The Zillertal Railway

The Zillertal Railway runs every half hour all year round on the route from Jenbach to Mayrhofen, together with regular bus services, providing guests with an affordable and environmentally friendly way to reach their desired destination.

In addition, the Zillertal Railway offers a very special travel experience and numerous attractions for the whole family!

The Zillertal Railway was planned in the 1860s. The main motivation for its construction was the poor condition of the only road, which was barely passable for carriages or wagons due to numerous narrow, bumpy curves and partly swampy terrain. However, many years passed between the planning and the actual construction of the railway line, and it wasn't until 1902 that full operations to Mayrhofen could commence.

The 32 km long railway line was built with a so-called "Bosnian track gauge" of 760mm. The train travels over 35 bridges at a leisurely speed through the valley, allowing passengers to enjoy the breathtaking landscape and the views of the well-known holiday destinations of Fügen, Kaltenbach, Aschau, Schwendau, Zell am Ziller, and finally Mayrhofen in peace.

From 1928 to 1976, the Zillertal Railway was an important means of transportation for the (now decommissioned) magnesite mine in Tux, and also played a major role in the construction of the hydroelectric power plant in the Zillertal in the 1960s. Today, the Zillertal Railway primarily serves tourism and continues to be an important and well-functioning public transport system.

In 1956, it was renamed Zillertaler Verkehrsbetriebe AG, as it also began to manage regional bus services. This created a modern public transport network that meets the requirements of today's transportation development. The Zillertaler Verkehrsbetriebe is a joint stock company, majority-owned by the Zillertal municipalities. This ensures that the interests of the population and the region are preserved, and the people of Zillertal can rightfully be proud of "their railway."

The trains, modern railcar sets, run every half hour during the day, providing an optimal transport connection. Since 2007, the route has also been expanded to double track. In addition to the railway line, 30 buses ensure an optimal connection to all the holiday destinations and excursion sites in the Zillertal. A special attraction for the whole family is the nostalgic trains that run daily on the route, a "morning" and an "afternoon steam train" with a real steam locomotive and historic carriages! There are also many other special trains, such as the "Hobby Train," where everyone can try their hand at being a hobby train driver, or the "New Year's Eve Train." For special events such as birthday parties, anniversaries, or incentives, there is the "Crystal Wagon," adorned with 62,000 cut Swarovski crystals, which also travels as part of the regular steam train and offers a uniquely sparkling travel experience.

Get on board, take a ride! A journey on the Zillertal Railway is always a special event!
Link: www.zillertalbahn.at