The Ski Train Is Back For Winter 2023/24!

Good news - the Eurostar Snow service is back for Winter 2023/24! After 2 years away, Eurostar has finally seen sense and put on what should be a great service between London St. Pancras and the French Alps.

With a race against time for a rapidly changing climate and consumers wanting more sustainable travel options to the Alps, the new ski train couldn't have been timed better.

All Change In Lille

Whilst you can still reach the Alps by train by going through the usual route of Paris Gare du Nord, the new ski train route will leave from London to the Alps and go via. Lille in North East France.

Now, if you've ever changed in Paris, gone through the Metro and hopped on another train at Paris Gare de Lyon, you'll know that it is a bit of a faff. The easy option of course is to get a taxi and navigate the Paris traffic. The Paris route option is still live all season we may add.

This new route through Lille offers customers a much more hassle-free option, as all you need to do is change platforms. The changeover time is usually around 50 minutes too, giving you ample time to navigate lifts, subways and stairs.

After you change trains, a Eurostar continental snow train service will whisk you to Chambéry, Albertville, Moutiers, Aime-La Plagne, before arriving in Bourg-Saint-Maurice as its final destination.

What's The New Timetable?

The new service via. Lille commences departures from London St. Pancras on Saturday 16th December, and will run for eight weekends until Sunday 4th February 2024.

The quickest route on the new service takes around 7hrs 30 mins, and sees you depart London in the morning, and arrive in the Alps late afternoon.

Now comes the part where you really begin to doubt the capability of the top brass at Eurostar....ready?

Outbound services from London will run every Saturday. Inbound services from the Alps will run every Sunday. That means you need 8 nights in the Alps. Did they consult chalet companies, tour operators and other stakeholders about the feasibility of 8 night stays? No.

8 NIGHT PACKAGES WITH SKIWEEKENDS

Whilst other ski holiday providers don't offer much flexibility on their Saturday to Saturday, 7-night ski holidays (they will add a hotel stay in Bourg St. Maurice or Moutiers on the final night), SkiWeekends are pleased to offer a range of flexible ski holidays, including 8 night durations at a range of top ski resorts in the French Alps.

In fact we ran a poll on social media when we found out about the 8-night ski train package options, and an overwhelming 80% of you voted you'd prefer an extra night in resort, rather than be shipped down the hill for an extra check-in, check-out experience at another hotel.

Personally we'd also enjoy an extra night in resort. The early morning departure isn't actually that early either, as both Bourg and Moutier are - on average - around a 30 minute journey from most ski resorts. With the first train departing Bourg at 08:26 each Sunday morning, you wouldn't have to leave much before 7am to get your train home.

We're currently putting together final details of train + hotel/chalet + transfer options which we'll announce in due course, but as a starting point, check out these three great options below, to Tignes, Les Arcs and Meribel (prices based on 4 people travelling):

4* Hotel La Cachette - 8 nights B&B, 16th Dec >> £729pp
Train transfer from Bourg - FREE (funicular up to Arc 1600 from the train station!)
Total - £729pp

3* Hotel L'Eterlou - 8 nights B&B, 6th Jan >> £568pp
Train transfer from Moutiers - £48pp return
Total - £616pp

3* Hotel L'Arbina - 8 nights B&B, 13th Jan >> £652pp
Train transfer from Bourg - £55pp return
Total - £707pp

View more Eurostar ski holiday options here

Journey Comparisons

Taking the train significantly cuts carbon emissions and is much better for the environment...but there are many other factors involved in choosing how to get to a ski resort, such as time, feasibility and cost.

The new Eurostar Snow train service might be great for those living in and around London, but what about those who live in, say, Bristol or Newcastle and want to go skiing to the Alps? The new train service simply wouldn't be feasible because of all those factors.

So how does the new route stack up against the old route? How does it compare to flying or self-driving?

Unlike flying, taking the Eurostar is much friendlier on your wallet when it comes to luggage and - depending on the date you travel - ticket price.

With Eurostar fares starting from £99 one-way in Standard and £149 in Standard Premier (both off-peak) passengers will also benefit from a generous luggage allowance per person (two suitcases, one piece of hand luggage AND skis or snowboard at no extra cost). As we all know, adding that amount on luggage to an easyJet flight probably doubles (or more) the overall price of the flight.

Eurostar does not impose limits on the volume of liquids you can carry either, but be cautious with alcohol; large bottles of spirits are not allowed.

Now let's look at time comparisons.

From central London to Moutiers, the one of the quickest routes takes 7 hours 29 minutes. Let's say we are heading to Courchevel 1650. That means an additional 30 mins transfer, so total time, 8 hours.

Compare that to flying. Getting from central London to Gatwick (give or take), takes around 40 mins. Let's say we aim to be there 2 hours before the flight. Then the flight is 1 hour 35 mins (on average), then let's say 45 mins for disembarking, passport control, luggage collection and getting to the transfer vehicle, and then a 2.5 hour transfer to Courchevel 1650. Total time: 7.5 hours.

So flying beats the train by 30 mins. Not much in it!

But the train beats the flight hands down in terms of kg of CO2 per person.

Our analysis shows the following data, travelling from London to Courchevel 1650:

- Train + transfer - 13.5kg CO2 per person

- Flight + transfer - 222.57kg CO2 per person

Sustainability Focus Back On Track

Whilst Eurostar has been critisised in many quarters, they are on the right track with the new Lille route.

This new route provides a wonderful, hassle-free opportunity for environmentally conscious skiers to support a more sustainable travel option, and reach some of the top ski resorts in France - in a similar time - in a much more environmentally friendly way.