TRIP REPORT | ÖBB Cityjet | Vienna - Gmünd - České Velenice | Franz-Josefs-Bahn | 2nd class

I traveled with ÖBB Cityjet train from Vienna to České Velenice via Gmünd along Franz-Josefs-Bahn. This service was operated by double decker push-pull train.
A big thanks to my $5+ Patreons:
Philipp Mougey
Dan & Linda
mikedelta720
Linda Vainomae-Hoffmann
DETAILS:
Railway company: ÖBB
Train number: REX 2114
Route: Wien Franz Josefs Bahnhof - České Velenice
Duration: 2h21m
Train type: Siemens Desiro ML (Cityjet)
Class: 2nd
Coach / Seat: free seating
Date: August 2021
SUPPORT ME:
Be my patron: / petebrandy
SOCIAL:
Instagram: / petestrains
Facebook: / petebrandyaviation
#Cityjet #tripreport #petebrandy

[@janhlousek6567]

Přesně takové jednotky si představuji i v Česku. Komfortní, moderní, spolehlivé... Pro čistě regionální vlaky ideální. Skvělý trip report, like

[@PeteBrandy]

Díky moc! Kéž by tu takové jezdily, ale tak RegioPanter taky jde.

[@Fantomasmag]

Díky za pěkný výlet. Moc hezká krajina, krásné parní lokomotivy :) Ve Vídni jsem kdysi byl, moc pěkné město.

[@PeteBrandy]

Mockrát díky! Jel jsem tuto trať poprvé a moc se mi líbila :-) Jinak Vídeň a Rakousko mám moc rád :-)

[@piotrek8389]

Cześć Pete ✋✋✋ As always fantastic trip-report. Thanx for sharing this video. Most regards 👍👍👍🚂🚂🚂

[@PeteBrandy]

Cześć Piotrek! Thanks so much again! Regards and greetings :-)

[@johnmehaffey9953]

Great report Pete loving your posts it’s nice to see the day to day running of the rail network, not all railway journeys are hundreds of miles and travelling the length of Europe

[@PeteBrandy]

Thanks so much! Yes, you're right. The railway is not only about super long routes and express trains, but also about daily traffic on various local routes :-)

[@lindavainomae3489]

Another great video Pete wth lots of interest to see along the way - including Franz Josefs Bahnhof, of which I was not aware. The railway museum looks worth a visit too. The Cityjet seems like a nifty regional train but sad they are replacing the cute Wiesels 😥

[@PeteBrandy]

Thank you very much Linda! Unfortunately, Wiesels are gradually being modernized into Cityjet design, it's a pity that at least they didn't keep the original name for double-decker sets :-(

[@brucebowen100]

Thanks for the train ride. The Blue Danube was really blue today as seen from the train window. I wish you more safe travel and look forward to more videos.

[@PeteBrandy]

Thanks so much! Yes, the Danube looked blue, but I just don't know if it was due to the color of the train window :-D

[@dlbrittain1976]

another beautiful day for a trip

[@PeteBrandy]

Yes, but unfortunately the summer is gone :-(

[@tarekabayazeed6548]

Super video!A,když je tam je tam i WC pro Postižené tak je to bonus!Trip report 10/10

[@PeteBrandy]

Díky moc! Ano, je to bonus a nyní už konečně i standard :-)

[@philippmougey2960]

Opět velmi pěkné a perfektně povedené video! Nádherné záběry! Už je nejvyšší čas aby se ta budova ve Vídni zmodernizována a přizpůsobila dnešním standardům. Takové nádraží je doslova ostuda pro takové město jak je Vídeň!

