. We
will send you a brochure upon confirmation of your reservation.
Please
note: in order to waive medical pre-existing conditions clauses
in the tour
insurance, insurance must be post-marked within seven days of
deposit.
Minimum Participants: This tour must have at least 15 passengers in
order to
qualify for special group rates.
Prices:
This tour price is based on currency exchange rates in effect
at the
time of printing. In the event of revaluation or devaluation
of U.S.
currency, the tour operator reserves the right to make adjustments.
Price does not include: Passport and visa fees; personal expenses such
as
laundry; telephone calls; meals and alcoholic beverages not listed
in the
included section; optional sightseeing excursions; services other
than those
specifically mentioned in the included section; transfers and
baggage
handling on the day of arrival and departure; accident; sickness,
trip
cancellation and baggage insurance; and excess baggage charges
on aircraft.
Please note: our tours officially begin at the first hotel. The
tour does
not include porterage from the airport to the first hotel; or
from the last
hotel to the airport. With IRT members coming and leaving at
so many
different times, this is impossible to arrange on a group basis.
However, if
you would like the IRT tour desk to arrange a private car and
driver for you
at additional cost, please notify IRT at time of booking.
Medical:
Any physical or mental condition which may require special medical
attention must be reported in writing. All Society trips require
some
walking to take full advantage of the transportation systems
of each country
we visit.
Baggage:
Porterage is limited to one large bag per person. Please note
that
because of the differing times of arriving and departing flights,
porterage
to and from the airport to and from the first and last hotels
is not
included. Baggage and personal effects are taken at owner's risk
throughout
the trip, and baggage insurance is strongly recommended.
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The Society of International Railway Travelers, Inc. (IRT)
and Hardy Publishing Co., Inc. (HPC), parent company of The Society
of
International Railway Travelers, act only as agents for the passenger
with
respect to travel services. IRT and HPC do not own or operate
any of the
suppliers of services or accommodations for your trip. As a result,
IRT and
HPC are not responsible for any negligent or willful act or failure
to act
of any such supplier of any other third party over whom IRT and
HPC has no
control.
We can assume no responsibility nor liability
in whole or in part for any
delays, delayed or changed departure or arrival, missed carrier
connections,
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our
control, force majeure, war, quarantine, criminal activity, expense,
accident, sickness, injury or death to person or property, or
mechanical
defect, failure, or negligence of any nature howsoever caused
in connection
with any accommodations, restaurant, transportation or other
services, for
any substitution of hotels or of common carrier equipment beyond
our
control, with or without notice, or for any additional expenses
occasioned
thereby. If due to weather, flight schedules or other uncontrollable
factors
you are required to spend an additional night, you will be responsible
for
your own hotel, transfers and meal costs. No refund will be made
for any
unused portion of the tour due to these causes or voluntary cancellations.
Baggage is at the owner's risk entirely.
No revisions of the printed itinerary
or the "included" section are
anticipated; however, IRT and HPC reserve the right to make changes
at any
time and for any reason, with or without notice, and IRT and
HPC shall not
be liable for any loss whatsoever to passengers by reason of
such
cancellation, substitution or changes. All fares as well as ship
and train
schedules, port calls, hours of arrival and departure, special
programs, and
guest lecture series (if applicable), are subject to change without
prior
notice. IRT and HPC shall not be required to refund any portion
of the fare
nor make any other compensation under these circumstances. IRT
and HPC
cannot be responsible for penalties assessed by air carriers
that may result
due to operational and/or itinerary changes, regardless if the
passenger
and/or IRT and HPC make the flight arrangements. Any additional
expenses
resulting from the above will be paid by the individual passenger.
IRT and
HPC reserve the right to substitute a similar category for those
listed in
this brochure. IRT and HPC reserve the right to increase the
tour price in
the event of cost increases due to changes in air fares, currency
fluctuations or fuel surcharges and such increases are to be
paid to IRT and
HPC by the tour participant upon notice to the tour participant
of such
increases.
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the sole contract between the
air company concerned and the purchaser of these tours and/or
passenger. The
airlines and other transportation companies concerned are not
to be held
responsible for any act, omission, or event during the time passengers
are
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passenger
certifies that he/she does not have any mental, physical or other
condition
of disability that would create a hazard for him/herself or other
passengers
and accepts the terms of this contract.
IRT and HPC reserves the right to decline
to accept or retain any person as
a tour member should such a person's health, mental condition,
physical
infirmity or attitude jeopardize the operation of the tour or
the rights,
welfare, or enjoyment of other participants. Refunds will be
made in
accordance with the cancellation policy listed above. Rates quoted
are based
on tariffs and exchange current at the time of printing and are
subject to
changes therein, at or before the time of departure. No revisions
of the
printed itinerary or its included features are anticipated; however,
the
right is reserved to make any changes without notice, that might
become
necessary, with the mutual understanding that any additional
expenses will
be paid by the individual passenger. Baggage is at the owner's
risk
throughout the trip, unless insured. The right is retained to
refuse any
application for reservation(s), cancel any reservation(s) or
decline to
accept or retain any person as a member of the tour group at
any time.
Rates:
Prices quoted are based on fares in effect at the time of printing
and are subject to change prior to departure. Upon payment of
a deposit,
tour participants indicate acceptance of the above terms and
conditions.
Complaints:
We strive to offer the very best value in travel services to
our
members. However, if you have a complaint during your journey,
please bring
it to the attention to your tour leader. Should the problem remain
unsolved, please write to the Society at its main office (Hardy
Publishing
Co., and the Society of International Railway Travelers are located
at 1810
Sils Ave., Louisville, KY). We will not accept liability for
any claims not
made to us within two months of completion of your journey. All
claims will
be settled by arbitration in Louisville, Kentucky.
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