Blwetorch

As part of my larger tour, I have to come from Salzburg to Venice on a particular date. After going through this forum and a few other resources, I can see that the train-route through Villach is very scenic and takes shorter time, compared to the route via Innsbruck, Verona, etc. But I am a bit confused whether part of the journey is by bus...or is it trains all the way. One thing is certain that there is a change in Villach hbf. I have referred to 4 websites( bahn.de, trenitalia, Oebb & raileurope.co.in) and they are not giving a clear picture.
For example, after searching for a route starting at 8:12 in the morning from Salzburg and reaching Venice at 14:25 via Villach, I am getting different details for presumably the same journey. The details found in the 4 different websites are summarized below:

1. raileurope.co.in -:
SALZBURG HBF- dep 08:12
VENEZIA S LUCIA- arr 14:25
Total time-: 6h 13m
1 connection
Details: Train 592 - Reservation included and Train 833 - Reservation included

2. bahn.de-:
Salzburg Hbf - dep 08:12
Venezia Tronchetto - arr 14:25
1 connection
total time - 6:13
Details: OIC 592, OBB Intercity BUS 833

(Note the difference between the first 2 sources itself)

3. http://orario.trenitalia.com
Salzburg Hbf. dep 08:12
Villach Hbf 10:43
Villach Hbf 10:56
Venezia S. Lucia 14:25
1 connection
total time - 6:13
Detail-: 592 BELLISSIMO/ EC(Eurocity)833

4. OeBB
Salzburg Hbf 08:12 dep ( OBB IC(INTERCITY) OIC 592)
Villach- arr 10:43
Villach - dep 10:48 to Villach busbahnhof) 5 mins walk.
Villach Busbahnhof - dep 10:56
Venezia Tronchetto 14:25 arr
1 connection
total time - 6:13

Plz note that the starting time from Salzburg hbf and the arrival time at Venice remains same in all 4 cases. Trenitalia and raileurope mentions the terminal station at Venice as St Lucia, which is a railway station..............and OeBB and bahn.de mentions the terminal station as Venezia Tronchetto, which is presumably a bus-station. The later 2 mentions Bus 833, where as the former 2 mentions Train-833.
Which one is correct? Thanks.

Blwetorch

For the journey from Villach to Venice Tronchetto, the type of medium mentioned are : OBB ICBus ICB 833.....in the OeBB website search result, which is mentioned above at no. 4.

Blwetorch

The 4 search links are given below-:

1. RailEurope-
http://www.raileurope.co.in/spip.php...e_oper=results

2. bahn.de-
http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/que...fasScrollDir=1

3. orario. trenitalia-
http://orario.trenitalia.com/b2c/npp...n&channel=tcom

4. OeBB-
http://fahrplan.oebb.at/bin/query.ex...fasScrollDir=2

qwovadis

Villach is wierd have done it good thread here http://www.raildude.com/train/ljublj...ain-t3647.html If you catch connections right you are ok
otherwise you can get stuck. seat61.com/austria good
info Innsbruck reliable scenic cheap usually what I do.
Stop at Lake Garda on your way it is awesome.
Happy Travels!

qwovadis

www.eurolines.com generlly cheapest most direct not as pretty.

molker

The connection mentioned between Villach and Venice as mentioned above is correct a bus - not a train.

The bus is comfortable double decked - 2 classes first and second - with limited seats , you have a reserved seat when booking .

Confusing to some not familiar with the route - no reservation for the train portion as it really is not needed.

Rail europe - often schedules are incomplete or just wrong .
Prices are much higher for same travel than if purchsed from national carrier actually offering the service.

Raileurope = " ripoff "

The connection train /bus in Villach is convenient and easy - a very short walk out side of the train station to bus parking area.

Blwetorch

Thanks qwovadis and molker...for the info!

Blwetorch

@ qwovadis.....if we purchase a ticket for the whole journey that is, from Salzburg to Venice, which includes train/ bus both, partially and their times are also synced with the arrival/departure of each other, then how can that be a problem? For example, the train mentioned above reaches Villach at 10-43am and the bus leaves Villach at 10-56am, from a nearby place. If one purchases the full ticket, this may not be any hassle. On top of that, if one is having an Eurail Flexi Saver pass for 3 countries, including Italy and Austria, then the full journey will be covered( except for the reservations). Isn't it so?

molker

Eurolines serves Salzburg - Venice ?

I do notn think so.

Salzburg - Venice by Austrian Rail-

both train and bus and operated by the same carrier.

No problem with the change and bus not leaving before train arrival- being the same carrier - they are aware of timings of arrivals.

Blwetorch

Thanks molker......btw, which journey is more scenic....Salzburg -Venice via Villach or Salzburg-Venice via Innsbruck?