[@PeteBrandy]

Mockrát díky! No já byl také poměrně překvapen, protože jsem si před cestou ani nějaké fotky, jak to vypadá, takže jsem původně na místě hledal nějakou nádražní budovu :-D Trošku mi to připomíná naše nákupní centra z dob socialismu (třeba obchodní dům Kotva), která jsou také vklíněna mezi historickou zástavbu.. ale viděl jsem, že tam probíhá nějaká rekonstrukce, tak snad to bude časem vypadat lépe :-)

[@dehylov]

Obchodní dům Kotva byla ve své době velice moderní budova. Byl to pátý největší obchodní dům v Evropě a stavěli ji Švédové se západní technologií. Otevření si pamatuji. Pro mě to byl kousek západu u nás. Taky jsem vnímal a obdivoval i prvorepublikové obchodní domy, které komunisté nezrušili a fungovaly dál i za socializmu. Pro mě to byly prvky západní světa a dalo se toho najít v Československu spousta. Třebas rychlovýtahem takovým, jako bývá v mrakodrapech v USA jsem jel poprvé v socialistickém Československu v Gottwaldově, dnešní Baťův Zlín. Vůbec jsem nechápal, jak prvorepubliková technologie mohla tak jasně předčít to, co jsem doposud znal. Tím chci naznačit, že ne všechno z doby socializmu bylo socialistické. Bohužel dneska mnozí házejí všechno do jednoho pytle.

[@PeteBrandy]

@@dehylov To kazdopadne, Kotva byla sveho casu doslova z jineho sveta. Ale ten stav budovy Franz Josefs Bf mi pripomel prave stav OD Kotva pred rekonstrukci a lokaci budovy ze 70. let mezi starou zastavbou (obe budovy jsou cca stejne stare).. a take verim ze Fr.Josefs Bf bude po rekonstrukci vypadat podobne dobre jako Kotva nyni (ikdyz Kotva je designove dle meho povedenejsi)

[@DanielsUKT]

Nice trip report. The City jet units look really good and perfect for regional traffic. I liked the fields scenery in Austria I wonder if Franz Joseph's Bahn is named that way after former Austro Hungarian empire kaiser Franz Josèph.

[@PeteBrandy]

An, Cityjet trains are some of the best regional units in my opinion. Many railway lines have kept their original name from history :-)

[@DanielsUKT]

@@PeteBrandy that is great especially as I am very interested in European history

[@philipkudrna5643]

Yes, the FJB is named after emperor Franz Josef, it was errected and inaugurated under his rain as the main rail connection to Prague, another important city of the old Austo-Hungarian Monarchy. Other rail lines in Austria also had names after emperors (Kaiser Ferdinand Nordbahn), but FJB is the only line, which retained the emperor‘s name (maybe because it has no clear compass-direction and Nordbahn as well as Nordwestbahn were already „taken“.

[@dlbrittain1976]

thanks for the ride pete :)

[@PeteBrandy]

Thanks so much for watching, Dan! :-)

[@dlbrittain1976]

yes cityjet.....from what i saw was a very good train

[@PeteBrandy]

Yes, it's a nice regional train :-)

[@dlbrittain1976]

i like the seat design colors

[@PeteBrandy]

Me too :-)

[@janpf0624]

Yes, as we have a folk saying, the grass is always greener at the neighbours. In this case - true. (...and I am very curious when our managers will realize that, the Austrians just have finished the double track reconstruction and electrification to Marchegg...)

[@PeteBrandy]

Yes, it's true :-D So it means the loco hauled sets will be replaced by Cityjet units :-D

[@janpf0624]

@@PeteBrandy There is not a sign that something is gonna happen between Marchegg and Devínska N. Ves. ...at least concrete bases, or some columns, prepared terrain... there is nothing. So, Hercules hauled trains will remain for a time...

[@PeteBrandy]

But I like Hercules hauled trains more :-)

[@janpf0624]

@@PeteBrandy O.k., but if ŽSSK would've owned some "Suslik - Sysel" alike cabcars, they fit better like their body shape to Herculeses, than todays consists of mixed Austrian / Slovakian coaches.

