Iain Martin, founder of Ski Flight Free and host of The Ski Podcast, led a panel discussion at the London Snow Show last weekend exploring how skiers can travel to the Alps by night train.
With up to 80% of the carbon emissions associated with a ski holiday coming from the flight to the resort, finding alternatives to flying is increasingly important as the impacts of climate change on mountain environments become more apparent.
The panel explored the growing range of options for reaching the Alps without flying, focussing on sleeper services that allow skiers to travel overnight and wake up close to the slopes.
Iain was joined by Anna Hughes, founder of Flight Free UK, Chris Englesman – co-founder of European Sleeper, and Daniel Elkan, founder of Snowcarbon.
Anna Hughes, Chris Engelsman, Daniel Elkan, Iain Martin (L-R)
We covered a mix of services, including the European Sleeper service from Brussels to Milan (great for Swiss resorts); the Caledonian Sleeper to Scotland; the Travelski Night Train from Paris to Moutiers and Bourg St Maurice; and the Paris to Nice overnight service.
There are also practical advantages to travelling by night train. Depending on the service and destination, skiers can gain additional time on the slopes on changeover days, particularly Saturdays, when many holidaymakers are arriving at or departing from their resorts. An overnight journey can mean getting in some skiing before the crowds arrive or heading home after a final day on the mountain.
You can listen to Mark Smith – the Man in Seat 61 – speaking about the new Brussels-Milan service in Episode 328 of The Ski Podcast:
Daniel Elkan spoke about his experience of the Travelski Night Express in Episode 320 of The Ski Podcast:
The panellists noted that booking early is one way to keep rail travel costs down, while Interrail passes may offer another option for some itineraries.
For overnight journeys, a few simple preparations, including an eye mask and earplugs, can also help make the experience more comfortable.
Although flying remains a dominant part of ski holiday travel, the panel highlighted the growing interest in alternatives and the opportunities for the industry to make rail travel a more practical and attractive choice.
For more information, we have lots of information here on Ski Flight Free.
