The National Association of Mayors of Mountain Resorts (ANMSM) has called for better train services to ski resorts in France to reduce the carbon footprint of ski holidays.
A survey commissioned by the ANMSM and conducted by G2A Consulting showed that almost half of respondents would change the way they travel to resort if the services on offer were improved.
51% would travel by train
Currently, 89% of French skiers and snowboarders travel by car, but if an improved train service was available, 51% would travel by train.
This appetite for train travel is even more evident among 18-24 year olds, with 76% indicating they would travel by rail.
The survey showed that without any changes, only 8% of French people plan to change the way their mode of transport.
More day and night rail links
The ANMSM is calling for more day and night rail links from major French cities, with support for public road transport over the last few kilometers, as well as increased promotional offers for low season periods.
Another proposal is a duplication of the Travelski Express service for domestic holidaymakers travelling from within France.
More indirect options
Any improvement in the provision and prices of SNCF trains to the French Alps can benefit UK skiers wishing to travel by train.
The Travelski Express might be the only direct service to the mountains, but the combination of Eurostar and then a train from Paris (or Lille/Amsterdam) opens up hundreds of ski resorts in multiple countries.
