free of charge.Each year FEDECRAIL organises an international conference on subjects important to heritage railways and railway museums and to foster mutual contacts and cooperation between its members. These conferences are targeted mainly at persons playing an active role in museum and tourist railways, railway museums, locomotive and rolling stock groups, national federations and other railway heritage bodies. Others with broader interests in railway heritage are also welcome to attend.
Programme Overview: We have the traditional format for our conference this year with the business sessions starting our programme. At the invitation of the ÖMT (Verband Österreichischer Museums- und Touristikbahnen) and the co-operation of the heritage railways, tramway and museums across Austria, together with the support of Salzburg AG, the public transport operators of Land Salzburg, we have an excellent programme that should not be missed. Salzburg and Vienna being world renowned cities have great attractions for the visitor. Delegates and partners are encouraged to add extra days to their visit in order to properly appreciate the attractions of these cities. For public transport interest, the Trolleybus City of Salzburg and the Tramway City of Vienna can only be briefly sampled during our conference schedule.
There is so much of interest in Austria that the study visit programme this year extends through to Saturday afternoon, when we finish near to Vienna International Airport to allow Saturday evening return flights, or a relaxing evening in Baden, near to Vienna. We hope that you will be able to join us for the full 9½ day programme, but shorter programme options will be offered. The four-centre full programme has been created to reflect delegates’ wishes to reduce the amount of road coach travel by replacing long distance daily travel with local hotels close to our visit sites. Wherever practical we will use rail travel in preference to road.
The programme is subject to confirmation.
Thursday 17/04/08: Salzburg
Friday 18/04/08: Salzburg
Saturday 19/04/08: Salzburg
Sunday 20/04/08: Full Day tour to Innsbruck and Jenbach
Monday 21/04/08: Full Day tour during transfer from Salzburg to Graz
Tuesday 22/04/08: Full Day tour in Graz Area
Wednesday 23/04/08: Full Day tour during transfer from Graz to Mariazell
Thursday 24/04/08: Full Day tour in Mariazell Area
Friday 25/04/2008: Full Day Tour during transfer from Mariazell to Vienna Area
Saturday 26/04/2008: Full Day Tour of Vienna Area ending near Vienna International Airport
BUSINESS PROGRAMME:
The venue for the business sessions will be the Kolpinghaus Centre, Salzburg, Itzling which is about 5-10 minutes walk from Itzling Lokalbahn station, which is a few minutes ride by trolleybus or Lokalbahn from the main station and the conference hotels. The conference business sessions will occupy the full day on Friday 18/04/08 and also, together with the General Assembly will take up Saturday morning 19/04/08.
CONFERENCE FEES:
This year, to comply with legislation, it is necessary that all delegates are Friends of Fedecrail, unless they are appointed Voting Representatives of Fedecrail corporate members, or are Guest Speakers. Joint Family Membership is available for delegates/partners resident at the same address for a single membership fee.
The conference programme is longer this year in order to allow delegates to experience many of the attractions of Austria. Package prices for shorter periods to add to the core business programme are available. For a whole extra day this year, we have managed to keep the price down to just €45 more than 2007. The price for a 7½ day programme (Thursday 17 April to Thursday 24 April finishing at Mariazell – 1 day longer than last year’s main programme) will only slightly more than last year’s price at €625. The full 9½ day conference programme (Thursday 17 April to Saturday 26 April will be €775 per person. Other pricing options to add to the mandatory core business programme are shown on the Booking Form.
A partners’ programme will be available for the full day of Friday 18/04/08 and the morning of Saturday 19/04/08.
HOTELS - GENERAL
As usual, separate Hotel Booking Forms will be supplied for completion by delegates and these should be returned with the Conference Booking Form. The hotel reservation is a contract between the delegate and the Hotel concerned. In the event of a “No Show” without prior cancellation, the Hotel may charge for the first night.
There are only a limited number of single rooms available but single occupancy of a double room is possible at an increased price (generally €10-15 per night). If you specially wish to book a larger room for single use, please tell us. This will help us to keep the smaller single rooms for those who need them most.
With the general upgrading of Hotel Facilities, it has been difficult to find convenient ** accommodation. In Salzburg, we have obtained a limited number of economy priced *** beds. Graz has a suitable ** hotel near to the station. At Mariazell an economical price of €48/76 has been obtained at the cheaper of the two *** hotels. In Baden, the Vienna Marathon has created great difficulty in finding any rooms at all so we are only able to offer the *** option at €55/78.
