The Vindobona is back as the Silva Nortica, connecting Prague and Vienna via Gmund
The Silva Nortica will initially run once a day on weekdays and twice a day on the weekends.
The Lower Austrian government has long been calling for the reinstatement of the Vindobona train. Austrian politicians headed by the Minister of Transport Leonore Gewessler presented the new connection between Prague and Vienna via Waldviertel today. Czech Railways confirmed the new service to start in December under the name Silva Nortica.
The Silva Nortica will initially run once a day on weekdays and twice a day on the weekends. The total journey time from Vienna to Prague will be around five hours with a gradual reduction. Austria is planning to improve the Emperor Franz Joseph Railway in a number of places, while electrification of the Veseli nad Luznici – Ceske Velenice section is planned on the Czech side.
The purpose is to connect Vienna and Prague as well as the regions along the route. The train will stop in e.g. Benesov, Olbramovice, Tabor, Sobeslav, Veseli nad Luznici, Trebon, Suchdol nad Luznici, Majdalena and Ceske Velenice. In Austria, it will continue to Gmund, Schwarzenau and Sigmundsherberg, terminating at Vienna Franz-Josefs-Bahnhof. Since the Veseli nad Luznici – Ceske Velenice section in not electrified, the locomotive will need to be changed twice on the route.
The Silva Nortica will be a modern fast train offering all the usual amenities and services.
Edited and translated by Lucie Trávníčková.