Zillertalbahn

Geschichte

The Zillertal Railway or Zillertalbahn is a gauge independent railway running along the valley of the river Ziller from Jenbach to Mayrhofen within the Tyrol area of Austria and is nearly 32 km long.BackgroundRunning through a valley in a high amenity rural area, the line is used by tourists and for commuter transport by local people. Railway enthusiasts are attracted to it because of its use of steam engines and its unusually small track gauge.Most of the passenger train services operate using modern diesel locomotives and railcars but the Zillertal Railway also has several steam locomotives which are used with heritage veranda rolling stock for special trains targeting tourists. Goods traffic is carried; standard gauge wagons from and to the main line network are carried on transporter wagons.In Jenbach the Zillertal Railway meets the ÖBB standard gauge line between Salzburg and Innsbruck and the metre gauge Achenseebahn. Jenbach is the only location in Austria where railways with three different gauges meet.HistoryThe line was opened on 31 July 1902, serving the needs of residents of the upper Ziller valley and giving them access to Jenbach and the main line railway in the Inn Valley.