ACCOMMODATION: SALZBURG
Following difficulties in finding a single large hotel that could accommodate us, delegates in the main *** category will be spread over a number of hotels near to the main station. There will of course be a “nightcap” bar for evening discussions!
The **** Renaissance Plaza hotel provides superior accommodation and is also near to the station. Delegates wishing to book **** rooms are requested to book by internet as those prices are significantly cheaper than we can obtain. If you are unable to book by internet yourself, please contact us as we will endeavour to make the internet booking for you.
Limited *** economy accommodation will be available but this may be on the outskirts of the city, about 10 minutes by Trolleybus, or Lokalbahn, from the Main Station.
ACCOMMODATION: GRAZ
Hotels are close to the main station and are easy walking distance with luggage. There are two *** hotels, the Lifestyle Daniel Hotel is in the station square (some rooms overlook the railway tracks!) and has a somewhat idiosyncratic modernistic style. The Drei Raben is about 150 metres down the main road towards the city and is a more traditional Austrian Hotel. If you wish specifically for one in preference to the other, please tell us.
The Lifestyle Daniel Hotel has superior **** Loggia Rooms for delegates requiring a higher standard of room. Note however, the comment above as the hotel style may not suit everyone.
Economy ** accommodation is available in the Hotel Strasser, a few minutes from the station.
ACCOMMODATION: MARIAZELL
The Hotel Schwarzer Adler and the Hotel Goldenes Kreuz are both in the town centre which is about 1km from the railway station. Hotel transfers with luggage will be by coach.
ACCOMMODATION: WIEN AREA
Unfortunately, due to the Vienna Marathon taking place on Sunday 27 April, we have had to find hotel accommodation at Baden, which is at the end of the Wien-Baden Interurban tramway. Motel Baden is on the tram route one stop from the railway station and we will arrive by special tram from Vienna on Friday night with our luggage.
TRAVEL:
It is recommended that delegates travelling by air arrive on flights to Salzburg, or Munich Airports. There are also limited flights to Linz Airport. Return flights for delegates on the full programme are suggested from Vienna, or there are some economy flights from Bratislava. Limited flights are available from Graz and Linz Airports.
Rail transfers from Munich to Salzburg are 2½ - 3 hours and Vienna to Salzburg about 4 hours. You may find that return air tickets are more economical with some carriers. Transfer from Salzburg Airport is by frequent trolleybus service (Route 2) direct to the main station. Tickets (single journey or day tickets) can be purchased either from the ticket machine at the trolleybus stop or from the driver.
Excellent long distance train services are available to and from many parts of Europe. For example, London to Salzburg is now approximately 13 hours via Paris and Stuttgart (although if travelling out on Thursday 17th, arrival in Salzburg will be too late for the reception and evening special train).
If you do need to leave us early, Graz airport is a short train journey from the main station. Rail transfer from Graz to Vienna Airport is about 3½ hours, Salzburg Airport about 6 hours and Munich Airport about 9 hours.
Mariazell is not particularly convenient for departure to return home as the train journey on the narrow gauge Mariazellerbahn to the Westbahn at St. Pölten is about 2½ hours. Delegates can be conveyed to Vienna with the main party on Friday 25 April which should allow connections into late afternoon flights. There will be a charge for the cost of road and rail travel to Vienna.
Specific detailed advice on travel arrangements is available from the conference organisers. Please feel free to contact us for all travel enquiries.
It is strongly recommended that you take out your own travel insurance. Also, please be aware that the old style E111 forms to obtain medical attention whilst abroad are no longer valid. You must obtain a European Health Insurance Card before leaving your home country (See www.nhs.uk for details of the UK citizens’ card).
Any delegates are welcome to book to stay for the Saturday night at Baden.
BOOKING DEADLINES:
It assists us greatly, particularly in respect of hotel bookings, if completed forms are returned to the Organisers as soon as possible. Please include any special requirements (Catering, walking impairment, particular hotel requests, etc.) on your form so that appropriate arrangements can be made.
Please try to ensure that we receive your booking forms by Saturday 17th March 2008. We will try to accept late bookings, but this cannot be guaranteed as hotel rooms have to be released in mid-March.
Further enquiries about the programme or participation may be send by email or addressed by phone or letter to the conference organiser.
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