[@es64u2_]

Parádny trip report😍👌 Ako vždy😎

[@PeteBrandy]

Mockrát děkuji :-)

[@dlbrittain1976]

good idea about the stops....basically they are all the same😁

[@PeteBrandy]

Yes, 18 stops is already a lot :-D

[@lb549]

Parádní video👌 Tato souprava mi trochu připomíná menší Interpanter😄

[@TrainSpotter_Vrsovicak]

hezčí (•‿•)(◠‿◕)😊

[@PeteBrandy]

Díky! Je to podobná koncepce a sedadla jsou tuším také od Borcad, stejně jako v Panterech. Ale Cityjet (Desiro ML) se mi líbí víc :-D

[@TrainSpotter_Vrsovicak]

@@PeteBrandy jo jo správně koukal jsem se 😁jinak super videjko

[@PeteBrandy]

@@TrainSpotter_Vrsovicak Díky :-)

[@christophernoble6810]

Excellent video Pete. Until recently the Semmering line had left hand running too. A surprising number of countries in Europe have it as well. You are quite correct that it is the cost associated with the conversion of the signalling system that normally militates against conversion to right hand running.

[@PeteBrandy]

Thanks so much! I think there are only a few lines with left-hand traffic in the middle Europe. In my country, the last section was transferred to right-hand traffic in 2012 (part of the Kaiser Ferdinands-Nordbahn from Břeclav to Přerov).

[@juliensvideography]

nice video Pete

[@PeteBrandy]

Thank you :-)

[@jeromebano1125]

Nice journey with beautiful country side after leaving Vienna I know that a lot of regional trains in Austria are quite modern as as well.

[@PeteBrandy]

Yes, there is a beautiful country side on this route and also the train was nice :-)

[@jeromebano1125]

@@PeteBrandy Do you think German is still spoken in Ceske Velenice by some local people as it used to be part of Austria or is it mainly Czech speaking now?

[@flyingwithmatt]

Great video Pete! This train is similar to the train on which i rode from Wien Mitte to VIE airport...

[@PeteBrandy]

Thanks so much! I think it was the same train set :-)

[@helilebon2383]

Angenehmes Video. Wo findet der Systemwechsel der Oberleitung statt. In Österreich haben wir ja 15kV, 16,7 Hz, das es in Tschechien nicht gibt.

[@PeteBrandy]

Vielen Dank! Zwischen Gmünd und České Velenice herrscht ein Nullspannungsfeld und dann fährt der Zug für den verbleibenden kurzen Abschnitt unter 25 kV weiter.

[@helilebon2383]

@@PeteBrandy Sehr interessant. Danke.

[@abus3562]

Nice video, nice day for a train trip. Train is pretty quiet running. I think the sockets above the seat are stupid, The connection hanging down takes away from the rest of the interior and if you have a short connection you may be out of luck using the socket. Thanks for taking me along, see you next week.

[@PeteBrandy]

Thanks so much! Now the position of the sockets can be suitable and functional, but I can't imagine how it will be after a few years of operation, when the pins in the sockets are more loose (I already have a problem with sockets, for example in Railjet trains, where the adapter doesn't hold enough contact).

[@abus3562]

@@PeteBrandy They will end up being useless. I don't know who thinks of placing items like this in a poor position. Perhaps you or I should work for the railroad. 🚆

[@NonstopEurotrip]

I think these trains are excellent, I love them! Except the stupidly placed power sockets 😂 Do you know why this line is still left hand running? Another great video Pete! 🙌

[@PeteBrandy]

Thanks so much! I also like Cityjet sets :-) Yes, the power sockets are really weirdly placed, the same placement is now applied in our CityElefant double-decker sets in 1st class. Probably left-hand traffic remained due to the track signaling equipment.

[@NonstopEurotrip]

​@@PeteBrandy Ah yes good point! Oh and I meant to say, the acceleration on them is insane!

