The(re)' s no (w) train running to the Alps this winter
I received an email the other day announcing that the Snow Train wouldn't be running for the 2010 ski season - hence the Blog title.
Geddit?
There's no train running to the Alps this winter ..... the snow train running to the Alps this winter ...
It's a play on words.
Geddit?
Yes I know it's not really about Brittany, or running a Gite, but it is about France and I thought it was an amusing Blog title anyway!
Anyway, the news is that the Snow Train which has run for several years direct from London to the French Alps (via Eurotunnel of course) won't be running during the 2010 ski season as "due to the current economic climate and unfavourable exchange rates the service is not financially viable".
The promoters of the Snow Train say that they hope to be able to reinstate it again in future years "once economic conditions improve".
Despite the demise of the Snow Train there's still several other options to getting to the French Alps this winter, the key ones being:
Eurostar Direct Ski Train
There's two Eurostar Direct Ski trains that run weekly during the winter from London St Pancras or Ashford International stations direct to 3 stations in the French Alps (Moutiers, Aime La Plagne and Bourg-St-Maurice). Prices start from £149 return per person and the service runs from December 2009 through to April 2010 - one service on Friday night arriving Saturday morning and a second service travelling through the day on Saturday.
Alternatively
Take the Eurostar then a connecting TGV or overnight train to the Alps
There's many high-speed day and overnight trains from both Paris or Lille to the French Alps that operate throughout the Winter months. Overnight services have reclining seats or folding couchette-type bunk beds. We've taken this route ourselves to go skiing in the past and (apart from trekking with all your ski gear from one station to another across Paris) it's a great way to get to the Alps and enjoy a few beers along the way!
Further prices and tickets for either rail option are available from Rail Europe
Geddit?
There's no train running to the Alps this winter ..... the snow train running to the Alps this winter ...
It's a play on words.
Geddit?
Yes I know it's not really about Brittany, or running a Gite, but it is about France and I thought it was an amusing Blog title anyway!
Anyway, the news is that the Snow Train which has run for several years direct from London to the French Alps (via Eurotunnel of course) won't be running during the 2010 ski season as "due to the current economic climate and unfavourable exchange rates the service is not financially viable".
The promoters of the Snow Train say that they hope to be able to reinstate it again in future years "once economic conditions improve".
Despite the demise of the Snow Train there's still several other options to getting to the French Alps this winter, the key ones being:
Eurostar Direct Ski Train
There's two Eurostar Direct Ski trains that run weekly during the winter from London St Pancras or Ashford International stations direct to 3 stations in the French Alps (Moutiers, Aime La Plagne and Bourg-St-Maurice). Prices start from £149 return per person and the service runs from December 2009 through to April 2010 - one service on Friday night arriving Saturday morning and a second service travelling through the day on Saturday.
Alternatively
Take the Eurostar then a connecting TGV or overnight train to the Alps
There's many high-speed day and overnight trains from both Paris or Lille to the French Alps that operate throughout the Winter months. Overnight services have reclining seats or folding couchette-type bunk beds. We've taken this route ourselves to go skiing in the past and (apart from trekking with all your ski gear from one station to another across Paris) it's a great way to get to the Alps and enjoy a few beers along the way!
Further prices and tickets for either rail option are available from Rail Europe
Labels: France
posted by Geoffrey at 11:00 pm Permalink
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