Zillertalbahn train 29.12.24
There is a decent breakfast available so that gets the day off to a good start. Innsbruck is quiet this morning with few people around. We have a reasonable walk to the station, slightly uphill and carefully identifying landmarks to ensure we can achieve the return journey without getting lost. The walk takes us through the main town centre and at the station we catch a train to Jenbach.
Here we can cross under the tracks to the separate Zillertalbahn which departs from an adjacent platform. Having read the time table I know that they now only run one steam return trip a day, for about three months, in high summer and it is no surprise to me that our journey today on the outward trip is behind a diesel locomotive. The return was with a self-powered diesel unit. There is a wait before departure which luckily enables a toilet stop. Our guide thought we would go immediately but in fact the timetable appears to have been amended since he was given the timings.
In the light of the haulage I am pleased therefore to be able to record that I travelled behind a Zillertal locomotive when we visited the Welshpool and Llanfair Railway back in June 2024 on our North Wales extravaganza. However the chances of steam haulage in Austria on this line is now heavily limited and far more is it a conveyance for local residents – the entire area seems to have far more modern adjacent buildings than older ones and no doubt the line has had to adapt to meet the demand.
The line winds through a white landscape as snow has fallen recently and it makes it a pleasant journey through the wintry wonderland. There are quite a few stops along the way with reasonable numbers joining to go skiing or for other purposes – so it is well used – at least at this time of year.
The far end of the Zillertalbahn line is Mayrhofen. Here we leave the train behind and walk up through the village gently. Obviously it is slightly more slippery than at times due to the recent snow, although the walking routes are generally well gritted, the previous falls are thawing as we are above zero when in the sun (which continues to shine brightly as it has generally throughout the holiday).
Near the top of the town is a cable car which exists primarily to take the many skiers up to the ski area (which is above the snow line and can therefore be used throughout the year) but also enables us to ascend to appreciate the views and the sunshine. Once at the top xx we can see that the various ski slopes are heavily populated and we can see the surrounding white tops of the mountain ranges.
The main building at the top has a sun deck which catches the sun nicely and I walk up to it to take some photos of the people actually skiing and use various ski lifts – there is another lift to a much higher point. We then return to the town below.
On the upwards walk through Mayrhofen a sign for apfelstrudel had been seen and that guaranteed a stop on the return journey; I chose the local soup with cheese scone within it, simple but warming given that there is snow everywhere outside.
The return train journeys are a reverse of the outward trip and the walk back down to the hotel remembering to turn left at the cannabis shop. Luckily with the sun shining it has not felt that cold apart from the wait at Mayrhofen for the train to arrive.
The brochure text is linked to a photo of a steam locomotive – hence the comments above:
Travelling on the Zillertalbahn today, we step aboard heritage carriages for an atmospheric journey through the delightful Ziller Valley.
The railway’s distinctive red engine stands out against the snow-clad landscapes as we marvel at sights such as rushing Ziller river, enchanting Tyrolean towns that look as if they belong on a Christmas card and meadows blanketed in thick, fresh snow.
Our outstanding journey on the Zillertalbahn (or the Ziller Valley Railway) takes us on a 19-mile route from Jenbach through the grandiose mountain scenery to Mayrhofen at the other end of the valley.
In the heart of the breath taking Tyrol region of Austria, the Zillertalbahn wends its way across the shimmering meadows, along the valleys and under the mountains. Cheerful red carriages and engine are easy to spot, as the Zillertalbahn crawls like a bright caterpillar across the Ziller valley floor offering a glimpse into the distinct charm of Austria’s verdant countryside.
The train line was officially opened in 1902, mainly operating as a passenger service for residents of the Ziller valley and the rest of the Tyrol region. The line has expanded to take on freight services, and the line actually owns a series of steam engines which are put on occasionally to take passengers and tourists back in time. Beginning at the jolly market town of Jenbach near the shimmering Achen Lake, the Zillertalbahn snakes its way through the enchanting small Tyrolean towns and villages on its way to the ski resort of Mayrhofen.
We arrive in Mayrhofen where you have free time to ride to the summit of Penken via a gondola cable car, walk the cobbled streets or visit the Ahorn Eagle’s Stage, an observation point for alpine birds of prey.
We arrive in Mayrhofen where you have free time to ride to the summit of Penken via a gondola cable car, walk the cobbled streets or visit the Ahorn Eagle’s Stage, an observation point for alpine birds of prey.