Railjet is the flagship train of the Austrian Railway company ÖBB. It offers three classes: economy, first & business (confusingly, in that order).
ÖBB’s premium product is a real treat and I’m excited to share my experience in this Railjet Business Class review. It is based on my journey between Budapest and Vienna, en route to Passau in Germany.
I was travelling through Central Europe using a 1st-class Interrail Pass and upgraded this leg for €15.
Is Railjet Business Class Worth it?
It’s worth upgrading to Railjet Business Class if you value a quieter train carriage with more room to stretch out. As it only costs €15 on top of a 1st class fare to get a business class seat, it’s a good way to travel better for less.
I had a peaceful and relaxing journey. My only beef is that the train staff could have been more attentive.
My Experience Travelling in Railjet Business Class: Review
Lounges
Purely in the interest of research, I visited the lounges in Budapest Keleti Station and Vienna Station.
There are seven of these lounges in Austria’s main railway hubs, available free of charge if you have a first or business-class ticket. You can visit the lounge at Budapest Keleti Station if you hold a 1st class international ticket to or from Budapest, or a first-class Interrail or Eurail pass with a reservation for that day.
Budapest Keleti Station Lounge
The business lounge at Keleti Station is located on platform 9. It was clean and functional with comfortable chairs arranged around low tables and workstations.
There’s a good selection of free snacks and non-alcoholic drinks – they make great coffee! – and more available for a charge.
Business Lounge at Vienna Hbf
The ÖBB lounge at Vienna Station is on the first floor of the main concourse, accessible by stairs and a lift. There were plenty of comfortable chairs and self-service coffee, soft drinks and snacks were available.
Boarding the train
My train from Budapest to Vienna conveniently left from platform 9. Boarding was smooth and began 20 minutes before the scheduled departure time.
Railjet Business Class carriage
How the Business Class section is configured depends on the type of Railjet train on which you are travelling.
I was on one of the original Railjet trains which has a total of 16 business class seats. Apart from two cute solo seats near the carriage door, they are in a staggered arrangement across four semi-enclosed compartments of three or four seats.
Partially frosted glass separated the compartment from the carpeted corridor.
I was too late to book one of the solo seats (#51 and #55) which are a terrific choice if you are travelling alone. A good second choice for solo travellers is the single seat in the compartment of three.
The business class compartment was spacious, decked out in a soothing palette of dark grey and red. There were coat hooks, a reading light and a table that either retracted into the armrest or was fixed.
Passengers shared a rubbish bin next to the window. Individual charging points were between the seats, and a screen showed the route and progress of the train.
There was generous overhead luggage storage in the compartment but I placed my bag in the space between the side table and the door. Unusually, there was no luggage storage space at the end of the carriage.
Railjet Business Class seats
A wide and plushly upholstered seat ensured I had a comfortable journey. This reclined and had a lazy-boy type footrest. However, I did feel trapped by the table.
By comparison, the Railjet First Class seats are arranged in a 2 + 1 configuration in a standard rail carriage.
Food and drink on board
An at-seat service was available for paid-for food and drink from the menu at the seat. Alternatively, you can order by scanning the menu’s QR code.
The choice was good and the prices reasonable. Sadly, a free welcome drink is not provided on non-Austrian routes.
Customer service
Staff were as rare as unicorns on the journey.
There was a ticket check shortly after departure and again at the Austrian border. Other than that, I only spotted an attendant a few times and they weren’t proactive.
Connectivity on board
The free wi-fi service was generally very good. Like most train services, it was intermittent.
Final Thoughts
So, do you think Railjet Business Class is worth it for you?
I wouldn’t think twice about upgrading from first class to business class on Railjet again, purely for the space and comfort. But next time I’d try to reserve a solo seat, rather than sit in one of the compartments.
You can check fares and book a ticket on the official website.
About Bridget
Bridget Coleman has been a passionate traveller for more than 30 years. She has visited 70+ countries, most as a solo traveller.
Articles on this site reflect her first-hand experiences.
To get in touch, email her at hello@theflashpacker.net or follow her on social media.