The Lower Austrian Railways (NÖVOG) are expanding their tourism portfolio in late summer and autumn 2026 with a series of themed trips focusing on "Culinary Delights on Rails". In cooperation with regional restaurateurs and award-winning top chefs, special culinary journeys have been designed for the Waldviertel Railway, the Mariazell Railway and the Reblaus Express.
As State Councillor for Transport and Deputy Governor Udo Landbauer announced, this strategy aims to establish the narrow-gauge and regional railways of the state as high-quality experience platforms in the upscale segment of domestic tourism, going beyond mere passenger transport.
The series of events kicks off on August 21, 2026, with a special excursion on the Waldviertel Railway. A historic steam train will run in the late afternoon on the narrow-gauge line from Gmünd to Litschau. The restaurant "Moment" in Litschau, under the direction of chef Victoria Kuben, will provide the evening's culinary offerings, featuring a multi-course menu with wine pairings. The excursion will be complemented by a cultural program, with the theater ensemble "kollekTief" and the renowned Austrian musicians Ernst Molden and Marie-Therese Stickler responsible for the artistic staging of the subsequent walk to the train station.
A more experimental culinary experience will follow on September 25, 2026, on the Mariazell Railway in cooperation with the "Mostviertel Field Experiments" initiative. The journey combines modern rail infrastructure with unconventional, top-class gastronomy. After a guided tour of the modern Laubenbachmühle station and logistics center, passengers will travel in the train's glass-enclosed panoramic carriages towards Wienerbruck. The culinary journey begins during the trip with initial stops and culminates in a five-course meal at the Ötscherbasis Nature Park base, featuring primarily creative and fermented products from the Mostviertel region.
The most exclusive and limited offering, entitled "Reblaus Royale," will take place on October 2, 2026, on the Reblaus Express line between Retz and Drosendorf. This special culinary train is limited to a capacity of just 80 seats and travels through the autumnal wine-growing regions of the Weinviertel. The renowned award-winning chef Harald Pollak from the Retzbacherhof is responsible for the four-course menu, which, along with an accompanying wine tasting, will be served directly in the dining car during the journey to Geras and back. With this initiative, the management of NÖVOG, led by managing directors Wolfgang Schroll and Michael Hasenöhrl, is specifically targeting culinary and railway enthusiasts to maximize ridership on the lines during the autumn season.