There are several options to get you to the slopes by train:
Eurostar Direct Ski Train - daytime
The daytime direct Eurostar Ski Train takes you from London and Ashford to the Tarentaise regions of the French Alps, with no changes. It’s no wonder that this train is popular, and sells out quickly for February half term.
Journeys run: every Saturday from 22nd December 2018 (first outbound departure) to 30th March 2019 (last outbound train).
Facilities on board: daytime train has a café bar – and you can also bring whatever food and drink you want onboard too.
Destinations include: Brides les Bains, Courchevel, La Plagne, La Rosiere, La Tania, Les Arcs, Les Menuires, Méribel, Morillon, Morzine, Peisey-Vallandry, Sainte Foy, St Martin de Belleville, Tignes, Val d'Isère, Val Thorens and Valmorel.
Eurostar Direct Ski Train - overnight
The overnight direct Eurostar Ski Train follows the same route as the daytime Eurostar Ski Train, from London and Ashford to the Tarentaise regions of the French Alps, with no changes. The train has no flat beds, just seats, so it isn’t the ideal sleeping arrangement. For those who can sleep sitting upright, it does give the possibility of two extra days on the slopes. However, many people try this train once and once only.
Journeys run: every Friday from 21st December 2018 (first outbound departure) to 29th March 2019 (last outbound train).
Facilities on board: the overnight service has a café bar. However, alcohol is not served on the overnight service, and you are not permitted to bring any onboard either. The overnight service does not offer couchettes, so you can't lie down, but you get a comfort pack containing a blanket, blow-up neck cushion, snacks, magazines, toothbrush and toothpaste.
Eurostar + TGV
Take a Eurostar from London to Paris, and then change station (which is easy by taxi) to take a TGV bound for the Alps. For some destinations a further change of train, (to a regional train, InterCity or RailJet train) may be required. A variation on this journey is to travel to Paris in the late afternoon or evening, stop over and take a TGV to your resort the next morning.
Facilities on board: Eurostars and TGVs have café bars. InterCity and RailJet trains have on-board restaurants and bistros.
Journeys run: daytime, daily, with more services at weekends.
Destinations include: French resorts such as Les Arcs, Méribel, Val d’Isère, Val Thorens, La Clusaz, La Rosiere, Les Gets, Montgenèvre; Italian resorts such as Sauze d’Oulx, Sestrière and Clavière; Swiss resorts such as Crans Montana, Verbier, Zermatt and Saas Fee, and St Anton in Austria.
Eurostar + Corail Lunea Sleeper Train
Take an early-evening Eurostar from London to Paris, and then change station (which is easy by taxi) and take a Corail Lunea sleeper train.
Facilities on board: Eurostar has café bars. Corail Lunea’s have couchette beds.
Journeys run: every day to most of the destinations served.
Destinations: In 2016 SNCF axed most of their sleeper services, but one Alpine route remains, from Paris to Briancon. This serves the French resorts of Serre Chevalier and Montgenèvre; Italian resorts, such as Sauze d’Oulx, Sestrière and Clavière; and Grandvalira in Andorra.
Eurostar + NightJet sleeper train
Take a Eurostar to Brussels, change platform there and take an ICE train to Cologne, where you catch the NightJet sleeper train to the Austrian Tirol region, home to a range of great ski resorts.
Facilities on board: ICE trains have restaurant carriages; the NightJet has couchette compartments for 2, 3 or 4 people. Some compartments have ensuite washing and shower facilities too. A light breakfast is included.
Journeys run: every night of the year
Destinations include: Alpbach, Hopfgarten, Ischgl Kirchberg, Kitzbühel, Kühtai, Mayrhofen/Zillertal, Obergurgl/Hochgurgl, Olympia Ski World Innsbruck, St Anton, St Johann in Tirol, Seefeld, Söll, Westendorf and Zillertal Arena.
Eurostar + Alpen Express sleeper train
Either take a Eurostar to Amsterdam and catch the Alpen Express sleeper train from there, or (setting out a bit later) take a Eurostar to Brussels, change platform there and take an ICE train to Cologne, where you catch the Alpen Express sleeper train to a very wide range of Austrian ski resorts.
Facilities on board: ICE trains have restaurant carriages; the Alpen Express has couchette compartments for 6, 5 or 3 people. Some compartments have ensuite washing facilities too. A light breakfast is included.
Journeys run: every Friday from 20th December 2019 to 13th March 2020
Destinations include: Alpbach, Bad Gastein, Hopfgarten, Ischgl, Kaprun, Kirchberg, Kitzbühel, Kühtai, Mayrhofen/Zillertal, Obergurgl/Hochgurgl, Olympia Ski World Innsbruck, St Anton, St Johann in Tirol, Saalbach, Seefeld, Söll, Westendorf, Zell am See Zillertal Arena.
For more about train options, visit the
Snowcarbon website.
The Ski Club's comprehensive
resort guides can provide you with plenty more information about all of the resorts mentioned here, many of which also host Ski Club Leaders and Ambassadors.
