No worries. I checked the rail network and there definitely is a route: https://infrastruktur.oebb.at/de/geschaeftspartner/schienennetz/dokumente-und-daten/netzkarten/dokument?datei=Karte+VzG+Streckenklassen+(SNNB+2025)

It’s just not the main express route and more local. IMO it’s mostly nature / sports / wellness along the route.

This page has a graphic that shows the main rail routes: https://www.mappingeurope.com/austria/austria-rail-map.html

If you have a night to spare Bad Ischl is out of your way, but awesome to take in some of the flair during emperors times. It’s very close to Hallstatt (overly touristic but if you’ve never been there worth visiting, also has great surrounding mountains and cable cars up there with great views). The Salzkammergut region where Bad Ischl is located is our favorite weekend destination. Many great lakes, mountains, small villages. Just had to get it out there, but - to be fair - it’s much easier to go by car than by train & bus.

I think Austria has a great public transport system and you can reach any village by train and bus, but if you want to optimize your experiences and not waste much time sticking to the main cities might be better:

• Innsbruck
• Salzburg
• Linz
• Vienna

Pretty sure you’re already aware of the main attractions in Salzburg. But one restaurant recommendation. Although a bit pricey https://www.zumzirkelwirt.at/en has great authentic food and the athmosphere is phantastic. The venue has a really rustic feel to it.

Agree with @PoisonedPrisonPanda@discuss.tchncs.de that you don’t need to stay a night in Linz. Totally feasible to go there in the morning and leave for Vienna in the evening.

Linz does have it’s historic places and sights. If it’s your first time in Austria it’s just that Innsbruck, Salzburg and Vienna have so much more to offer that Linz just doesn’t cut it for most visitors. You can look up some Linz attractions and see for yourself if it would be worth it for you. Some pointers:

• Linz Dom
• Linz Landstraße, Promenade, Hauptplatz (Landstraße connects those places - they are the main central shopping promenade) - there are a few parks and the new theater along the way
• Linz Pöstlingberg is the local hill with nice views over the city - reachable directly by tram right from the Hauptplatz (main square)
• Linz Ars Electronica Center (museum that focuses on high tech / multimedia themed exhibitions)
• Mural Harbor Linz is (was?) mostly Grafitti art and Murals in the Linz harbor - not sure if most of them are still accessible or not https://www.linztourismus.at/freizeit/linz-entdecken/museen-und-ausstellungen/mural-harbor

Best time to visit would be mid July - the “Pflasterspektakel” is an annual international street performer festival that is fun to visit. With street performers all over the city (mostly along the Landstraße) https://pflasterspektakel.at/en/

Maybe you can also look into “Wachau”. Its a region along the Danube river and a bit off your route between Salzburg/Linz and Vienna. Famous for it’s wineries and fruit farms (i.e. grapes & apricots). Great local food from local farmers and producers (you can google “Heuriger” - you’ll also find great Heurige in Vienna). Wachau has some nice ruins to visit. But not sure if it’s really convenient just by train. For some sights you would definitely need to go by bus.