The options for train travel to the Alps this winter are outlined here:
THE EUROSTAR SKI TRAIN (via Lille)
Eurostar have confirmed that their snow train, reintroduced last winter will continue for 2024/25 with more departures.
This is not a ‘direct’ service like the old Eurostar ski train that ran from London St Pancras to Bourg St Maurice until 2020.
The train leaves London St Pancras and stops at Lille Europe for about 45 minutes. Passengers then change onto another (Thalys) train that takes them via Chambéry, Albertville, Moutiers and Aime to Bourg St Maurice.
I tested the service last year and the process at Lille is very straightforward. You don’t have to change platforms and the connecting train was ready to board within minutes of arriving.
Note that the stop in Lille on the return journey is slightly longer to allow passengers to go through customs.
Services from December to March
The Eurostar Snow Train will start on 21 December 2024 and run until 02 March 2025 (outbound only). That means there will 9 weeks of return travel available, which is disappointing, although it is a slight increase on the seven weeks that were available last winter. It also means that half term travel (departing up to 22 February) will be possible.
The number of seats available has increased slightly from 250 to 347.
Saturday-Sunday (8 nights, 7 days’ skiing)
The timetable is still to be confirmed, but as last winter, it will leave the UK on Saturdays and return on Sundays. This is because the train travelling from Lille to Bourg will remain there overnight and then simply return the next day.
Note that the Saturday departure and Sunday return means that your holiday will be 8 nights, with 7 days’ skiing.
Last winter Inghams’ guests stayed in Bourg St Maurice on the final Saturday night, close to the station for the early Sunday departure. Inghams also offered the 7th day of skiing free of charge (i.e. 7 days for the price of 6).
This was the timetable last winter. It is likely to be very similar for this winter.
Ticket only options
it’s possible to buy seat-only tickets on the Eurostar Snow Train from £119 each way, meaning you can travel by train to whichever accommodation or resort you choose.
Tour Operator options
For those who don’t want to book all the elements of their holiday separately, several tour operator offering the Eurostar service within a package. These include Inghams, Peak Retreats, Travelski, Ski Solutions, Skiline, Snowfinders and SNO.
This means you can book your travel, transfer, accommodation and any extras you want in one go. It also means travellers get extra financial protection via ABTA. More details of both offerings are shown below.
Resorts offered by operators include Val d’Isère, Tignes, Les Arcs, La Rosière (Inghams), plus Val Thorens, Méribel, Brides les Bains, Courchevel, Les Menuires and La Plagne in the case of Travelski. Travelski have also added Chamonix and La Clusaz as options for winter 2024/25.
Book early for the best prices – tickets on sale from 09 July
Evidently there is limited availability, so we recommend that you book as early as possible to secure the best prices.
ALTERNATIVE TRAIN OPTIONS TO THE ALPS
Train packages with Inghams
Inghams will also be offering train travel ski packages to Italian, Austrian and Swiss resorts, in each case going via Paris on Eurostar and then mainline train services.
Booking independently (typically via Paris)
The other option available to anyone wishing to travel by train is to book your own Eurostar and connecting trains. This is something that I have done on many occasions, to destinations such as Verbier, Andermatt, Chamonix and Les 3 Vallees.
There are lots of other case studies detailed here.
Tickets are always less expensive if you book in advance. Often this means booking your Eurostar first, then your SNCF connecting train when they go on sale, around three months before travel.
Eurostar
I prefer to book the Eurostar sections as soon as I know my travel dates. This will typically mean that the cost will be £49 or less each way. Eurostar tickets can be changed before travel with no fee (only the difference in fare).
SNCF/European tickets
Continental travel to and from Paris can only be booked from certain windows. The expected dates for these are shown below. In my experience, if you are ready to book on these dates, then you can get excellent value for money, with Paris returns from as little as EUR70.
Follow our Facebook page to keep up to date with these deadlines.
Typically ticket sales initially open in October for trains up to January, and in mid-November, for February and March dates. You can sign up for alerts so that you find out when tickets are on sale. The pricing is dynamic, so the earlier you book, typically the less you spend.
Probable ticket sale periods
10 Dec 2024 – 09 Jan 2025 – Sales open early October 2024
10 Jan 2025 – 09 Feb 2025 – Sales open late October 2024
10 Feb 2025 – 24 March 2025 – Sales open mid November 2024
25 March 2025 onwards – Sales open early January 2025
Getting across Paris from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon is very straightforward:
Austria via Nightjet
St Anton and other Tirolean resorts can be reached via Paris to Zurich and onwards during the day. However, another alternative is to take the Eurostar to Amsterdam or Brussels and then take an overnight Nightjet service, arriving into Austria the following morning.
You can find out more about the Nightjet service here.
Travelling by train will significantly reduce your carbon footprint
However you choose to travel by train, we highly recommend it. Not only is it more pleasant than flying, it’s often less expensive and is certainly much better for the planet:
