The Train has six luxury carriages based on the imperial train of the Emperor Franz Joseph I and Empress Elisabeth of Austria. There are an additional six 1st class carriages that are occasionally used for large groups and charters.

The Train caters for private and corporate groups from 20 (or less) to up to 150 guests. Larger groups can be accommodated with additional heritage carriages.

There are also a limited number of special journeys which may be booked by individual travellers, known as FIT in the travel industry.

The carriages are built to modern standards, allowing one or more to be attached to regular scheduled trains for smaller groups.

Ambassador - Luxury Ambassador seats up to 36 guests for fine dining and features a beautiful piano bar. Part of the original curtain of the Emperor's balcony at the Vienna State Opera is prominently displayed, featuring the hand woven crest of the Monarch.

Salon Elisabeth - Luxury Salon Elisabeth has 24 dining seats in the salon and 24 luxury compartment seats in 4 private compartments and is named for the legendary Empress Elisabeth, lovingly known as "Sissy", the travelling Empress. The original curtain from the Emperor's balcony in the Vienna State Opera hangs in the Salon, with freshwater pearls from the Danube.

Equipage - Luxury Equipage seats 36 guests, and has a bar. The curtains are the same as at the Schönbrunn Castle, the summer residence of the Habsburg rulers. Tables and chairs can be moved as required, for lectures, a ballroom dance floor or other arrangement of choice.

Excelsior - Luxury Excelsior replicates a carriage in the original Imperial Train which took over 6000 hours to complete. Excelsior seats up to 43 guests for dining. There is a bar and a dance floor with a BOSE music system. The original mirror of Empress Elisabeth's carriage hangs in Excelsior.

Salon I - Luxury Salon I has 14 seats in a coffee-house style salon and an additional 18 seats in 3 luxury compartments, exuding cosiness, known as "Gemütlichkeit", for which Austria's coffee-houses are famous. It has a piano bar. This carriage is the oldest, built in 1905 by the company which built the original Imperial Train.

The Fourgon Carriage Fourgon is a catering, services and luggage carriage. Originally built in 1927, with staff quarters, large kitchen, walk-in refrigerator, bakery, luggage compartment and a power generator.

Majestic Imperator keyring

A most unusual item, this keyring features the imperial coat of arms of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Emperor Franz Josef ruled his vast Empire, 1848 - 1916, from the age of 18 until his death at 86.

The Emperor was an ardent supporter of the railways. He frequently travelled through his large Empire in the Imperial Train, accompanied by his beloved Empress, Elizabeth. Sis, as she was affectionately known, loved travel. She claimed that "a destination only becomes desirable if a journey lies in between".

The imperial arms are laser cut into a glass cube which lights up at the touch of a button. This attractive feature is also practical, helping you locate a lock at night. The keyring is delivered in a satin cloth presentation box.

Price: £14 / US$28 / €20

Short Film (1.5min) Click here to watch a short 1.5 minute film about the Majestic Imperator.

Full length Film (5min) Click here to watch the full length film about the Majestic Imperator.

The Imperial New Year's Express
A Romantic Viennese Waltz into the New Year on the Majestic Imperator Luxury Train

Spend the last hours of the old year and the first of the new on board the Majestic Imperator in Vienna.

On December 31, the Majestic Imperator will travel through and around Vienna by night while you are pampered with fine dining at a black tie formal dinner, followed by dancing onboard at the New Year's Ball.

At midnight, the Majestic Imperator will stop on a bridge on the Danube for a view of the magnificent firework display. Guests can then dance a midnight waltz high above the Danube to the most famous Strauss waltz 'The Blue Danube'.

In the New Year, there will be live music in the piano bar, and continued dancing. Later, guests will be served goulash soup and Sacherwürstel, a traditional Austrian sausage. From 2 am, the Train will call at various Viennese stations before arriving back at Wien-Süd at 4 am.

Price Euros 285 per person
Rail ticket, dinner, drinks (Champagne, fine wines, beer, mineral water & soft drinks) and the most romantic evening in Europe are all included in the price.

The Imperial Dinner Train
The Belvedere Palace by night and The Imperial Dinner Train

The Belvedere houses the most important collection of Austrian art from the Middle Ages to the present day. The largest Gustav Klimt collection of paintings from the 1900s is at the Austrian Gallery in the Upper Belvedere. Highlights include Klimt's golden paintings "The Kiss" (1907- 08) and "Judith I" (1901). There are also find masterworks by Egon Schiele, French impressionists and exhibits from the Viennese Biedermeier era.

A guided tour of the Belvedere Palace by night, and then to the Vienna Südbahnhof (South Station). Board The Majestic Imperator for a romantic tour through Vienna Prater across the Danube with views of the Viennese skyline. The Train will be pulled by an historic electric locomotive. Fine dining with table drinks included.

• Thursday May 1, 2008
• Thursday June 5, 2008
• Thursday July 3, 2008
• Thursday August 7, 2008
• Thursday September 4, 2008
• Thursday October 2, 2008

Price - Euros 175.00 per person
tax included; terms and conditions apply.

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