The revamped ski train service between London and the French Alps will run again next winter and continue a little later into the season.
The former direct public service was cancelled before the pandemic, then replaced by a direct charter service. That too was cancelled but replaced by an indirect service, with a change in Lille, known as Eurostar Snow, last winter.
Last winter's revived service ran from December to early-February, ending half-way through the season, but next winter Eurostar Snow will depart St Pancras every Saturday from 21 December to 1 March with the return from the Alps every Sunday morning between 29 December and 2 March.
The outward journey takes just under eight hours, the return nine hours, which can be similar to the getting to the departure airport – in the airport – flight – in the arrival airport – transfer time combined, depending on your journey start and end points. Other benefits include a generous baggage allowance.
The service to Bourg-Saint-Maurice below Les Arcs and La Rosiere and not far from Tignes and Val d'Isere also stops at Chambéry, Albertville, Moûtiers-Salins-Brides-Les-Bains and Aime-la-Plagne along the way providing easy access to many of the major French resorts.
Standard tickets on Eurostar Snow from London to the Alps start from £119 (€141), with return tickets priced from £169 (€200). A number of tour operators including Inghams offer packages including rail travel rather than air.
Iain from The Ski Podcast took the inaugural service last year and reported on the Lille transfer and journey: