Case Study: London to Les 2 Alpes by train
In January 2024, Iain presenter of The Ski Podcast and founder of Ski Flight Free, travelled from London to Les 2 Alpes by train. “This was a first for me, as while I’ve travelled to Switzerland and the Tarentaise in France on many occasions, this was my first train journey to the Southern French Alps.” 08:01 (GMT)...
Take paid ‘Journey Days’ via Climate Perks
While train travel to the Alps may not be more expensive than flying, it does normally take longer. Perhaps that has put you off taking the train to a ski resort, particularly on a shorter break. With a limited amount of holiday available, why use up some of your valuable days simply by travelling to...
Take the Snow Train to Geneva?
According to Eurotunnel, direct trains from London to Geneva could be an option before the end of this decade. Yann Leriche, the chief executive of Getlink, the company that runs the tunnel, has been quoted saying that he expects new entrants to compete with Eurostar on the cross-channel route. Eurostar only company to offer trains...
Why I’m taking the Flight Free Challenge in 2024
Since I founded Ski Flight Free four years ago, I have substantially cut down on my flights, but I haven’t managed to stop flying completely. Admittedly one flight was rolled over from lockdown and another was to visit my elderly mum in Australia, but in 2024 I am committing to the ‘Flight Free Challenge’ –...
Midnight Trains drop plans for Edinburgh-Paris service
Disappointing news was released this week from the start-up Midnight Trains, who have confirmed that their plans no longer include a sleeper train from Edinburgh to Paris. The company plans to offer travellers a new ‘hotel on rails’ service around Europe, serving a dozen destinations to and from Paris. No Edinburgh-Paris service The company has...
NightJet services to Austria by train via Amsterdam still an option for winter 2023/24
Eurostar has confirmed that the no Eurostar trains will be able to depart from the Netherlands between June 2024 and January 2025 – a shorter interruption than anticipated. Renovation work in Amsterdam This is because of renovation work at the Amsterdam Central station, which will mean that the Eurostar departure and customs area will be...
Trenitalia offer skiers train options to French ski resorts from Paris
The landslide in the Maurienne valley in August that moved 10,000 m3 of rock means that the Paris-Milan rail route remains blocked. However, skiers looking for train routes to the French Alps can still use Trenitalia this winter. Paris to Lyon and Chambéry From December 10, Trenitalia will offer five trains a day from Paris...
Train Travel panels at the National Snow Shows
At Ski Flight Free we have been promoting train travel to the Alps over flying for years, so it was hugely encouraging to see a genuine increased level of interest at the shows at Birmingham and London during National Snow Week. Iain Martin, founder of Ski Flight Free, was invited to lead a panel at...
Compagnie des Alpes invites bids from rail companies to offer more train-only packages
Compagnie des Alpes are taking the next step to reduce carbon costs associated with their ski resorts and ski holidays by inviting bids to offer train services under the Travelski Express brand across Europe. Bids open to offer train travel to French resorts Yesterday it announced it is welcoming bids for suppliers to offer its...
New couchette ‘sleeping pods’ for Austrian Nightjet trains
Austria’s state railway ÖBB has confirmed they will be introducing a new fleet of night trains from December 2023. Thirty-three of the new trains will take to the rails in December 2023 and will be a significant upgrade on the previous models. The new trains put a focus on solo travelers, including pod-like single cabins,...
SNCF ‘Carte Advantage’: Save money on French train bookings
For anyone travelling to the Alps this winter, here’s a useful money-saving tip if you are booking connecting trains from Paris with SNCF. Each winter, I buy an SNCF ‘Carte Avantage‘. You can probably translate that yourself, but just in case, it’s the SNCF ‘Advantage Card’. And indeed, there can be a big advantage in buying...
Eurostar to face competition from Evolyn on London-Paris route
It’s an axiom of business that competition leads to lower prices, so the news that Eurostar will soon face competition on the London-Paris high speed train route is very welcome. Monopolies are rarely good for the consumer, and it seems that Eurostar’s 30-year reign as the only company offering cross-channel rail travel may be over....
