Groups via Eurostar and SNCF

Group ski holidays by train are a wonderful thing. Fun on the slopes, fun on the way. 

Group rail tickets are when you have nine or more people travelling together. 

When you are nine people or more people, these can't be booked online in one booking, because rail companies don't allow this. 

So group tickets need to be booked via a rail-company's Groups department or by a specialist rail-booking agent. 

Booking as a group has advantages: 

• group tickets can usually be booked further in advance than normal tickets
• groups get discounted travel (usually about 10% discount)
• you get to sit together 

The alternative (e.g. booking online) would be to have to split your group into several groups of less than nine people each. 

The SNCF Groups confusion

For years, French Rail company SNCF was a useful place to book Group rail travel for ski holidays to the Alps. I used them every year, because each year I would organise one or two holidays for 20 - 25 friends. We'd go to a large chalet and everyone would travel together by train. I organised the tickets via the UK version of SNCF, which was then called Rail Europe. The journeys we booked were from London to the French Alps, by Eurostar + TGV. 

NB: Rail Europe is now a different entity (a private rail-booking website (raileurope.com), nothing to do with SNCF). 

This went very well. 

But then, when SNCF closed down it's UK operation (i.e. closed down the old 'Rail Europe' things got confusing. SNCF had a page on it's website about booking for groups. 

This is the page: https://www.sncf-voyageurs.com/en/travel-with-us/prepare-your-trip/group-travel/ 

Problem is, the website had a confusing dead end, particularly if you tried to get options for any journey starting from London. I spent two years regularly trying to point out this contacts at SNCF.  But no one ever came back with an answer. Until finally, this, which clarifies it: 

"Unfortunately, the group offer don’t exist on Eurostar product (all the trains that go to and from London). That’s why you find nothing when you are looking for this destination or origin in our booking website."

So, you can book group travel within Europe with SNCF (eg Paris to the Alps), but not the whole journey from London.

Indeed, Eurostar has a similar limitation, but the other way around.  You can't use Eurostar's Groups department to book a journey that combines a Eurostar and a TGV.  Eurostar Groups department can only book you on Eurostar's own services. 

This is like going to Sainsbury's and finding that they can only sell you Sainsbury's own brand goods. It's a missed opportunity all round. 

The solution is to use an independent, expert rail booking agent. They can book group travel for most journeys, fortunately. Here are the two that SnowCarbon knows and recommends: 

Railtrail
With over 40 years of experience, Railtrail has a knowledgeable team who can help book almost any journey.
Railtrail charges a fee of £20 per traveller (sometimes less for larger groups) 
Phone: (+44) 01538 382323 (09:00 – 17:00, Monday – Friday)
Email: enquiry@railtrail.co.uk

Trainseurope
Established in 1987, Trainseurope's knowledgeable staff can help book almost any journey.
Trainseurope charges a fee of £10 per traveller.
Phone: (+44) 01354 660222 (09:00 – 17:00 Monday to Friday; 10:00 – 15:00 Saturday & Sunday)
Email: info@trainseurope.co.uk

Hope this is useful - I'd always love to hear how your group journey to the slopes goes, or any questions you have.