ÖBB is closing the Tauern railway between Böckstein and Mallnitz from 8 February to 9 July 2027, while Deutsche Bahn works between Rosenheim and Freilassing. The Munich to Zagreb EuroCity then only starts in Villach, and the night trains go via Graz. We compared the connections in the ÖBB journey planner.
Checked: 26 October 2026, 16:22
Anyone taking the train from Munich, Stuttgart or Zurich to Croatia in spring 2027 should expect detours. ÖBB is closing the Tauern railway between Böckstein and Mallnitz completely from 8 February to 9 July 2027, Salzburg24 reports. Over the same period the German Corner line between Freilassing and Rosenheim is also closed, according to ÖBB. Both sections lie on the shortest route from Bavaria via Salzburg and Villach to Ljubljana and Zagreb. The closure covers Easter on 28 March and Whitsun on 16 May 2027. ÖBB has been selling tickets for the 2027 timetable since 14 October 2026, and the new timetable starts on 13 December 2026.
What the ÖBB journey planner shows for March 2027
On 26 October 2026 we compared two Fridays in the ÖBB journey planner: 4 December 2026, before the closure, and 12 March 2027, in the middle of it. The destination each time was Zagreb Glavni kolodvor. The 2027 times may still change before departure.
| From | 4 December 2026 | 12 March 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Munich Hbf, day train via Villach | EuroCity 115 dep. 10:16, arr. 19:20, direct, 9 h 4 min | EuroCity 1217 dep. 07:23 to Bischofshofen, replacement bus to Villach, EuroCity 115 dep. 14:45, arr. 19:10, 11 h 47 min, 2 changes |
| Munich Hbf, midday train via Graz | ICE 117 dep. 12:16 via Salzburg and Villach to Graz, EuroCity 79, arr. 22:20, 10 h 4 min, 1 change | Railjet 85 dep. 11:32 to Wörgl, EuroCity 163 to Graz, EuroCity 79, arr. 22:21, 10 h 49 min, 2 changes |
| Munich Ost, night train | EuroNight 40237 dep. 23:54 via Salzburg, Villach and Ljubljana, arr. 10:30 | EuroNight 40237 dep. 23:54 via Kufstein, Selzthal, Graz and Maribor, arr. 11:47 |
| Zurich HB, night train | EuroNight 40465 dep. 20:40 via Innsbruck, Villach and Ljubljana, arr. 10:30, 13 h 50 min | EuroNight 40465 dep. 20:40 via Innsbruck, Selzthal, Graz and Maribor, arr. 11:47, 15 h 7 min |
| Vienna, day train via Graz and Maribor | EuroCity 79, arr. 22:20 | EuroCity 79 dep. Wien Meidling 16:00, arr. 22:21 |
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What it means for visitors
- There is no direct train from Munich to Zagreb. According to the planner, EuroCity 115 only starts in Villach at 14:45. To get there you take a train to Bischofshofen and continue on the replacement bus.
- If you want only one change, take Railjet Express 1165 from Munich at 11:15 via Passau and Linz to Wien Meidling, then EuroCity 79 at 16:00. It reaches Zagreb at 22:21.
- During the closure the night trains from Munich and Zurich run via Selzthal, Graz and Maribor and arrive at 11:47 instead of 10:30. Villach and Ljubljana are then off their route. If you are heading for Ljubljana, you need a different connection.
- According to Salzburg24, direct buses with no intermediate stops run every hour between Bischofshofen and Spittal an der Drau. A replacement bus serves the Gastein valley from Schwarzach im Pongau, and long-distance trains run every two hours between Spittal and Mallnitz-Obervellach.
- By car: the Tauern car shuttle train between Böckstein and Mallnitz only runs again from 10 July 2027. Work on the Katschberg and Tauern motorway tunnels only starts in autumn 2027, Salzburg24 reports. Vignettes and tunnel tolls are in our guide to driving to Croatia.
Why the line is closed
ÖBB is renovating the vault and the rail systems in the southern section, about two kilometres long, of the 8,371-metre Tauern tunnel near Mallnitz. This is the second stage; the first ran from November 2024 to July 2025. ÖBB deliberately timed the work to coincide with Deutsche Bahn's works between Rosenheim and Freilassing. Railjet Express trains between Vienna and Munich will then run via Passau, according to ÖBB. Until 7 February 2027 the usual routes apply; the Advent trains to Zagreb are in our weekend plan for Advent in Zagreb.
Frequently asked questions
- When is the Tauern railway closed in 2027?
- No trains run between Böckstein and Mallnitz from 8 February to 9 July 2027. The car shuttle train resumes on 10 July 2027. Over the same period the German Corner line between Freilassing and Rosenheim is closed.
- Does the EuroCity from Munich to Zagreb run during the closure?
- According to the ÖBB planner on 26 October 2026, EuroCity 115 on 12 March 2027 only starts in Villach at 14:45 and reaches Zagreb at 19:10. From Munich you first travel by train and replacement bus via Bischofshofen. The trip takes 11 hours 47 minutes instead of 9 hours 4 minutes.
- Do the night trains to Zagreb keep running?
- Yes. According to the planner, the EuroNight trains from Munich and Zurich run via Selzthal, Graz and Maribor and reach Zagreb at 11:47 instead of 10:30. Villach and Ljubljana are off their route during this period.
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