Overview
The S2 is not a train that shouts about itself, and that is precisely its appeal. It slips out of Feldkirch in Vorarlberg and heads for Buchs SG, just across the border in Switzerland, doing the quiet job of connecting two countries without any of the fuss you'd expect from an international journey.
This is a working commuter and regional line rather than a showpiece panoramic service, and it is all the better for it. You get a real slice of the Rhine Valley as it goes about its business — fields, small towns, mountains standing back from the tracks — with none of the queuing or ceremony that comes with bigger cross-border trains.
If you want a scenic, low-stress way to move between Austria and Switzerland without hiring a car or committing to a long-distance express, the S2 does the job neatly. It is short, straightforward, and quietly satisfying.
Key facts
| From | Feldkirch |
|---|---|
| To | Buchs SG |
| Operator | ÖBB-Personenverkehr AG |
The route: Feldkirch to Buchs SG
Feldkirch sits in Vorarlberg, Austria's westernmost region, and is a natural hub for services fanning out towards Switzerland, Liechtenstein and further into Austria. From here the S2 heads south-west, tracing a path through the Rhine Valley towards the Swiss border and on to Buchs SG.
The landscape along the way is classic Alpine foreland: broad valley floor, the Rhine itself somewhere nearby, and mountains rising on either side without ever crowding the line. It's a gentle, open kind of scenery rather than high-drama gorge-and-tunnel stuff, which makes it easy on the eye for a short journey rather than overwhelming.
Because the distance is modest, this feels less like a big train journey and more like a well-connected local hop — the kind of route where you could quite happily stand by the window the whole way and still not run out of time before arrival.
Timetable and how to book
As with any regional S-Bahn service, frequencies and exact departure times on the S2 vary depending on the time of year, the day of the week, and any engineering or seasonal adjustments. Rather than relying on a fixed pattern, it's worth treating each journey individually.
The operator, ÖBB-Personenverkehr AG, is the authoritative source for current timetables, and you should check with them directly before travelling, particularly if you're connecting onward in Switzerland or need to be in Buchs SG or Feldkirch by a specific time. Booking in advance is generally not necessary for a short regional hop like this, but always confirm current practice and any ticketing requirements with ÖBB before you travel.
Fares and classes
Regional services of this kind typically offer a straightforward choice rather than an elaborate hierarchy of classes. Where a distinction exists, it tends to come down to seating comfort and space rather than added extras — a slightly quieter, less crowded carriage as opposed to a full at-seat service.
Don't expect the trappings of a long-distance international express here: this is a train built for commuters, students and cross-border shoppers as much as for visitors, so comfort is functional rather than plush. For exact fare structures, any cross-border ticketing rules, and whether a particular class suits your journey, check directly with ÖBB-Personenverkehr AG, since fares and any concessions can change and are best confirmed at the time of booking.
Which side to sit for the best views
On a route running through open valley scenery like this, the choice of side matters less for hitting one single iconic view and more for which flank of the Rhine Valley and its mountain backdrop you'd rather watch roll past. Both sides offer a reasonable share of the landscape given the valley's width.
A sensible approach is simply to sit wherever gives you an unobstructed window and let the scenery do the work in both directions — Feldkirch's setting against the hills on departure, and the gradual opening out of the valley as you approach the Swiss border and Buchs SG.
Onboard experience
Expect the onboard feel of a modern regional service: comfortable if unglamorous seating, decent windows for taking in the valley scenery, and the practical, no-nonsense atmosphere of a train that locals rely on daily to cross between Austria and Switzerland.
This is not a route built around catering or added extras, so don't plan your trip around getting a meal on board — treat it instead as a scenic, efficient shuttle. Facilities of any kind should be confirmed with ÖBB-Personenverkehr AG rather than assumed, since regional rolling stock and onboard offerings can vary.
Best time of year to travel
The Rhine Valley wears its seasons visibly. In spring and summer, the valley floor is green and the surrounding mountains typically lose their snow cover lower down, giving the journey a fresh, open feel. Long daylight hours in summer are an obvious advantage if you want to see the full length of the route in good light.
Autumn brings colour to the valley's trees and a crisper light that can flatter the mountain backdrops, while winter transforms the higher ground into a proper Alpine scene, snow-capped and dramatic, even though the valley floor itself may stay relatively mild and snow-free. Whatever the season, this remains a short journey, so it's less about planning a special trip around it and more about enjoying whatever the valley happens to look like on the day you travel.
Onward connections from Buchs SG
Buchs SG functions as a useful interchange on the Swiss side of the border, with connections available onward into the Swiss rail network. From here, travellers can continue further into Switzerland or make their way back towards Austria and Liechtenstein via other regional links.
If you're using the S2 as one leg of a longer cross-border trip — say, combining Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein in a single itinerary — Buchs SG is a sensible pivot point. As always, check current connecting services and any necessary tickets with the relevant operators, since cross-border journeys can involve more than one rail company.
A little context
The Feldkirch–Buchs SG corridor sits on a rail link that has long served as a practical connection between Austria and Switzerland, reflecting the close economic and social ties between Vorarlberg and the Swiss Rhine Valley. Over the decades, cross-border regional rail in this corner of Europe has evolved from simple through-services into the coordinated S-Bahn style network seen today, run under the Verkehrsverbund Vorarlberg umbrella with ÖBB-Personenverkehr AG operating the trains.
The S2 is best understood not as a heritage or scenic showcase line, but as a modern expression of an old habit: people, and trains, quietly crossing this particular border because the valley has always made it easy to do so.
Common questions
- Do I need to book the S2 in advance?
- For a short regional service like this, advance booking is generally not required, but you should check current requirements and ticketing options directly with ÖBB-Personenverkehr AG before you travel.
- Is the S2 a scenic tourist train?
- No — it's a regional S-Bahn service used by commuters and cross-border travellers. The Rhine Valley scenery is a genuine bonus, but the train itself is built for practicality rather than sightseeing.
- Which side of the train has the best view?
- The valley is broad enough that both sides offer reasonable views of the mountains and countryside, so there's no strong need to pick a specific side — just aim for an unobstructed window.
- Can I connect to other countries from Buchs SG?
- Yes, Buchs SG acts as a useful interchange for onward Swiss rail connections, and it's also a practical pivot point if you're combining Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein in one trip. Check connecting timetables with the relevant operators.
- What's the best time of year to ride the S2?
- Each season changes the valley's character — green and open in spring and summer, colourful in autumn, and dramatically snow-capped in winter on the higher ground — so there isn't a single best time, just different moods worth choosing between.
On the map
Sources & method
- OpenStreetMap route=train (ODbL) — route
See our methodology for how Head Your Way sources and reviews travel data.