Once again, thanks for the very detailed original reply and your subsequent prompt clarifications. They've been invaluable.

Too bad the best VIE-BUD timing for us is the EC train, but hopefully we can accommodate a less worse Railjet timing. The Regiojet Relax menu is sufficiently varied, not too bothered about appetising as long as its palatable and hygenic.

My wife and I loved taking trains when we were working in France and often wax nostalgic (haha) about long-distance railing in Europe, although obviously most of our experience has been on SNCF (including Thalys and Lyria) and Eurostar.