[@PeteBrandy]

@@NonstopEurotrip Yes, these units are light and well powered.. but.. it's Siemens, which means a good train :-)

[@philipkudrna5643]

The FJB is an isolated line, with double tracks running only to Absdorf. It only has connections to other lines via single track (the second track north of Absdorf had been demolished after WW2). Therefore there was no need to change the traffic from left to right and it was simply not done (probably for cost reasons and the fact that there were more important projects).

[@barevnykulanek2999]

Super video nechtěl by si někdy natočit R Bouzov z Brna do Šumperka

[@PeteBrandy]

Díky! Podzim a zimu budu zas točit víc české vlaky a R Bouzov mám také v plánu (postupně chci všechny naše rychlíky) :-)

[@martinbatyi2377]

Dobře video příště by jsi mohl skusit: Ec Slovenska strela

[@PeteBrandy]

Díky, no zkusit bych mohl, jen mi přijde to řazení stejné jako u klasického Metropolitanu. Jel jsem už oběma typy souprav, tu ZSSK s novým Ampz už mám video a z Metropolitanu s ČD soupravou mám připravené Praha - Bratislava a vyjde asi koncem října :-)

[@kuchniaipodroze]

Big like 👍☺️

[@PeteBrandy]

Dziękuję :-)

[@TravelALBERT]

Nice Video

[@PeteBrandy]

Thank you :-)

[@lfvlaky2396]

Výborné video

[@PeteBrandy]

Díky moc :-)

[@philipkudrna5643]

Hey, cool, I can‘t believe you made a video about this trip! Wien FJB us argueably one of the ugliest terminus stations in Vienna. It is, however, currently being modernized. The track to the Czech Republic was the main line to Prague, Dresden and Berlin before the First World War. Now, it primarily serves commuter service from the rural areas in the northern parts of lower Austria to the capital of Vienna.

[@PeteBrandy]

I wanted to try this route a long time :-) Yes, Wien FJB is really a obsolete railway station, but I hope that after the reconstruction it will be better. I know that this route was used by the Vindobona train with legendary diesel units.

[@ВиталийБойко-з5й]

Aw, you weren't seeing Warsaw West station, it was uglier

[@joachimdaniel2139]

Hello, 1) Do you evaluate this connection via C. Velenice as a reasonable alternative on the way from Vienna to Prague? 2) How to travel from Wien Hbf to Wien FJB? 3) Sockets should not be positioned overhead as this can be tricky when your charging cable is way too short.

[@PeteBrandy]

I think that alternative would be interesting if one express train operated all the way from Prague ... otherwise it is still better to use Railjet via Brno / Břeclav. But on this route, Vindobona motor trains used to run through Gmünd. From Wien Hbf to Wien Franz-Josefs-Bf you can take a direct tram (but it takes a longer time) or take the metro with one transfer (U1 to Karlsplatz, then U4 to Friedensbrücke, then another 5 minutes on foot). For me is better to take Metro. Yes, the power sockets are not well located.

[@philipkudrna5643]

I understand, Cesce Velenice is a system/changing station, where there are some tracks using the Austrian electric system and the other tracks the Czech system?

[@PeteBrandy]

The change of the system is in the section between České Velenice and Gmünd, where the train must switch the power supply. For this reason, only two-system trains, such as the CityJet or the 1216 Taurus locomotives, can run to České Velenice. On the contrary, older locomotives such as 1144 or 1116 cannot go to České Velenice.

Cool report, mate! Looks like a very pleasent trip. I really like the new Cityjet look inside and outside as well. I haven't known that Wiesels got the same look too, how cool! Hope you're doing well! ;)

[@PeteBrandy]

Thanks so much! Yes, Wiesels also got this look, but not all of them have been modified yet. Btw. Wiesels have a quiet zone in control car :-)

Nice! Talents look amazing too. :)

[@jirivalenta6382]

Pěkně fancy osobák :D

[@PeteBrandy]

To je, me se libi Desiro ML vic nez RegioPanter

[@Redstone5708]

Hello there. Great vid. Btw are you gonna make also a TRIP REPORT on the same route but with the new double decker trains in Cityjet delievery? I'm from Austria but I'm living too far away to drive with these. Greetings

[@PeteBrandy]

Thanks so much! I'm planning another trip on this route because of the Dosto (double-decker) units. Last time I traveled on a weekend, when only Siemens Desiro (CityJet) runs.

