No trains to Liechtenstein

The Principality of Liechtenstein is one of the few countries on the European mainland where the capital city has no railway station. Vaduz is not on a railway line, although the nearest station at Schaan rather presumptuously affects a capital connection by calling itself Schaan-Vaduz. It is an eight-minute bus ride from Schaan to Vaduz. In this diminutive principality, that's quite a long journey.

There is just one railway which cuts through Liechtenstein. It is used by the fast trains from Zürich to Vienna. Route 33 in our Europe by Rail book follows that line through Liechtenstein, although once over the Arlberg we recommend taking a more interesting route east through Austria than that followed by the Railjets bound for the Austrian capital.

This month, though, things are a little different because throughout June there are absolutely no trains running through Liechtenstein. The line from Buchs in Switzerland to Feldkirch in Austria is the only rail route to traverse the territory of Liechtenstein, and there is a big improvement project on that line this month. You can read more about it in this recent issue of Letter from Europe. But meanwhile, if you are following Route 33 in Europe by Rail or taking any train from Switzerland bound for the Austrian Tyrol and beyond, then be prepared for diversions and the possibility of being transferred onto a bus for a short stretch of the journey.