Train service
Eurostar
Eurostar is an international high-speed rail operator connecting the UK, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany.
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SNCF
SNCF is France’s state-owned rail operator, running high-speed, regional, and international TGV services across Europe.
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Deutsche Bahn
Deutsche Bahn (DB) is Germany’s national railway company, operating long-distance, regional, and international train services across Europe.
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OBB
ÖBB è l'operatore ferroviario nazionale austriaco, noto per i treni Railjet e per Nightjet, la più ampia rete europea di treni notturni.
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Raileurope
Rail Europe is a leading travel tech company specializing in European train bookings for over 15,000 travel professionals worldwide.
Trainline
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No direct London-Linz train exists. The standard plan is Eurostar from London St Pancras to Brussels or Paris, then connecting trains through Germany and Austria to Linz Hbf. Fast examples run around 11 to 12 hours of rail time. Add Eurostar check-in on top.
London to Linz by train at a glance
London to Linz always involves at least one change, usually two or more. Checked commercial planners show fastest examples of around 11 to 12 hours of rail time, but most practical itineraries run closer to 14 to 16 hours depending on route and transfer waits.
| Detail | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Direct train | No direct London-Linz service |
| Fastest checked rail examples | Around 11 to 12 hours (route and date dependent) |
| Typical realistic itinerary | 14 to 16 hours including transfers |
| Changes | At least one, usually two or more |
| Main departure station | London St Pancras International |
| Main arrival station | Linz Hbf (Austria) |
| Key operators | Eurostar, Deutsche Bahn, ÖBB |
| Overnight option | Brussels-Vienna Nightjet on selected nights; confirm Linz stop on your date |
Add Eurostar check-in time on top of any rail time shown in a planner. Eurostar advises Standard and Plus passengers to arrive in good time at London St Pancras, typically 90 to 120 minutes before departure, with the gate closing 30 minutes before. That window is outside the headline journey time.
One practical check before you book: there are two places named Linz in Europe. Linz an der Donau is the Austrian city, the one this guide is about. Linz am Rhein is a small town in Germany. Some booking tools return both results. Confirm the destination says Austria before paying.
The route to compare first
Start with Brussels. Eurostar runs direct to Brussels Midi/Zuid from London St Pancras, which puts you onto the continental rail network without any city transfer. From Brussels, the route continues east through Germany and then into Austria to Linz Hbf.
| Leg | Operator | Stations |
|---|---|---|
| London to Brussels | Eurostar | London St Pancras to Brussels Midi/Zuid |
| Brussels to Germany | Deutsche Bahn or connecting services | Via Cologne, Frankfurt, or another German hub |
| Germany to Linz | Deutsche Bahn and ÖBB | Via Munich, Salzburg, Wels, Vienna, or other Austrian connection |
The German section can route through different hubs depending on the date and available departures. Most practical itineraries pass through Frankfurt or Munich. Check the specific route before you buy, particularly if the transfer time looks tight.
London to Brussels by Eurostar
Eurostar is the fixed first leg if you start via Brussels. Direct services take around 2 hours from London St Pancras to Brussels Midi/Zuid. Example departures checked on a May 2026 date included 08:16 arriving 11:13, 09:01 arriving 12:05, and 13:01 arriving 16:06.
Allow time before the train. Eurostar advises Standard and Plus passengers at London St Pancras to arrive in good time, typically 90 to 120 minutes before departure. The gate closes 30 minutes before.
Brussels to Linz through Germany and Austria
After Brussels, the journey crosses Germany before entering Austria for Linz Hbf.
On most dates, Munich is the most useful German hub. Munich connects directly to Linz Hbf by ÖBB Railjet and EC services, with journey times of around 2 hours 15 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes and departures roughly every two hours on the Munich-Salzburg-Linz corridor. If your planner routes through Munich, that leg is well-served and predictable.
Other planners may use Frankfurt, Cologne, or Vienna as the connection point. Use Deutsche Bahn and ÖBB timetables to check the actual leg times. If a reseller shows a tight transfer, look at the same itinerary with a longer buffer before you pay.
Paris and other route alternatives
The Paris route is worth comparing, particularly if fares or arrival times are better on your date.
Eurostar arrives at Paris Gare du Nord. Many Germany-bound trains leave from Paris Est, a separate station roughly 10 minutes away on the metro, or a walkable distance with light luggage. That transfer is straightforward, but it adds time and creates a missed-connection risk.
The cleaner version of the Paris route is Eurostar to Paris, then a direct TGV to Munich (around 5 to 6 hours), then ÖBB Railjet or EC from Munich to Linz Hbf (around 2 hours 15 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes). That sequence keeps the journey to a single German hub and avoids a complicated Paris transfer. It can be competitive on time.
For most first searches, Brussels is simpler. Compare Paris if Brussels is sold out or poorly timed on your date.
Overnight option: the Brussels-Vienna Nightjet
The ÖBB Nightjet from Brussels to Vienna is a useful option if you want to sleep through part of the route and arrive in Austria in the morning.
The service runs from Brussels and Liège on selected nights each week. Check the current operating schedule before building your itinerary around it, as departure days can change with the timetable. The Nightjet route passes through Austria toward Vienna. Linz Hbf is listed as a stop on some departures, but confirm your specific booking includes a Linz stop before you book.
This is not the right option for every trip. It depends on the operating day, sleeper availability, and whether the morning arrival time suits you. If it works for your date, the sequence is straightforward: Eurostar to Brussels, then the Nightjet overnight toward Austria.
The Paris-Vienna Nightjet was discontinued in December 2025. There is no longer a direct night train to Austria from Paris.
