Travel Eurostar from London to the French Alps
Cheap Ski Train Tickets to Moûtiers, Bourg, and Winter Sport Resorts
Sep 4, 2009
Eurostar’s ski trains have cheap tickets on fast rail journeys directly from London to some of the best winter sport ski resorts in the French Alps. On winter weekends, day and overnight Eurostar trains run from London St Pancras International and Ashford stations in England to Moûtiers, Aime La Plagne, and Bourg St Maurice in France. Special deals and cheap tickets are available for advance train reservations. For Swiss ski resorts, it is generally best to transfer from Eurostar trains to TGV trains in Paris.
Eurostar’s Ski Train from London to the French Alps
Eurostar operates a special ski train on winter weekends from London to the French Alps. This allow British skiers to travel direct from London St Pancras or Ashford International station in Kent to ski resorts in France without having to change trains (and more importantly stations) in Paris en route.
The Eurostar ski train timetable allows for travel from England to French ski resorts on Friday nights and Saturday mornings. Trains return from the French Alps to London on Saturday mornings and nights. Journey times are from around seven to ten hours.
French Ski Resorts Served by the Eurostar Ski Train
Eurostar’s ski trains stop in England only at London St Pancras and Ashford International stations and in France only at Moûtiers, Aime La Plagne, and Bourg St Maurice. The long check-in times and security procedures for travelers on Eurostar trains limit the number of stops.
However, the three French Alpine stations where the Eurostar trains stop are very convenient to many of the best-know winter sports resorts in France. From Moûtiers, transfer times are only fifteen minutes to Meribel and La Tania or around half an hour to Courchevel, Val Thorens, and Les Menuires. La Plagne can be reached in half an hour from Aime La Plagne station. From Bourg St Maurice, skiers can transfer in around twenty minutes to famous ski areas including Les Arcs, Sainte Foy, Val d'lsère, and Tignes.
Eurostar Ski Train Reservations
In contrast to many European railways where trains can only be reserved two to three months in advance, Eurostar already accept reservations for the full ski train season from mid-July. Standard non-flexible fares can be as cheap as GBP150 but special saving deals are often offered on quieter weekends.
Eurostar ski train travelers booking online should read the fine print carefully. The check-in times for Eurostar trains can be as early as an hour before the scheduled train departure time. Furthermore, the correct documentation is necessary – often a printout of the email booking confirmation or just the booking number is not sufficient to board Eurostar trains.
Also note that the Eurostar overnight ski train is not a booze cruise or party express. The amount of alcohol passengers are allowed to carry and consume is limited. On the plus side, ski train passengers may carry a pair of skis or a snowboard gratis in addition to the standard free baggage allowance.
British skiers traveling to Swiss ski resorts, or French Alpine resorts on days when the ski train does not operate, should change trains in Paris. This generally require a transfer from Paris-Gare du Nord, where Eurostar trains arrive, to stations – usually Paris-Gare de Lyon – used by TGV trains to the south of France and Switzerland. Low-cost airlines also have cheap flights to French Alpine resorts from London and British airports during the French ski season.
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