Family train travel to the Alps

Rail travel to the Alps fantastic for families - children love it because the journey becomes part of the holiday

Family ski holiday by train

Why families love train travel to the Alps

If you get onto a train bound for the Alps and take a walk through the carriages, you'll notice that trains are happy places for families. Children love this way of travelling. On a daytime train they can play games around a table set, go for a walk to the cafe bar with mum or dad, and watch ever-changing scenery. 

By contrast, travelling overnight is an adventure – couchettes are popular with children, and the idea of going to sleep and waking up in the mountains is an exciting prospect.

Cost-wise, train travel can be competitive against flying or driving, particularly at half terms when although trains are price, flights can be particularly exhorbitant. And there are decent discounts for children too.
 

Why Children Love Train Travel to Ski Resorts

Daniel (Snowcarbon Founder) says:

"Travelling to the Alps, it never fails to impress on me how much children love the journeys.  Walk up and down any train and you'll see very happy families  - train journey really suit children - as well as adults.

"I thought it would be interesting to make a film about what children themselves think of the journey. So at Easter I took my camera to St Pancras and got on board the Eurostar Ski Train. 

"The children interviewed in this film were all found on location in St Pancras and on the train. They had a lot to say about the journey - and skiing! Indeed, they can teach us a thing or two about how to have fun when travelling by train to the Alps."

Discounts for children on trains

Families on TGVFamilies on TGVPhoto: Daniel Elkan

Most train services to the Alps offer discounts for children. However, the size of the discount and what it covers varies by country and service.

On SNCF trains (including TGV Lyria), children under four travel for free so long as they sit on the lap of an accompanying adult. The same is true for Eurostar. If you’d like more wriggle room for your tiny tots, SNCF offers a Forfait Bambin add-on to the price of your ticket. This reserves an extra seat for your child under four for the flat rate of €9 (as of September 2024).

Children aged 4–11 get an automatic 30% reduction on TGV and Eurostar trains, while teenagers are eligible for the Carte Avantage Jeune railcard. If travelling as a family, children will receive an additional discount if you possess a Carte Avantage—check out our blog post to learn more.

Austria’s ÖBB (including Nightjet) has a more generous child discount, offering 50% off for travellers aged 5–15. Children under five go free, but unlike SNCF, they get a free travel ticket guaranteeing an extra seat. However, this does not apply to the Nightjet, on which they must share the seat, couchette, or bed of their accompanying adult. Unlike SNCF, there’s no Forfait Bambin option either, meaning you’ll have to buy an extra ticket if you don’t want to share a bed (albeit at the child’s rate).

Just surpassing Austria, on Switzerland’s SBB trains, children under six travel free of charge, while children aged 6–16 receive a 50% discount. If you’re a regular visitor to the Swiss Alps, SBB’s Junior Travelcard allows children aged 6–16 to travel free. Discount railcards are also available for youths aged 16–25. 

However, Germany’s DB (including ICE trains) has by far the most lavish child fares. All children under 15 travel free of charge when accompanied by an adult, with up to four children allowed per adult ticket. While teenagers have no similar discount, the BahnCard 25 and 50 (offering 25% and 50% discounts respectively) are available to all passengers over 15 and on select services, you’ll find the fabled “Super Sparpreis Young”—a €12.99 ticket for youths aged 15–27.

You can find out more about this in our guide to how to book train tickets to the Alps.

Family groups of 10 or more

Children on board EurostarDaniel Elkan

If your family (or group of families travelling together) totals 10 people or more, you could get a group discount. This group discount normally applies irrespective of whether you are all adults, or a mix of adults and children.

Since you can’t book 10 or more seats online in one booking anyway, you’ll need to book this through a rail booking agent. Experienced agents are able to ensure that the booking is done correctly and that group and age-related discounts (for children, for example) are applied. 

Here are the details of two rail-booking agents that we can recommend:

Railtrail
With over 40 years of experience, Railtrail has a knowledgeable team that 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 to 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

Changing station in Paris

Taxi driver waiting at Gare du NordTaxi driver waiting at Gare du NordDaniel Elkan

Some journeys to ski resorts involve a change of station in Paris - so that you can change from a Eurostar train to a TGV or sleeper train.

With young children in tow, the idea of doing this on the Metro or RER can seem daunting and can put skiers off what would otherwise be a lovely family journey.

Instead, do the change of station in Paris by taxi - either a pre-booked one where the driver greets you at the end of the Eurostar platform, or one from the taxi rank a few metres away from the Eurostar platform.  You can find out all about how to do this easily on our How to change in Paris section. What is so important to note is that many really great family resorts do require a change in Paris to reach them by train, the taxi transfers make this very straightforward to do. 

The easiest way to change station in Paris

As mentioned, if you are changing station in Paris, and have children in tow, then by far the easiest way to do this is by pre-booked taxi. To show you what it's like, we've made a one-minute film - and had quite a lot of fun doing it! Don't show this film the the kids, or they might insist that you all dress up this way...
Certainly a taxi will make the change of station very simple and straightforward.

Luggage for families

Luggage on TGVLuggage on TGVPhoto: Daniel Elkan

For families, being able to take quite a bit of luggage with you can be an advantage. 

You can effectively take whatever luggage you want with you, because whether it's on Eurostar or onward trains in Europe, the limits are so generous as to effectively not exist. 

The exception to this is snowboards on TGV trains. SNCF no longer allows them. But apart from that, you can take what you want, anywhere.  

For example, on Eurostar Snow, the luggage limit is:

  • Two medium size suitcases (85cm maximum length)
  • One pair of skis or snowboard
  • One piece of hand luggage

And on ordinary Eurostar trains to Paris, the limit is:

  • One medium size suitcase (85cm maximum length)
  • One pair of skis or snowboard
  • One piece of hand luggage

On top of that, you can also take one pushchair per child.

Find out more in our guide to luggage on trains. 

Ski holidays by train — Ask Snowcarbon

At Snowcarbon we are always happy to help you with suggestions for great resorts, fantastic accommodation and how to get there.

Looking forward to helping you.