Eurostar has reintroduced its winter snow trains this season, connecting passengers from London to six popular ski resorts in France. The service, known as Eurostar Snow, aims to facilitate travel for winter sports enthusiasts during peak ski season, with destinations including Chambéry, Albertville, Moutiers, Aime-La-Plagne, Landry, and Bourg St Maurice.
Passengers arriving at Bourg St Maurice will have access to coach services that transport them to renowned ski areas such as Val Thorens, Val d’Isère, Courchevel, La Tania, Tignes, Meribel, and Les Menuires. This convenient connection allows skiers to quickly reach their desired resorts right after disembarking.
The train service operates every Saturday morning, with the first departure scheduled for December 20, 2023, at 09:01 from London St Pancras. The final train of the season to the ski resorts is set for March 28, 2024. Return trips from Bourg St Maurice will take place on Sundays, with departures at 10:54 and 13:45 until April 4, 2024. The entire journey from London to the ski resorts takes approximately eight hours, while the return trip averages around nine hours.
Skiers will appreciate the generous luggage policy, which allows them to bring two pieces of luggage up to 85 cm, as well as one piece of hand luggage and either skis or a snowboard. Passengers can also enjoy various food and drink options at the Eurostar Café, and there is free WiFi available onboard, though it may be unreliable in tunnel sections.
For those looking to enjoy a drink during their journey, Eurostar permits passengers to bring their own alcohol, with restrictions of one 750 ml bottle of wine or up to four 440 ml cans of beer or cider. All passport checks are conducted in the UK, allowing travelers to disembark in France and head directly to their resort without further delays.
Eurostar previously operated routes to several other destinations in Europe, including Marseille and Lyon. Direct trains to Lyon ran four times a week from 2002 to 2014 before being discontinued in 2018. The service to Avignon was also scrapped in 2020, after eighteen years of operation. Currently, Eurostar maintains direct services only to Paris and Lille from the UK.
As Eurostar Snow trains make a comeback, the company may consider exploring new routes to expand their offerings for winter sports travelers in the future.
