Save The Ski Train Latest

20th August 2020

Last modified on May 20th, 2021

It’s been a month since the news broke that Eurostar would not be operating the direct ski train from London to the French Alps next winter. So what’s happening?

A petition to save the ski train has so far attracted more than 10,000 signatures.

The organisers say they are actively campaigning to get Eurostar to talk to the ski travel industry with a view to restoring the service.

They’re hoping to get at least 15,000 signatures.

Eurostar’s decision was a huge blow to thousands of skiers and snowboarders who prefer the direct rail route to the Alps to flying or driving.

“Whatever the result, it’s vital that we speak up about things that are important, like sustainable travel,” says Daniel Elkan, founder of Snowcarbon, the website that promotes travelling by train.

“The more you speak up, the more difficult it is for poor and damaging decisions to pass without scrutiny.”

Daniel recently travelled by train to the French Alps to speak to ski resorts and local Mayors about the campaign:

But what if Eurostar refuses to reinstate the ski train?

Daniel says there are still plenty of ways to get to the Alps by rail.

“One of these ways is by Eurostar + TGV. You travel out by Eurostar to Paris or Lille, combined with a TGV train to the Alps,” he says.

“The journeys are great. I’ve travelled with friends to the Alps this many times.”

The journeys take about an hour longer than the direct train. They also give access to a greater range of ski resorts than those in the Tarentaise that are served by the ski train.

For more on travelling to the Alps by train, visit the Snowcarbon website.