Eurostar is launching a new ski service to the French Alps this coming winter season, with tickets costing from £99 in standard class and £149 in ‘standard premier’.
The service, called Eurostar Snow, will run from London St Pancras International to the popular Tarentaise region of the French Alps, dropping skiers and snowboarders at Moutiers, Aime-la-Plagne and Bourg-Saint-Maurice, stations that give them quick access by bus or taxi to 16 major ski resorts, including Meribel, Courchevel, La Plagne, Les Arcs, Tignes and Val d’Isere.
There is just one catch though – the 830km (515-mile) trip involves a change of train in both directions at Lille.
Though passengers will probably find the timings agreeable, with the outbound train leaving London at 9.01am and arriving at the final stop, Bourg-Saint-Maurice, at 6.20pm.
The return train departs Bourg-Saint-Maurice at 8.26am and reaches London at 4pm, with passengers going through check-in, security and immigration on arrival in Lille.
Eurostar is launching a new ski service to the French Alps this coming winter season, with tickets costing from £99 in standard class and £149 in ‘standard premier’
The service used to be a direct one and was operated, after being cancelled in 2020, in partnership with Travelski Express in 2021 and 2022.
The new service is run by Eurostar, but other tour operators, including Travelski Express, can sell tickets for it.
They will go on sale on August 31 and the service will run for eight weekends, with the first Eurostar Snow train departing from London on December 16.
Each traveller will have a luggage allowance of two suitcases, one piece of hand luggage and skis or a snowboard.
The alternative way of reaching the French Alps by train from London is to take a Eurostar to Paris, then cross the city to Gare de Lyon, and take a direct TGV from there.
The new Eurostar service will connect British skiers and snowboarders to resorts including Meribel, Courchevel, La Plagne, Les Arcs (above), Tignes and Val d’Isere
SNCF runs regular TGV services to Moutiers, Aime-la-Plagne and Bourg-Saint-Maurice.
Francois Le Doze is the Chief Commercial Officer of Eurostar Group, an alliance between Eurostar and Thalys. He said: ‘We’re proud to offer our customers a sustainable travel option to the Alps by launching our first connecting service as Eurostar Group.
‘With a quick and easy connection, competitive pricing and five stops to choose from, passengers can enjoy a seamless experience with us from the city of London to the snowcapped mountains of France.’
