Taken or know about train from Venice to Vienna?
 

Hi
I saw the film "Under the Tuscan Sun" yesterday and there was a reference to the train route from Vienna to Venice. I knew of course there were trains, but describing the route as going through the Alps awakened my interest.
If you've done that route, or know about it, would appreciate any comments: Is it a very picturesque route? Too long to spend the time on? Sit on one side of the train or the other? Transfers required? etc etc
thanks

I've actually taken this route several times. Whether or not you have to change depends on what time of day you leave Venice. There is usually at least one train per day that requires no changes; otherwise you generally have to change in Kufstein or in some cases in both Verona and in Kudfstein.

The "dramatic" part of the journey begins once you get to Trent and Bolzano...and as you climb further into the Dolomite region there are some very scenic vistas..perhaps more so on the left side (facing forward) of the train than on the right, but that's subjective.
This route takes you over the Brenner Pass which is the lowest of all the mountain passes. There is usually a 10-15 minute stop at Brennero where the Italian locomotive is changed out for one from the Austrian railways. None of this is quite as spectacular as going through the Swiss Alps but it is very pretty mountain scenery.
At Kufstein you change for Vienna (unless you are on the diredct train) and then the routing is through Salzburg and Linz and on into Vienna.

Overall this is certainly not a monotonous route IMO but I'm kinda partial to the ease of European train travel anyway.

I took it once with no train change. Nice mountain views and then Austrain lakes & hilltp castles. Seems like it took about seven hours. Left in the afternoon and arrived about 2100 at night.

We were told to sit on the right side of the train, but I don't remember if the other side lacked good views.

great info so far, thank you

I'll see if I can get timing and routing at fs-on-line (Italian railways)

Additonal comments welcomed

7 hours sounds LONG to me, will have to consider that

Direct service (no changes) takes 7 hrs and 36 minutes...that service usually leaves Venice around 1:30 PM...you can go earlier but you'll have to change once or twice and it could take even longer. You can also check schedules at www.bahn.de