European Rail Travel - Austrian Railjet and Semmering Pass Railway

Hello,

1. Does it make a difference if I book my ticket on the Deutche Bahn website or the OBB website?
2. On the DB website, there are only 2nd class and 1st class to choose from. However, the Railjet has a third "premium" class. Does anyone know how to book that?
3. I'd like to ride on the UNESCO recognized Semmering Pass railway. I know it only operates on Sat and Sun out of Vienna but don't know how to book a roundtrip back to Vienna on the same day itinerary and which train to take. Please advise! Thanks.

1. No.
2. Unless first class is that premium class, you can't book it on bahn's website.
3. The line is a mainline and operates every day with many trains passing on it. This is between Vienna and Graz. Here's a good map (http://www.noe.co.at/partner/trsued/whsemmeringbahn/Bilder/Karte%20mit%20Semmeringbahn.JPG). I searched Bahn's website for trains between Wien and Semmering and it came up with a number of regional trains that make that journey (1 change is required at Payerbach-Reichenau).

If you want an old train, look here (http://www.erlebnis-bahn-schiff.at). These run only occasionally.

1. No.
2. Unless first class is that premium class, you can't book it on bahn's website.
3. The line is a mainline and operates every day with many trains passing on it. This is between Vienna and Graz. Here's a good map (http://www.noe.co.at/partner/trsued/whsemmeringbahn/Bilder/Karte%20mit%20Semmeringbahn.JPG). I searched Bahn's website for trains between Wien and Semmering and it came up with a number of regional trains that make that journey (1 change is required at Payerbach-Reichenau).

If you want an old train, look here (http://www.erlebnis-bahn-schiff.at). These run only occasionally.

Thanks a lot. I wonder where I can book the premium class seating. Right now can't find anything on either websites. When I travel on Railjet, can I still gain access to the DB lounge although traveling on OBB First?

1. It does matter, for 2 reasons:
a) the prices (for 2nd and 1st class) can be different on the two sites (a check has just confirmed this - I presume you are talking about tickets between Austria and Germany);
b) you can only book Premium Class on the OeBB website.

If you are travelling from Germany to Austria, and have a first class ticket, you can buy the Premium class supplement/reservation at a DB ticket machine, up to the date before departure, for €25.