RailJet from Innsbruck to Villach - Part 1: Through the Tyrol to Schwarzach St Veit

I'm travelling through Austria from Innsbruck to Villach. And this is Part 1, where the ÖBB RailJet takes us eastbound through the Austrian Tyrol to Schwarzach-St Veit, where I have to change trains for Villach.
This ride proved so beautiful that I've have to break the journey into two parts, with the second part following afterwards.
Join me!
Departure: Innsbruck Hbf, Austria
Destination: Schwarzach - St Veit, Austria
Distance: 184 km / 114 miles
Duration: 2 hrs 43 mins
Average speed: 68 km/h 42 mph
Example cost, adult single:
Standard class: €14,90 / £12.60
1st Class: €19,90 / £16.80
Date of Travel: May 2024
Operator: ÖBB Railjet
Motive power: Class 1116 Taurus electric locomotive with Railjet coaching stock
Manufacturer: Seimens
Entered service: 2000 onwards
Thank you to everyone that supports the channel by subscribing, liking, commenting or just watching these videos. I really appreciate it!

[@horsehollerer]

Yessss. That's what you were saying about those RJ 1st gen 1st class seats! And that's what I was saying! And what Nonstop Eurotrip was saying! 🤣🤣🤣 Anyway, what an absolute stunner of a journey. Magnificently captured and narrated. Cheers!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Yes. Lovely seats 😀 Thanks for that and thanks for watching 👍

[@Diana-andre2018]

Another great video again. You really are one of the best KZbinrs around. You give your viewers not just superb scenery and views, but also so much local information which is really appreciated and also your own appreciation of wherever you are, which always comes across. When you mentioned Kitzbuhel, it brought back memories when I was fortunate enough to watch the Hahnenkamm Ski race in Kitzbuhel many years ago. Thank you Johnny for these journeys, as always😊

[@Fan652w]

I originally had reservations about Johnny's videos, (they seemed too much focused on the trains and not on the travel). However, the high quality of his recent videos has won me over. And, (except for his frequent mispronunciation of foreign place names), the clarity of his spoken commentary is markedly better than in most KZbin videos I watch. Also, his responses to our comments are always very polite, and often informative.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thanks. You are very kind. I'm not sure i can claim to be "one of the best", but i think all i can do is make videos i would like to watch. And if lots of other people enjoy them, then that is even better!

[@ampersand.]

Has anyone commented "gorgeous" yet? :D Every moment absolutely packed with glorious views, oh, and glad your seat was so comfy. We shall enjoy part 2 on Monday ... you spoil us, Mr. Hoover!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Haha gorgeous! One of Steve Marsh's words 😉

[@matts-occvids24]

As previously said "Wow". Such amazing scenery, so glad you split the trip up. Seeing so many ski resorts in their spring colours. Thanks Johnny for a very enjoyable vlog and I look forward to part 2 with a smile on my face 😊.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Awe that's lovely of you to say. Thank you 👍

[@ulfehrning7009]

I quite recently found your videos and I really enjoy them. Very nice views, superbly edited and nicely commented. Austria and Switzerland have always been favorites of mine. And the best of all - as a Swede I love listening to your British English instead of American English which otherwise is so common, even among those whose native language is not English.

[@Fan652w]

I am a 76-year old Englishman. Johnny's spoken English is superb. He does have a problem with foreign place names; I hate to think what would happen if he visited your home country! I struggle with Swedish place names, though i do know how to say Goteborg. [the Swedish name for Gothenberg].

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thanks. You are very kind. I'm pleased you enjoy the commentary, but i must agree with Roger that I'm not so good with foreign place names! 🤷‍♂️ Thank you so much for discovering the channel 👍

[@sandiandgregh]

I love Austria and must visit it again. What a lovely journey. Those views are so stunning they don’t look real. :)

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Yes. I must say i loved doing the edit as i had another chance to look at all those views. Thanks for watching 👍

[@Fan652w]

Wow, wow, wow! Thank you Johnny for yet another excellent video, travelling over lines with which I am very familiar. If you asked me to name my favourite Austrian MAIN lines, the line you have just shown us would be disputing second place with the line you are going to show us on Monday! (First place goes to the Semmering line from Vienna to Graz.) I have one small clarification to your excellent spoken commentary which I will put in a separate comment, after I have had some lunch.)

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Just a little advance warning... when i left Ljubljana a couple of days later i went on the Semmering... so that one awaits an edit 😉

[@Eurobazz]

The scenery is amazing Johann. Austria is my favourite of the German-speaking countries. It's compact, has stunning scenery throughout and is in the Eurozone and Schengen area, all very important factors for this NL-based ferroequinologist. I think May is a good month to travel by train before the three following busy months. September would be the next comfortable travelling month. I look forward to seeing the continuation of your journey to Villach and onward to Slovenia.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Yes. I will be staying closer to home until September when I shall return to Europe #interrail Thanks for the kind words and thanks for watching 👍

[@Eurobazz]

@@JohnnyHooverTravels Don't forget to let me know when you need to jump through the on-line hoops to apply for a €49 Deutschlandticket. I'll be staying local while the Euros and Olympics are on. Too many people travelling.

