We kindly ask to have a look on the main website for further photos and details available in german only.

The Railway through the "Hell Valley"

In 1917 a 5 km normal gauge connection from the Semmeringbahn at Payerbach to the little industry village Hirschwang should be built including a tunnel. The civil work company used a railway with 760 mm narrow gauge for material transportation with locomotives built 1903 and formerly used for construction of the Karawanken-tunnel. One year later, after end of World War I, the constructions were stopped and the tunnel was abandoned.

The industry in Hirschwang was furtheron linked by this little material railway and its funny electric locos only, until 1926, when Austria's first gondola ropeway to the Rax was opened. The material railway was reinforced and extended. Huge, then ultra-modern 4-axle motorcars with trailers were purchased. The so called "LBP-H" (Lokalbahnn Payerbach-Hirschwang) hauled millions of wanderers, ski-tourists, schoolkids and industry workers until 1963, when it was replaced by a bus line following those time's fashions.

In 1977 the "Austrian Light Rail Association" (OeGLB) was founded and established a museum railway service at the line, with freight trains still in service till the early 1980s.

Some technical data:

length: 5 km
gauge: 760 mm (so called "bosnian gauge")
max. gradient: 2.5 %
min. curve radius: 60 m
max. service speed: 20 km/h
catenary voltage: 550 V DC
energy supply: rotating and static AC-DC transformers

- E-loco E 1 built 1903, 2 axles, 2 x 18 kW
- EMU vehicle TW 1 built 1926, 4 axles, 4 x 28 kW
- 2 diesel locos and some motor railcars
- original EMU trailers 11 and 12
- self-adapted trailer 21 (from normal gauge trailer)
- many freight wagons used for internal transports

Today, the railway is maintained and operated by a small group of volunteers in their freetime and service is thus limited to sundays and holydays during summer. In addition to the train rides, guided tours show vehicles and technical devices as well as the work of the volunteers from the backstage view.

Enjoyed by thousands of visitors every year, the Hoellentalbahn is a lovingly preserved technical monument, while at the same time operating through delightful scenery.

Enjoy yourself!

Timetable 2008

Days of service every Sunday and Holiday from June 15th till October 12th.

from Vienna / Wr. Neustadt			ZB 9 29	13 06	ZB 14 27	17 06	18 06
from Muerzzuschlag			9 49	ZB 12 49	13 49	ZB 16 48	17 49
			Train 11	Train 13	Train 15	Train 17	Train 19 *
Payerbach	dep		9 55	13 15	14 40	17 15	18 30
Kurhaus			10 03	13 23	14 48	17 23	18 38
Reichenau	arr		10 07	13 27	14 52	17 27	18 42
	dep		10 10	13 30	15 15	17 30	18 50
Haaberg			10 16	13 36	15 21	17 36	18 56
Hirschwang	arr		10 20	13 40	15 25	17 40	19 00
			Event Train		Event Train
		Train 10	Train 12	Train 14	Train 16	Train 18 *
Hirschwang	dep	9 10	11 05	13 50	16 10	17 50
Haaberg		9 14	11 09	13 54	16 14	17 54
Reichenau	arr	9 20	11 15	14 00	16 20	18 00
	dep	9 25	11 35	14 03	16 23	18 03
Kurhaus		9 30	11 39	14 07	16 27	18 07
Payerbach	arr	9 39	11 47	14 15	16 35	18 15
to Vienna / Wr. Neustadt		9 54	11 54 ZB 12 54	14 54	ZB 16 49 16 54	18 54
to Muerzzuschlag		10 09	12 09	ZB 14 28	18 09	19 09

Service at every weather but not duty-bound. All data is subject to change without notice.

We are pleased to take bicycles onboard the trains if there's enough space left.

Event Trains

Event Trains will include guided tours giving you the possibility to get informed about the railway and the work of the volunteers in detail.

Guided Tours :
- depot and workshop Hirschwang (approx.. 40 min)
- electric substation Reichenau (approx. 15 min)

	Download		Colour folder 2008 (in German only)	371 kB
	Download		Poster (A3) 2008 (in German only)	200 kB

Special Events 2008

"Moonvine" Events - the moonvine event links the adventure of travelling at night with our train and the experience of good vines inside the famous viaduct of the Semmering railway.
2008 events on July 19th, August 16th and September 13th.

Zweizugsamstag ("Two-Train-Service Saturday")- on August 2nd 2008
On this day all regular trains will be hauled by locos E 1 and V 2, changing in Reichenau.

Special timetables and fares may occur, details to follow when available!

Fares
(in EUR)

Return: 8,-
Single: 5,-
Half way: 3,-
"Sniffer-Card" (one stop only): 2,-
Children till 6 years are free,
children till 15 years per direction: 2,-

You will get the tickets from the conductor onboard the train.

Family Reduction

2 adults and 1 child till 15 years together:
Return: 17,-
Single: 11,-
(no half way tickets available)

Group Reduction
with obligatory seat reservation:
Return: > 20 pers.: 10%, > 50 pers.: 20%.
Single: > 20 pers.: 5%, > 50 pers.: 10%.

How to find us

By public transport
OeBB South-Line to "Payerbach-Reichenau", please go to the left after leaving the train and look for the signs CAUTION! Don't cross the tracks, please use the underpass!

By car
A2 south-highway, B6 Semmering-highway till exit "Gloggnitz", look for signs to "Hoellental". In Payerbach look for the sign right hand, after passing the traffic-light (Baurat Schneider Street). You can alternatively go further on to Reichenau. At the main junction (crystal spring) go to the right and then over the bridge directly to our station.

Contact us

For reservations, hiring of a special train or any further informations please don't hesitate to contact us. If you plan a ride with more than 10 persons please make a seat reservation in advance, which can be made per phone or mail free of charge.

Tourism Office Payerbach:
Tel.: ++43 2666 / 52423-12
Mon-Fri: 8-12am and 2 -5pm, Sat 8-12am

Tourism Office Reichenau:
Tel.: ++43 2666 / 52 8 65
Mon-Fri: 9-12am and 3-5pm, Sat: 9-12am

E-Mail: info@lokalbahnen.at