Since I founded Ski Flight Free in 2019, I have cut down on my flights considerably in an effort to reduce my carbon footprint. Flight Free in 2024 and 2025 For the last two years, I have gone slightly further committed to the ‘Flight Free Challenge’ – created by Anna...
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...
In 2022, I looked at the carbon footprint of a ski holiday, based on some research by French ski resorts. The original research attempted to detail the carbon cost of a day’s skiing, and the differences your choices can make to the final figure. I’ve now updated these figures, to...
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 2025/26 with more departures, plus an option to return on the following Saturday (six days’ skiing), as well...
As well as founding Ski Flight Free, Iain also presents The Ski Podcast. In September 2023, Iain discussed new train travel options with Krissie Roe from Inghams: In September 2020, Iain was joined by Daniel Elkan from Snowcarbon and Anna Hughes from Flight Free UK in a Facebook Live event to discuss...
Make sure you pick up a copy of this month’s ‘Telegraph Ski & Snowboard Magazine’ encouraging skiers to #SkiFlightFree. You can find Iain’s opinion piece on the existential threat to ski resorts on page 20: Find out more at www.skiflightfree.org
Climate change represents an existential threat to human life on the planet. The evidence for this has been widely published, but you don’t have to take my word for it. This is what Britain’s most trusted man has to say on the subject: An existential threat to the ski industry...
Our favourite website for booking train travel to Europe – Loco2.com – will shortly be re-branded as the more logical and easier-to-remember ‘Rail Europe’. The switch is planned for Wednesday 06 November 2019 with the aim of positioning Rail Europe as a single global brand for environmentally conscious travellers to book European train travel. Cristina...
Most of Europe’s remaining glacial ice will be gone by the end of this century, according to a new report by scientists from the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research. The study showed that unless there is urgent action to slow or prevent climate change, then the 4000 Alpine glaciers will have...
Two British academics have put together these shocking photos, showing the extent of the glacial retreat in Chamonix. Dr Kieran Baxter and Dr Alice Watterson from the University of Dundee compared photos taken a century ago in 2019. The original photos were taken by the Swiss pilot and photographer Walter Mittelholzer, who flew over the...
The first booking window opened last week for indirect trains (i.e. Eurostar + SNCF) travelling between 15 December 2019 and 05 January 2020. Eurostar trains can be booked well in advance, but one of the limitations of SNCF is that tickets normally only go on sale around 90 days in advance. Tickets for journeys travelling...
The appetite for action on climate change within the travel industry is growing quickly. Business travel specialists TripActions has taken the decision to provide its customers with data on the CO2 emissions, to enable them to make better decisions in relation to their travel choices. Minimising environmental impact the single most important factor A recent...
Make sure you pick up the latest copy of Fall-Line Skiing – the whole focus is on eco and environmental issues. It’s full of excellent ideas and info to help you make your skiing decisions this winter. Features include: 20 Green Ski Ideas Taking the train to the Austrian Alps ‘The fight to save our snow’ Scrutiny...
Exciting plans to merge Europe’s two high-speed operators, Eurostar and Thalys, were released at the weekend. The proposal is for the owners of French National Railways (SNCF) and Belgian National Railways, which between them own a majority stake in both Eurostar and Thalys. The working name for the new reform is the ‘Green Speed Project’....
There are a lot of graphics that demonstrate global warming and climate change, but this superb and worrying image stands out. I can remember skiing the Vallée Blanche in Chamonix for the first time in 1984…it’s a very different experience today! This photo shows the difference in the Mer de Glacier as shown...
We are delighted to see that tour operator Mountain Heaven have announced that they will be offering a 10% discount to all guests arriving by train rather than by plane. They announced the new offer on their Facebook page on Friday 20 September, to coincide with the global Climate Strike day: The discount will apply...
Excellent news has reached us from Visit Tirol’s press agency about a new sleeper train to Austria. Skiers can slash their carbon footprint and get extra days on the slopes with a new route to the Austrian Tirol. Eurostar + Alpen Express Travelling from London St Pancras, you start with by taking the Eurostar to...
French ski resort Les Sybelles have confirmed that they will be using only 100% renewable electricity this season for operating its lifts and snow-making facilities. The certified renewable electricity will come from local hydroelectric generation, as well as solar and wind power sources. The power is provided as part of an agreement with EDF. The...
Although many skiers will want to get to the Alps as quickly as possible, you can of course add a cultural element to your travel by train by stopping in Paris on the way. The concept (courtesy of Snowcarbon) is simple: 1. Take a Eurostar to Paris 2. Stay overnight in Paris 3. Take a...
