Updated 19.12.2022
With the start of the winter season 2022/23, there is now a bus connection to all five mountain valleys of the Wipptal also on weekends.
After the Navistal already started in spring with a public bus connection from Matrei/Brenner on Saturdays and Sundays, the valleys Schmirn and Vals will follow suit with the start of the winter season. Here the bus (line 4144) departs from Steinach and is coordinated with the S-Bahn coming from Innsbruck. The new buses run all year round and are adapted to the different needs of winter and summer sports enthusiasts. There has already been a weekend connection to the Obernbergtal and Gschnitztal valleys for many years, which is well used.
The fact that winter sports enthusiasts are increasingly travelling by public transport is a trend that has increased recently. The shortage of parking spaces at the starting points for ski tours and snowshoe hikes, the often difficult journey to higher mountain valleys in wintry conditions, compulsory chain use and, of course, the increased fuel prices have led to a rethink.
In order to do justice to this development and to reduce the volume of traffic in the popular mountain valleys of the Wipptal, the decision was made to make this investment in mobility and naturally hopes that the new bus connections will also be well received.
With this new service in the Schmirntal and Valsertal valleys, those responsible at the Wipptal Tourism Association hope that public travel will become more attractive for holiday guests. "Entirely in the spirit of the mountain villages, which focus on sustainable, nature-friendly tourism, this is another step in the right direction," says Managing Director Helga Beermeister, who is convinced of this initiative.
A slight change in the timetable of line 4141 (Ellbögen-Steinach), which connects the Bergeralm with Steinach railway station on all routes, also brought about an improvement. The buses are now mostly coordinated with the S-Bahn coming from Innsbruck.
In addition, during the Christmas and semester holidays, the Bergeralm Shuttle will once again run daily from 08.45 - 16.30 every half hour between Steinach station and the Bergeralm. This shuttle is free of charge for locals and guests. An additional ski bus has been ordered for the Gschnitz Valley, which leaves daily at 09.15 from Gschnitz to the Bergeralm ski area and at 15.40 from Bergeralm to Gschnitz.
All information about mobility in the Wipptal and the offer "guest card = ticket for all public transport" can be found at https://www.wipptal.at/de/gut-zu-wissen/mobilitaet-vor-ort/. All new timetables can be found at www.vvt.at or in the SmartRide app.