IMechE Technical Tour 2024

ITINERARY

Day 1

Arrive in Vienna where we stay for 3 nights.

Day 2

The Technical Tour will start today with a visit to the RailTec Arsenal climatic centre where we will have a guided tour of the facility. From there we shall travel by train via the World Heritage Semmering Pass to Mürzzuschlag for a tour of the Semmering Base Tunnel western portal construction site. We shall then visit the Südbahn Museum close to Mürzzuschlag station before returning to Vienna, again via the Semmering Pass, in the evening.

Day 3

We shall visit a Vienna Metro depot, and experience the latest Siemens metro type X train. We shall then visit the transport museum and, thereafter, we have free time in Vienna to explore the transport facilities, such as the Wiener Lokalbahn. To close the day, Eversholt Rail Group offers the delegates a dinner in Vienna.

Day 4

We check out of the hotel and head to Slovakia, travelling by ferry down the Danube to Bratislava. We transfer to the main station and head a short distance north-east to Trnava for a visit to the vast ŽOS Trnava locomotive and vehicle build and repair facility. In the afternoon we complete our trip northwards by train to Žilina where we will stay for 1 night. We have free time to explore Žilina in the evening. Siemens are inviting the delegates for an evening meal in Žilina.

Day 5

After an early breakfast, we start the day visiting the Siemens Rail Infrastructure facility with a guided tour of the ETCS testing and commissioning laboratories. After lunch we travel a short distance to ŽOS Vrutky, which is a historic Slovak locomotive and vehicle repair and modification facility. From Vrutky we travel by train to the High Tatras railway, starting at Strba on the metre gauge cog railway (OZ) to Strbske Pleso and then onto the Electric mountain railway (TEZ) to Poprad-Tatry where we arrive early evening for a 1-night stay in Poprad.

Day 6

We start early again and head to the wagon manufacturing and repairer, Tatravagonka in Poprad. Tatravagonka are one the largest wagon manufacturers in Europe, producing ca. 4,000 wagons per annum. After visiting Tatravagonka, and just after lunchtime, we embark on a cross-border train journey to Budapest changing at Kosice. We arrive in the Hungarian capital early evening, where we will check into a hotel for 2 nights. In the evening there is free time in to explore the capital and relax.

Day 7

We fill our day with visits to Budapest public transport system, starting with the historic, 1896 UNESCO heritage M1 underground line and then the modern M4 Line, including the maintenance depot and operations centre before finishing the day with a trip to the tram museum and the funicular railway to the castle.

Days 8

In the morning, we shall visit the Hungarian Railway Museum. We then leave Budapest in the mid-afternoon travelling by cross-border train to the Croatian capital, Zagreb. We arrive in the late evening in Zagreb where we transfer to a nearby hotel for a 2-night stay.

Day 9

We have an early breakfast and travel by coach to KONČAR EV, a large manufacturer of electric and diesel-electric rolling stock. At around mid-day we transfer by coach to Gredelj, on other the other side of Zagreb. Gredelj is a historic Croatian rolling stock and locomotive manufacturer that also specialises in modifications and refurbishment of existing stock. We then transfer back to the hotel where delegates have free time to explore the capital before attending the closing dinner in Zagreb. Angel Trains invites delegates to the closing dinner.

Day 10

Delegates depart Zagreb to return home, or to enjoy further travels.

Note: All delegates are expected to obtain, carry and use protective footwear and a railway approved high-visibility jacket (orange), absolutely during ALL visits, no excuses accepted. Delegates are advised to minimise luggage as the tour will involve several transfers by foot. Since this is an early summer tour delegates are advised to dress accordingly and check weather forecasts in advance.

The rooms in Vienna will be all single or double, there will be no twin rooms.

The cost includes all travel from Vienna to Zagreb, but, for strange tax reasons, Ffestiniog cannot include the nights in Zagreb in the cost.

Options for travel from the UK to Vienna and return from Zagreb to the UK can be arranged by Ffestiniog Travel on an individual basis.

Mem­bers of the party are expected to contribute £290 per person for the two nights in Zagreb, coach travel and incidental costs. Where specified above, lunch or dinner are provided, otherwise delegates are expected to make their own arrangements.

A small number of grants of £1000 each are available for Young Members of the Railway Division and partici¬pants with less than five years of professional experience in the railway industry.

The 2024 Railway Technical Tour is being organised by Lyndon Platt, Bridget Eickhoff, Richard Lockett, Felix Schmid and Andrew Skinner, with support from Thomas Schmid and our hosts. For further details and any other information, please contact the team through This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..