Posts feed
Rail Europe announced this past week that there would be no Snow Train service to the French Alps during the coming ski season. According to an official statement on Rail Europe’s website, the overnight sleeper service is another casualty of the recession:
We’re really sad to announce that the Snow Train won’t be running during the coming ski season. Unfortunately, the current economic climate and poor exchange rates along with an increase in our operating costs, has meant that the service would not be financially viable.
The skiing public were as divided about the Snow Train experience as the general public are, so undoubtedly some fans will mourn the loss of the service.
Rail Europe pointed out that there are other rail options for traveling to the Alps including an overnight Eurostar service. However, unlike the relative comfort offered by the couchettes on the Snow Train, on the Eurostar you travel sitting upright.
There are also weekly Eurostar services during the day but the real lure of the Snow Train was that by traveling overnight you gained an extra day on the slopes.
Of course, you can gain that extra day by either driving of flying to the Alps on a schedule that suits you.
If you drive, count on at least 8 hours driving to France. Flights to French alpine airports take less than 2 hours but transfers from the airport to resort can be time consuming. Do your research and pick the local airport for your chosen resort and you could save yourself a lot of time.
Print This Post
of course you can still get the regular French network trains from Gare du Lyon or Gare D’AUsterlitz. It’s still the same type of trains you just need to book them independently. More info here http://ski-concierge.com/blog/snow-train-cancelled-this-season/.
I took the snow train last winter and found it far from comfortyable. The staff were great and tried very hard but it was a lousy old clapped out train with couchettes like rock so I didn’t sleep much. When I was leaving Bourg st maurice I saw a lovely Eurostar parked up ready to depart and I think only taking 8 hours to make the trip direct from London. I’d definitely have done that instead in future even if the snow train was still running.