Zurich to Graz - Europe's Epic Express Train Journeys
On departure from Zurich the train will plunge into a tunnel, but the breath-taking views commence as soon as the train exits and then spends more than 25 minutes running along the shore of the Zurichsee (Lake Zurich), which can be seen on the LEFT when heading east.
The two views above and this video...
...and the two images below, were all taken between Thalwill and Pfaffikon stations.
Shortly after the train has left Lake Zurich behind there are even more incredible lakeside views on the LEFT as the train passes the even more beautiful Walensee.
After departure from Buchs there's a preview of the Alpine scenery to come, as the train heads towards Austria, but before it does so it briefly passes through Liechtenstein.
After the train has departed from Feldkirch comes the highlight of the journey, the passage through the Arlberg Pass between there and Landeck.
The best of the views will now be over to the RIGHT but the train will have reversed direction at Buchs, so if you join the track at Zurich opting to sit on the left when boarding is definitely the best option.
A big plus of this journey is that seats don't have to be reserved on the Railjets or the EC trains on this route - so when boarding at Zurich you can usually opt to sit on the left.
These trains are rarely exceptionally crowded, particularly in the middle of the day.
Though what can be frustrating is that the Arlberg Railway isn't above the tree line, so the constant presence of the tress means the stunning views can be fleeting.
The image below is one of the highlights of this journey, the view down the valley near Braz, when the train loops across the valley around 10 mins after departure from Bludenz station - this is a location where the trees temporarily don't get in the way!
Between Braz and Langen am Arlberg the train travels through the Arlberg Pass on the southern side of the valley wall and the views below are taken from the right.
Between Langen am Arlberg and to the east of St Anton the train travels through a series of tunnels including the 10.6 kilometres of The Arlberg Tunnel which commences at St Anton station.
After the train exits the tunnel, the railway line crosses a series of bridges, which provides for fleeting views down the spectacular valleys.
As the railway leaves The Arlberg Pass behind, between here and Innsbruck the views are far from dull - and on this section of the journey the best of the views switch to the LEFT.
The trains begin a long descent into Landeck-Zams, with fabulous views over the town.
This image below was taken after departure from Landeck-Zams and from here to after Innsbruck the train follows the River Inn.
Between Innsbruck and Worgl the best of the views switch back to the right - the EC train from Zurich to Graz doesn't use the new tunnels which divert the Railjets away from the river.
After Worgl the Railjets on the Zurich - Salzburg - Wien/Vienna route part ways with the route taken by this daily direct Zurich - Graz train.
We have a confession to make, we have only followed the route taken by the Railjets, but on THEIR journey you will have already experienced the best of the scenery when heading east from Zurich.
However, the route that the Zurich - Graz train takes beyond Worgl is still a delight. We know that is the case because much of it is marked as scenic on the Rail Map of Europe and it never let's us down.
This daily train takes a route through the heart of the Austrian Tyrol via Kitzbuhel and Zell am Zee - and the views of Alpine landscape then continue as the train travels along the majestic Enns Valley Line towards Graz.
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For all the practical information you need to know about making this incredible journey - including details of the tickets, trains and stations...
If you have a Eurail or InterRail pass, a fabulous alternative to the direct trains between Zurich and Wien/Vienna is to take this train heading to Graz, but to leave it when it arrives in Leoben.
At Leoben you can connect into a train on to Wien that will travel over the stunning Semmering Pass - though you need to make that connection at Leoben in the summer, in order to make the most of the late afternoon journey on that route (in the opposite direction TO Wien/Vienna).
This journey is also featured on our GUIDE to European trains which only depart once per day.
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THE OTHER EPIC EXPRESS TRAIN JOURNEYS:
click on the journeys listed below to discover why they are so fabulous:
LONDON TO CORNWALL
KOLN/COLOGNE TO KLAGENFURT
MALAGA TO BARCELONA
MARSEILLE TO GENOVA
MILANO TO GENEVE
MILANO TO ZURICH
MUNCHEN TO VENEZIA
OSLO - BERGEN
PARIS - TORINO/TURIN
ROME and NAPLES - SICILY
SALZBURG TO ZAGREB
WIEN/VIENNA TO VENEZIA/VENICE
WIEN/VIENNA TO LJUBLJANA
YORK TO ABERDEEN
ZAGREB TO WIEN/VIENNA
