Eurostar Ski Train

The Eurostar Ski Train

In 2020, the direct Eurostar Ski Train was cancelled, due to the pandemic. The following season (2021-22), a French tour operator called Travelski, exclusively chartered the Eurostar Ski Train for the following two winter seasons. Travelski is owned by French ski lift operator, Compagnie des Alpes. But for the 2023-24 season, it is unlikely that Travelski will charter the Eurostar Ski Train, because negotiations haven't come to anything.

Tickets for the Travelski Express were only available as part of an all-inclusive package of train ticket, transfer, accommodation and ski pass. This means you couldn't just buy a train ticket by itself and have to stay in accommodation offered by Travelski. The train was operated by Eurostar (in terms of drivers, on-board staff and facilities) but all the marketing and the sales of the packages was done by Travelski. You can find out more in our guide to the Travelski Express. 

A popular alternative to the Travelski Express is to combine a Eurostar to Paris and a TGV from there. This gives you a choice of whatever accommodation you want, and also a wider range of ski resorts destinations. 

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What was the daytime Eurostar Ski Train?

The Eurostar Ski Train to the Alps was the most direct way of getting from London to Moutiers, Aime and Bourg St. Maurice stations, which service resorts in the Tarentaise region of the French Alps.

The daytime Eurostar Ski Train departed London every Saturday morning (and stopped at Ashford International too). It returned the following Saturday morning from the Alps.

Travelling this way is a lot of fun. The train could probably do with a few more table seats in Standard Class, while in Standard Premier every seat has a table seat. There was a cafe bar, a happy atmosphere and compared to flying or driving it is easier, more enjoyable and frequently quicker too - door to door.

This is a film that Snowcarbon founder Daniel Elkan made about it, commissioned by Eurostar. 

What was the overnight Eurostar Ski Train?

The direct overnight Eurostar Ski Train was a very simple way to get two extra days on the slopes of the Tarentaise region of the French Alps.

It left London at 8pm and arrived the next morning very early, giving you plenty of time before the ski lifts open and you make first tracks.

The fact that it goes direct was an obvious advantage, but unlike the sleeper trains from Paris, the Eurostar ski train had no actual couchette beds, only reclining seats. This means that not everyone gets a great night's sleep on it. It's a bit like Marmite - some love it, some not so much. 

There's always a frission of excitement when you board an overnight train headed for the Alps, knowing that next morning you'll arrive minutes from the slopes.

Years ago, the Snow Train with it's legendary Disco Carriage meant that, if you wanted to, you could party — however unwisely — from the moment you boarded until you arrived the next morning. Things are different on the Eurostar.  The atmosphere has been some what muted by Eurostar's banning of alcohol on board. You can bring your own food on board, but you can't bring alchohol, nor can you buy it at the bar.

You may also want to see our more in-depth guide to the experience onboard the overnight Eurostar Ski Train.

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Travel blogger Stu Jarvis has written a very entertaining and informative account of what the overnight Eurostar Ski Train is like.

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Step 1: Take the Ski Train to the Alps

The Eurostar Ski Train, being direct, is the simplest of journeys.

You get on, and 7-8 hours later you get off, in the Alps, a short transfer by bus or taxi from lots of great resorts.

It's a smooth, comfortable journey, and the cafe bar is always lively with a nice ambience.  However you spend the time on your journey on the Ski Train, you're guaranteed to be having a better experience than those who are navigating their way through airports, onto cramped flights and then long transfers. You'll probably reach the slopes faster — door to door — and with a fraction of the carbon emissions, too.

You can find out more about what it's like on board, and also read what other skiers say.

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Step 2: Transfer to your resort

Once you arrive, all you have to do is make the relatively short transfer the train station to the ski resort. These transfers are typically between 25 minutes and 45 minutes, and are far shorter than airport transfers - which can take anywhere from 1.5 to 3 hours - or even longer.

It's a good idea pre-book a taxi transfer, although at popular stations like Bourg St Maurice and Moutiers you can find a taxi driver on the spot too. We've launched a service to match people up to share taxis, saving you money and carbon emissions - find out more here.