[@janjanuska1454]

Proc jizdenka mezi Velenicema a Gmudem stoji 149Kc ? Jak poridim jizdenku za normalni cenu 1-2 euro?

[@vitezslavpolak5405]

S bráchou jsme jeli do Itálie, přes Rakousko, Velenice, Gmund, Vídeň, v roce 1998

[@PeteBrandy]

To musel být skvělý výlet, také chci někdy zkusit vlak z Rakouska do Itálie :-) Jinak mě se ta trasa přes Velenice moc líbí!

[@jirivalenta6382]

Pěkné video! Akorát mi na čtyřkách chybí stolky. A ty zásuvky u reading lapms? Jako vážně?

[@PeteBrandy]

Díky! No taky jsem tam postrádal nějaký stolek, alespoň nějaký menší pod oknem.. Jediné kde jsem viděl stolek byla nízkopodlažní část, ale tam sedět nechci :-D

[@DrRchannel71]

nice video

[@PeteBrandy]

Thank you :-)

[@PeteBrandy]

Yes, you're right! :-)

[@Strosingr]

hezké video :)

[@PeteBrandy]

Díky moc! :-)

[@marcogeurts9881]

@Pete Brandy uhm can you make an trip report from Frankfurt am Main HBF to Amsterdam Centraal with the ICE 3m

[@PeteBrandy]

Yes, I can :-)

[@philipkudrna5643]

Under the Austro Hungarian Monarchy, Cesce Velenice was the main Station for the two sister city Gmünd/Cesce Velenice. The border-region had always been sort of bilingual. This changed after WW2, I guess, when the iron curtain separated both city and Gmünd had to become a new „border station“, as the last station before going to „the east“. (while ironically Prague geographically lies west of Vienna, of course!)

[@PeteBrandy]

I heard that Ceske Velenice / Gmünd had one main station. Yes, the East :-D

[@philipkudrna5643]

Great you mentioned that FJB is the last line, where left hand traffic had been preserved. The double track only reaches to Absdorf-Hippersdorf and for some reason, there was no need to change it (or it would have needed investments into the signaling infrastructure) so they left it as it is, as the FJB does only have single track crossings with other lines (apart from S45 in Wien Heiligenstadt, but this is not a problem). FJB is therefore an alien in the network. And for a long time, they used the oldest rolling stock there. This has only changed more recently with the train you used, but for commuter trains they still use the 4020s, which are up to 45 years old by now…

[@PeteBrandy]

Until recently, we had also several lines with left-hand traffic in the Czech Republic, but unfortunately there were none left. I'd also like to try the older Austrian commuter trains sometimes. I know that on weekdays, the service České Velenice to Vienna is operated by Dosto units.

[@MrRomulus1961]

No to oglądam...

[@PeteBrandy]

Dziękuję :-)

[@jamaha]

Ahoj, pěkné video! Tohle byla teda ta verze pro S-Bahn, když to mělo šest dveří, i když to jelo jako REX? Jinak podle mě to jsou super vlaky a třeba oproti srovnatelným InterPanterům pohodlím úplně někde jinde.

[@PeteBrandy]

Ahoj, díky :-) Ano, toto byla verze pro S-bahn (na 2 hodinovou jízdu). Ty čtyřdveřové jsem viděl že jezdí jako CJX z Westbahnhof do St. Pölten. Podle mě také, myslím že jsou mnohem zdařilejší než Pantery.