[@WmDavidHarrison]

Thank you for a great vlog. We regularly stay in St. Johann and never tire of travelling to both Wörgl and Zell am See on the local trains. The beautifully "manicured" rural scenery is a constant delight as the trains twist and turn through Alpine vistas.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Yes it is so lovely. Truly a delight. Just the kind of ride i started the channel to do 😀

[@peterdnreynolds777]

Brilliant video, great scenery!! Hope all is well, take care

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thanks Peter! 👍

[@Timstravels01]

I watched you set off from Wattens in Austria whilst I was in Watten in Caithness. What outstanding scenery, your recent uploads move me to want to explore that part of Europe.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

I was very impressed myself and very happy to return if you want a travelling companion 😀 Best wishes to you and Mrs TT 👍

[@CLechleitner42]

"declassified 1st class". We wish, but nope. Local and regional trains in Austria don't have 1st class, only Germany does that. The ends of those Talent trains are simply the only sections with seating rows in airplane-style layout that allows for fold-down tables in the back of the chair in front. In theory those sections are sometimes designated as quiet zone. In Kitzbühl there are a few seconds where the famous Hahnenkamm ski slopes are visible, right around the local-trains only train station of the same name, Hahnenkamm. You were lucky to get to use a RailJet btw.., I guess you can thank Deutsche Bahn for the construction works between Rosenheim and Salzburg. Thanks for the video anyway, looking forward to part 2.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thanks and thanks for the info about the 1st/2nd class. Part 2 on Monday 👍

[@praisane]

I'll be darned again. Just the other week I took the ÖBB train from Kranj in Slovenia to Villach. That train was full of extremely rowdy Croatian football folks on their way to Hamburg so that was quite something... Anyway it's a small Europe and quite looking forward to your take on that ride !

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Not long to wait. Second part is out on Monday! Then shortly after i will complete the ride through to Ljubljana on the channel 👍

[@martinstilton1535]

I love this railway! Travelled it more times than I can remember as stay in Westendorf regularly. I'd say the only train that would trump your Railjet on this route is the EuroCity Transalpin, which has a SBB Panoramawagon!

[@Fan652w]

I agree. Johnny was very lucky that trackwork in Germany meant that he went the whole way in first class in a Railjet (Mark One). Most of the regular trains between Worgl and Schwarzach are second class only EMUs similar to the one used at the beginning of the video. The 'Transalpin' Zurich-Graz Eurocity does indeed include a (First Class) Panoramawagon. However, that car is often fully booked up!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thanks for coming along and thanks for watching 👍

[@garymcgregor7048]

This is like, I know yr in Austria but remember great Swiss railway journeys that used to be on tv. Amazing scenery, clean blue rivers no litter anywhere and perfectly timed trains. Beautiful place to live I'd imagine

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Yes. I will definitely be returning 👍

[@paulgibsonphotography]

Great Video Johnny

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thanks Paul 👍

[@colinriley123]

Very good. i am embarrassed to say you also have views of Innsbruck station i missed. I think I will have to do this route.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Definitely Colin. Ljubljana is a marvellous final destination 🙂

[@kieronwillans4038]

Another excellent video Johnny. It's a shame you didn't get the chance to alight at Jenbach and travel on the Achenseebahn rack railway. When I was staying in Innsbruck with friends/work colleagues in 1996, we travelled on it and it was lovely.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@kieronwillans4038 Yes there are so many things i fly by on these trips! I do have on my extensive list, in case I'm in the area again! Thanks for the kind words and thanks too for watching 👍

[@AxelMontezinos]

I can't understand why they did not have this great seats in the new trains

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Because i suppose they believe the new ones are better or the new ones were cheaper? I suppose nobody will be telling! Thanks for watching 👍

[@WINGSANDRAILS]

Nice one again! Gonna do that same route in okt but visa versa😎😎😎

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Hopefully you also get such a beautiful day! 👍

[@osterreichischerflochlandl4940]

ad 3:14 Regarding the time for the first trip a small fun-fact: Even by car (with a shorter route via Mittersill) it would take more than 2,5 hrs to reach Schwarzach.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Love the fun fact ❤️ And thanks too for watching 👍

[@trailwayt9H337]

Your videos are absolutely very beautiful and very impressive with very motivated to me also. ❤️

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thank you 👍

[@Fan652w]

Now I have had a good lunch, here is the clarification. As you hinted, the (hourly) Railjet trains from Innsbruck towards Salzburg and Vienna do NOT normally go via Schwarzach-St-Veit. The RJX 863, which you caught at 09 14 from Innsbruck, would normally take the direct route through Germany. There must have been track work on the German section of the route. People wanting to make the Innsbruck to Schwarzach trip will normally change at Worgl. The service from Worgl to Schwarzach is roughly hourly. I am going into this detail, as I am sure that many of your viewers will want to follow in your railsteps.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Ah. I think that this route is Saturday only. If you check in ÖBB Scotty i think that's the case. Not saying i was savvy as that day was the only one that fitted my itinerary, so i think i just got lucky 🤷‍♂️ Great to have your input 👍👍

[@IamFD]

@@JohnnyHooverTravelsNo, it‘s diversion only. All RJ services from Innsbruck/Bregenz to Vienna take the Route via Rosenheim every day, because the Route via Zell am See takes about 1 1/2h longer. There are however ÖBB IC services (incl. 1st Class) from Innsbruck to Graz and Klagenfurt (via Vilach) that Go via Zell and Schwarzach

[@Martin-on2pp]

What a terrible job you have. But someone has got to do it, poor you😆

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

I'm happy to take one for the team 😉

[@martinbradshaw7877]

Johnny. I love your videos. But could you please google German pronunciation? It’s driving my pedantic mind mad. You could start with See(lake) pronounced Zay. 15:27

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Ok Martin. Fair point. I will try harder in the future. Btw... can't undo the video already going out this morning 😀 Thanks for the kind words and sticking through the dreadful pronunciation 👍