There're also buses from train stations to ski resorts, usually timed to coincide with the arrival of the TGV.

For every ski resort on Snowcarbon, we have a transfer guide page to show you taxi and bus options and how to book them.

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What children think of this journey

This is a film that Snowcarbon made about children travelling on the Eurostar Ski Train, inspired by seeing so many families enjoying travelling on the daytime Eurostar Ski Train. 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 I took my camera to St Pancras and got on board the daytime 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."

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Where the Eurostar Ski Train stopped

A few years ago, Snowcarbon created a graphic of railway stations in the Tarentaise area of the French Alps. You can see which stations the Eurostar Ski Train calls at and which railway stations TGV trains from Paris call at too.

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The petition that Snowcarbon created to save the Ski Train

When Eurostar has announced the cancellation of the Ski Train for 2020-21, Snowcarbon created a petition to reinstate the service, along with Save The Ski Train campaign. You could follow the updates of the campaign.

It would be great if Eurostar ran a daytime Sunday - Sunday service every week. To help encourage Eurostar to build on this, please sign and share our petition for a Sunday - Sunday Ski Train

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How much did the daytime Eurostar Ski Train cost?

The lead-in fare for the Eurostar Ski Train was £160 return per adult. However on peak dates, even if you booked as soon as the train went on sale, trains were priced at about £300 - £550 return.

Fares for children aged 4 - 11 are 30% cheaper than adult fares.  Children under four years old can travel for free, but without a reserved seat.

These were our estimated prices for the Ski Train based on data from previous years: 

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When could you book the Eurostar Ski Train?

Usually, tickets for independent travel on the daytime and the overnight Eurostar Ski Trains would go on sale mid July.

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How to transfer from the daytime Eurostar Ski Train to your resort

To transfer from the Eurostar Ski Train to your hotel, chalet or apartment in resort, there were four options:

1. If you booked a rail-inclusive ski package from a ski tour operator, your transfer will normally be included in the package.
2. If you booked an independent chalet, the chalet company may be able to offer to pick you up from the train - check what they charge for this service.
3. You could book a local taxi (see table below)
4. You could book a bus transfer (see table below) if the bus times connect conveniently with the Ski Train (they don't always - but we at Snowcarbon are campaining to change that).

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Local taxi transfers from the Eurostar Ski Train to resorts

The prices below are averages, sourced from a variety of local taxi-transfer companies.

 

 

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How to book the Eurostar Ski Train

Eurostar announced the cancellation of the Ski Train for 2020-21 due to the pandemic.

The Eurostar Ski Train was simple to book online. If you already knew where you want to go and are travelling independently, you could book the Eurostar Ski Train on Eurostar's website.

If you were a group of 10 people or more, then you can register in advance for group tickets for the Eurostar Ski Train - see our guide to how to book group train travel to ski resorts in the Alps.

Or, if you wanted to view possible resorts and see exact journey times and transfer information, visit the Resorts and Journey Planner page

One of the best ways to book the Eurostar Ski Train was with a rail-inclusive package from ski tour operators. The train travel cost about the same price as flights  - and had transfers from station to resort included.You can visit the ski train holidays page to view ski holidays by train from a number of tour operators.

You could also find out more about how to book the Eurostar Ski Train in our guide to booking ski holidays by train.

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How much did the overnight Eurostar Ski Train cost?

Eurostar have announced the cancellation of the Ski Train for 2020-21 and have not committed to reinstating it in future.

We need more low-carbon routes to Europe, not fewer. Please sign our petition to reinstate this fantastic service and follow the updates of the Save The Ski Train campaign.

Usually, the lead-in fare for the Eurostar Ski Train is £160 return per adult - i.e. that's the cheapest it can be. However the reality is that on peak dates, even if you book as soon as the train goes on sale, trains are priced at about £300 - £500 return.

Fares for children aged 4 - 11 are 30% cheaper than adult fares. Children under four years old can travel for free, but without a reserved seat.

Our Live Ski and Snow Trains Price Check page shows live prices for the whole season for recommended train routes.

If the Ski Train runs, these are our predicted prices based on previous data:

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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.