Rail Europe have just announced that the Snow Train will not run this season. Their website says “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”.

I’m sure everyone who preferred the snow train to the long drive, or flying will be thinking oh no now I have to do the Eurostar overnight ski train or day ski train. Of course this is an option, but 9 hours in a train seat to the Alps is never a favourite start to your ski holiday (a weekend trip to Les Arcs via Eurostar overnight train I’m sure will be blogged about at some point.)

But don’t dispair, all the Snow Train was was a chartered  TGV. I’ve been on this service once and it’s only notable for its extremely sticky floored disco car. In recent years I’ve booked my ski train tickets independently, so I’ve booked a ticket via Eurostar to Paris and then the TGV/Artesia secion seperately from Paris to the Alps, you can book through Rail Europe.  Don’t worry you get overnight couchettes on these ski trains too.

Trains run from Paris Austerlitz or Gare du Lyon on a regular basis to Bourg St Maurice, several during the day and one overnight every evening in peak season.  Note the overnight train is a Corail Lunea which has the couchette options like the Snow Train.

Fares can be cheap, especially outside peak season. Last season I got tickets from London to Bourg St Maurice for less than £120 all in, £75 for a Eurostar return and £45 for Paris to Bourg St Maurice via Chambery. A taxi for the half an hour drive to Tignes ski resort cost 15 euros each (for 7), and it worked out much cheaper than flying even with budget airline prices. You can book at Rail Europe.

The cheapest way to get ski train tickets to the Alps is to book as far in advance as you can, tickets on the French network go on sale 3 months before the date of travel, so get online “exactly” 3 months before and get your tickets booked.

One thing that skiiers often don’t realise is that you can also get to other ski resorts easily by train.  These destinations also tend to be cheaper than tickets to Bourg St Maurice or Moutiers.

Get the ski train to Oulx for ski resorts Sauze d’Oulx, Sestriere, Montgenevre and Claviere.

Get the ski train to Briancon for ski resorts Serre Chevalier, Puy St Vincent and Pelvoux.

Get the ski train to St Jean de Maurienne for ski resorts Les Sybelles, Valloire and Valmenier

Get the ski train to Grenoble for ski resorts Alpe D’huez, Les Deux Alpes and La Grave amongst others.

Most of these ski train destinations offer daily services in about 4 hours from Paris or overnight services in about 7/8 hours. If you take the overnight service then it works the same way as the Snow Train you will be able to ski for 8 full days.

Book all these ski train journeys in minutes online at Rail Europe.

My final tip – if you are willing to sacrifice comfort for price, many of these ski train services offer reclining seats over couchettes, they’re often as cheap as 40 euros return from Paris, and you get a lot more leg room than on a plane (and much more than the Eurostar!)