Journey time and transfer planning
Plan London to Linz as a full travel day. Most realistic itineraries take around 14 to 16 hours. Fastest checked examples run around 11 to 12 hours, but these often assume tight connections.
Planners do not all agree. Different tools weight transfer times differently, so the same route can appear much faster or slower depending on which one you use. A result showing 11 hours may require a connection of under 20 minutes in a German hub. That is fine if everything runs on time, but missing a connecting ICE in Frankfurt adds at least an hour.
A slightly longer itinerary with a comfortable transfer is worth more than the shortest headline time. Trust the number only when you have checked the actual connection windows yourself.
Tickets, prices, and booking strategy
London to Linz fares vary widely by date, booking window, route choice, and class.
Multi-leg international journeys like this one are typically more expensive than short domestic trips. Prices are dynamic, and the same journey can cost very different amounts depending on how early you search and which combination of legs the planner puts together. Use Trainline, Rail Europe, and the operator sites directly to compare current fares for your dates.
A practical booking approach:
- Search the full London-to-Linz route first to see what through-ticket options exist.
- Search London to Brussels separately if the whole-route result is expensive or awkward.
- Then compare Brussels or Paris to Linz for the continental leg.
- Check Munich as an intermediate hub if your planner routes that way.
- Look at the Paris route if Brussels is sold out or poorly timed.
Book the capacity-controlled legs first. Eurostar and night trains fill up, and prices rise as space goes. When you split tickets, you lose the through-ticket protection if a delay breaks a connection, so factor that into how tight you make the transfers.
Interrail and Eurail
Interrail and Eurail can cover this route, but reservations are the main complexity.
You need a Global Pass because the journey crosses several countries. A one-country pass does not work here.
Eurostar is the most important constraint. Reservations are mandatory for pass holders on all Eurostar trains, and pass-holder places can sell out. The pass-holder reservation fee for Eurostar is £35 for Standard, £40 for Plus, in addition to your pass. Book the Eurostar reservation early, especially in summer and over public holidays.
Night trains need a separate reservation as well. On the Nightjet, the fee depends on whether you take a seat, couchette, or sleeper. Couchettes and sleepers cost more than seats and can sell out on popular operating nights. Do not board a Nightjet with just the pass and expect to find a bed.
A pass makes the most sense if London to Linz is part of a wider European trip. For a single long journey, compare point-to-point tickets before buying a pass.
Train, flight, or coach
The train is the right choice if you want to avoid airports, travel city centre to city centre, or use an overnight service to save a hotel night. Flying will usually be faster door to door. Coaches are cheaper on some dates but significantly slower and less comfortable.
Choose the train for lower airport stress, flexible luggage, or a rail-pass journey. Choose the flight if total door-to-door time is the priority.
Practical tips before booking
Check the destination before you pay. When searching “London to Linz”, confirm the result is Linz Hbf in Austria, not Linz am Rhein in Germany. Both appear in some international booking tools. The German Linz is much cheaper and much shorter. It is not where you want to end up.
Use the full station names: London St Pancras International, Brussels Midi/Zuid, Paris Gare du Nord, Paris Est (for departures toward Germany), Munich Hbf, and Linz Hbf.
Build your itinerary around the connection you would still be comfortable with if one train runs 20 minutes late. On a journey this long, a missed connection in Germany typically adds an hour or more.
Check for disruption and engineering notices close to your travel date. Long international routes through Germany and Austria can be affected by seasonal engineering work. Verify the timetable for your exact departure.
If you take the Nightjet, decide before booking whether a seat is enough. Sitting upright for six to eight hours is not comfortable for most people. A couchette or sleeper is worth the higher reservation fee on an overnight journey.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a direct train from London to Linz?
No direct London-Linz train exists. You will need at least one change, and most itineraries involve two or more, typically at Brussels and a German hub like Frankfurt or Munich.
How long does London to Linz by train take?
Fastest checked examples run around 11 to 12 hours of rail time. Most realistic itineraries take 14 to 16 hours. Add Eurostar check-in time at London St Pancras on top of that.
What is the route from London to Linz by train?
The clearest route is Eurostar from London to Brussels, then connecting trains east through Germany to Linz Hbf. Many itineraries pass through Munich, where ÖBB Railjet and EC trains run direct to Linz in around 2 hours 15 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes. The Paris route also works: Eurostar to Paris, TGV to Munich, then ÖBB to Linz. Compare both for your travel date.
Is there a night train from London to Linz?
There is no night train from London itself. A useful option is Eurostar to Brussels, then the ÖBB Nightjet toward Vienna on selected nights. Check the schedule and confirm your specific booking includes a Linz Hbf stop before you book. The Paris-Vienna Nightjet was discontinued in December 2025.
Can I use Interrail or Eurail from London to Linz?
Yes, with a Global Pass. A one-country pass does not cover the full route. You still need to buy a Eurostar reservation (£35 Standard / £40 Plus for pass holders) and a couchette or sleeper on the Nightjet if you use it. Eurostar pass-holder reservations can sell out, so book early.
How much are London to Linz train tickets?
Fares vary by date, booking window, route, and class. Multi-leg international journeys like this one tend to be more expensive than simpler routes. Search your specific dates on Trainline or Rail Europe for current prices. Compare whether a point-to-point fare or a rail pass with reservations works out cheaper for your trip.
Which station do trains arrive at in Linz?
Long-distance trains to Linz use Linz Hbf, the city's main railway station. When searching, confirm the booking destination is Linz in Austria, not Linz am Rhein in Germany, as both can appear in international booking tools.
