Eurostar ski train winter 2024/25

For many years, Eurostar ran a direct ski train from London to the French Alps on winter weekends.  Suspended during the pandemic, it ran as a Travelski charter train in winter 2021/22 & 2022/23.  In winter 2023/24 it took a different form, a Eurostar train to Lille Europe for an easy same-station change onto a Eurostar (formerly Thalys) high-speed train to Moutiers & Bourg-St-Maurice.  It's this Eurostar/Thalys 2-train combo that will run in winter 2024/5.

London to Bourg St Maurice is 1130 km (702 miles).

How much does it cost?

• London to Moutiers. Aime or Bourg starts at £99 each way in 2nd class or £149 in 1st class.

  Peak period fares from 14 December to 13 January start from £149 each way in 2nd class or £199 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

How to buy tickets

• Buy tickets at www.eurostar.com or www.thetrainline.com.  Tickets are on sale from summer 2024.

• www.thetrainline.com can also book travel to the French Alps on any day of the week using Eurostar + normal French trains, booking for most French trains over the winter will open in October.

• For packages combining train travel, transfers to the resort and chalet/hotel accommodation, SNO (www.sno.co.uk/ski-holidays/ski-train-ski-holidays) do a wide selection of skiing holidays by train to French, Austrian, Swiss and Italian ski resorts.

What are the trains like?

• London to Lille is by Eurostar train with cafe-bar, power sockets & free WiFi

  1st class fares on Eurostar include a light breakfast outbound, light meal with wine inbound.

• Lille to Bourg St Maurice is by Eurostar (formerly Thalys high-speed ski train with catering, power sockets & free WiFi.

  In contrast to normal Eurostar (formerly Thalys) trains, the Eurostar (formerly Thalys) ski train has only one category of 1st class (not two) and a tray meal is included for all 1st class passengers.

Scenery...  The Eurostar passes lovely snowy scenery in the French Alps as it approaches Bourg St Maurice.  This is Landry.		Transfer to Les Arcs:  There is a funicular (mountain railway) from Bourg St Maurice up to Les Arcs, a 10 minute ride up the mountain.  The funicular station is right next to the mainline rail station at Bourg St Maurice.  Fare around €6, free if you show a train ticket.  There's a ski pass bureau & cash point at the funicular station.

French Alps ski train connections... Dark blue line = route served by Eurostar Ski Train Light blue lines = bus or taxi transfers from rail stations.

Which resort to choose?

Les Arcs is the easiest to reach, it's linked by a 10-minute funicular (mountain railway) ride up the mountain from Bourg St Maurice railway station at the foot of the mountain.  It's a modern resort, good for beginners, and billed as 'home of the snowboard'.

You get a free ticket for the funicular to Les Arcs 1600 If you show your train ticket to the funicular staff, the free ticket also covers resort buses for onwards travel to your hotel.

Val d'Isère is a well-known resort higher up the valley, better for intermediate and advanced skiers than beginners.

Méribel is a big ski city with many British visitors.

La Plagne is a series of picturesque villages and tree-lined pistes.

Official resort websites & piste maps...

Skiing in Switzerland, Austria, Andorra...

You can also travel by train from the UK to other ski locations in Switzerland, Austria or Andorra.

For Switzerland, see the UK to Switzerland by train page.

For Austria, see the UK to Austria by train page.

For Andorra, see the UK to Andorra by train page.

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