The Eurostar Snow Train 2025/26 – Everything you need to know
In June 2025, Eurostar confirmed that they would be running the ‘Eurostar Snow Train’ again for the forthcoming 2025/26 winter season. This is great news, plus there are some key changes to this year’s service that will make the journey more attractive for many travellers. What dates will the Eurostar Snow Train operate? The Eurostar...
UTMB in Chamonix commits to cutting emissions by 20% before 2030
The UTMB (Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc) – held annually in Chamonix – is known as the world’s leading trail running event, but in recent years they have had significant criticism for ‘sportswashing’. Sportswashing? That came to a peak two years ago when the running community, led by the Green Runners and prominent athletes such...
Les Arcs re-awarded second Flocon Vert for sustainability
Environmental organization Mountain Riders has officially renewed Les Arcs’ Flocon Vert certification. It confirms the resort’s place among a select group of Alpine destinations recognized for their commitment to sustainable mountain tourism based on 20 strict criteria in environmental and social sustainability. ‘On the path to excellence’ Les Arcs has the rare distinction of having...
The Future of French Rail: Inside the New TGV INOUI 2025 Trains
At a recent meeting organised by A Tout France, I had the opportunity to find out more about the revolutionary new generation of TGV trains – a €3.5 billion investment by SNCF. The new ‘TGV INOUI 2025’ trains by SNCF have been designed around three priorities: comfort, sustainability, and inclusivity. In their words, “This isn’t...
Montagne Verte introduce the ‘Biocycle’
We recently reported on the great new train guide created by Montagne Verte. This is just one of the great projects the Morzine environmental group have initiated. Another is the introduction of their ‘BioCyclist’. Collecting organic waste The ‘biocycle’ is a carbon-free way of collecting organic waste produced by local restaurants and hotels in Morzine,...
More direct TGVs from Paris to Tarentaise
SNCF Voyageurs is strengthening its TGV INOUI service to the Tarentaise Valley by adding 5,000 seats this summer. The TGV service is being launched as a test to meet the growing demand for mountain travel in the summer. From 12 July to 10 August 2025, there will be an extra rotation connecting Paris to Bourg-Saint-Maurice...
Gemini Trains Team up with Uber on high-speed trains from UK to Europe
A new railway start-up has confirmed that it intends to go into competition with Eurostar and run high speed trains from London to Paris and beyond. Chaired by the public transport veteran Lord Berkeley, Gemini Trains has submitted an application to the Office of Rail and Road for a train operator’s licence and to be...
Most Europeans want governments to ban short-haul flights…if high speed rail is an alternative
A majority of Europeans want governments to ban short-haul flights where high-speed rail is an alternative. Support for short-haul flight bans…if high speed is an alternative The survey by SavantaComres found that 67% of Europeans support such bans if there is a high-speed option, with the highest level of support in France and Spain. More...
Charges for cross-channel train lines to be cut for new operators
The narratives regarding new competitors on the HS1 line from London to Europe is moving very quickly. In recent months, we have reported on the plans from new operators Virgin Trains and Gemini trains to run trains on the route in competition with Eurostar. This week it was reported that access to St Pancras for...
New Travalyst survey shows gap between sustainability intent and action remains high
A new survey from Travalyst shows that the travel and tourism industry has a significant role to play if it is to persuade travellers to make more sustainable decisions. Travalyst is an independent not-for-profit entity working to change the way the world travels – something which is vital as the industry is responsible for 8.8%...
Protect Our Winters highlight 2025 as the ‘International Year Of Glacier Preservation’
This is a great new campaign by Protect Our Winters – highlighting 2025’s status as ‘International Year Of Glacier Preservation’ Glaciers are vital to the Earth’s water cycle, storing 75% of the world’s freshwater. By 2100, glaciers worldwide are projected to lose between 20% and 50% of their mass, profoundly affecting water availability and biodiversity. This is something that I’ve covered...
Case Study: UK to Selva Val Gardena by train
In March 2025, Iain travelled by train from the UK to Selva Val Gardena in the Dolomites in Italy. Brighton-London-Brussels I live in Brighton, so my journey started at 11:02 on a direct train to London St Pancras, arriving at 12:20 for a 13:01 Eurostar. It’s just my opinion, but I’m never going to turn...