[@iRocketQueen]

9:33 Wow, dobrá opičárna. Vždyť na tom kabelu musí ten mobil viset. 🤔No nic... :D

[@PeteBrandy]

No já mám na cestování o něco delší kabel, takže v pohodě. Ale nedokážu si představit tam dát nabíječku od MacBooku, to by mi asi rozbilo hlavu :-D

[@iRocketQueen]

@@PeteBrandy No jasně, s delšim kabelem ok. Ale takovej základní káblík (nejen) od iphonu by ti podle mě nahoru nedosáhnul. Každopádně i v případě maců a notebooků to je blbost. Když budeš mít štěstí na opotřebovanou zásuvku, ze který ti ten kabel s adaptérem vypadne raz dva, tak asi můžeš jet rovnou na šití hlavy. 😀 Cityjet jako takovej je super, ale pracovat bych v tom nechtěl, právě kvůli těm zásuvkám.

[@PeteBrandy]

@@iRocketQueen Jo, to souhlas.. já vozím s sebou i standardní iPhone kabel a ten jsem měl také problém s délkou, naštěstí z dob létání vozím i jeden delší. Bohužel podobně řešené jsou teď nově i závsuvky v 1. třídě CityElefantů.

[@sotouscr8662]

LIKE 😄👍

[@PeteBrandy]

Díky :-)

[@puranjayapancholi7230]

is there wifi in the train😅

[@SylwiaK]

Like 😉😉😉

[@PeteBrandy]

Dziękuję :-)

[@Jakixx]

👌👌🙂

[@PeteBrandy]

:-)

[@adam193-vlakytrains]

Moc pěkný video! 😁 Škoda, že jsi neměl štěstí na dvoupatrovou soupravu s Taurusem 😄

[@PeteBrandy]

Díky moc! No štěstí bych neměl, Cityjet byl záměr, proto jsem jel o víkendu. Dosto (patra) jezdí všecní dny.. ale ten patrový mám v plánu taky (ale v opačném směru). Jinak s tím původním patrákem s Taurusem jsem jel začátkem léta (mám tu i video).

[@tomastetur1]

Takjle nějak by to mělo vypadat i v Čr.

[@PeteBrandy]

Tak ona už snaha celkem je, Pantery také nejsou špatné, jen by je chtělo ještě doladit (ale poslední sérií jsem ještě nejel) a hlavně aby jich bylo trochu více..

[@pavelmracek8538]

Pěkné video :) Vlak mi hodně připomíná RegioPanter (hlavně rozložením sedaček), a zásuvky mi skoro přijdou chytřeji vyřešené v něm, než tady, kde musí napájecí zdroj viset někde ze stropu...

[@PeteBrandy]

Díky! Je to téměř stejná koncepce jako u RegioPanteru, nejen rozložením sedadel.. ale po technické stránce bude určitě Desiro ML lepší. Jen ty zásuvky no, ale už jsem to viděl i jinde, myslím že v Holandsku a také naše CityElefanty je mají v 1. třídě pod stropem :-D

[@SimonLiddo]

I love your videos but hate the way you block out anonymous fellow passengers. Why do you feel the need to do this. No other channels seem to and it is so distracting? Such a shame because your actual filming is fabulous

[@PeteBrandy]

In the EU there is a legislation (GDPR law), where it is forbidden to shoot other people without their consent. In Germany, for example, there are heavy fines for this. And from June 2021, the new rules on YT also apply, if someone shoot other people, they are breaking these rules.

[@SimonLiddo]

@@PeteBrandy wow! Thanks for enlightening me Pete! There are many Vloggers who are in breach of these rules then. It still seems a shame though as it will inevitably detract from videos. Yours are awesome anyway though! Bravo 👏

[@PeteBrandy]

@@SimonLiddo I think it also depends on the location, the EU is quite strict in this. Yes, I also don't like it very much, it takes a lot of time to cover people in every video and I also don't like it .. Thank you :-)

[@martina3852]

proč zakrejváš lidem obličeje?!!!!!!

[@PeteBrandy]

Smernice EU GDPR a pravidla youtube platna od 06/2021