Morzine-Avoriaz Encourages Train Travel with Practical Incentives

8th January 2024

Last modified on January 16th, 2024

It is offering the AlpinExpress Pass to those that take a train which offers a series of discounts on lift, passes, ski hire & lessons + much else besides.

The pass offers exclusive discounts for people travelling by train to the resort.

“We understand that train travel may not always be the most affordable or fastest option, so Morzine-based Montagne Verte collaborated with local partners to provide a wide range of discounts for your stay,” said Sara Burdon from the Morzine tourist office.

“Our goal is to incentivise visitors to choose train travel and contribute to preserving the alpine environment.”

Sara Burdon, Morzine Tourist Office. Image © PlanetSKI

Here are just some of the incentives:

10% off a Morzine-Avoriaz lift pass
10% of the Aquariaz in Avoriaz
5-10% of lessons & equipment hire with selected partners
10% of guided snowshoeing with Days Away Adventures
10% off a massage with Mobile Mountain Massage

See here for the full list of service providers offering discounts.

Morzine, France. Image © PlanetSKI

The journey from London St-Pancras to Cluses or Thonon-les-Bains (with one change from Paris Gare du Nord to Paris Gare du Lyon) takes less than nine hours.

People need not worry about bringing skis, snowboards, sledges etc. and as much luggage as they can carry as there are no baggage restrictions.

Morzine is a 40-minute drive from Cluses and Thonon-les-Bains (the closest stations), both of which have bus links to Morzine.

Geneva station is an hour and a half away.

Private transfers from these stations can also be booked with local transfer companies who are AlpinExpress partners.

PlanetSKI has been taking the train to the Alps and the Pyrenees for many years.

Eurostar. Image © PlanetSKI

There is a new direct ski train to the French Alps this season, but it only runs until the first week of February.

It is also a shorter train than the previous ski trains, and requires a 1-hour stop in Lille with a change of platform.

So, how do you get the AlpinExpress Pass for Morzine-Avoiriaz?

Book your train ticket
Send in your proof of purchase
Receive a personalised PDF certificate
Use certificate by email when reserving accommodation, ski rental, transfers etc or on your phone when are paying for services in resort.
Email your travel details to: bonjour@montagneverte.org including:
– Proof of purchase from rail provider
– Full names of traveller/s
– Dates of arrival AND departure

Morzine is one of the resorts in the Alps at the forefront of genuine environmental initiatives and we have reported in the past on its actions.

Morzine gets tough on climate change

The average temperature in the Alps has risen by more than twice the global average, that’s over 2 degrees Celsius.

The majority of emissions from a ski holiday are from flying.

“Until electric short haul flights go mainstream, hopefully in the 2030’s, the best way to enjoy a low carbon ski holiday is to make your way to the Alps by train,” added Sara Burden.

Travelling by train from the UK or Paris to the Alps can reduce the ecological footprint of a journey by over 80%.

FAQs on the AlpinExpress Pass:

DO I GET A DISCOUNT ON MY TRAIN TICKET?
The AlpinExpress provides discounts for those who have travelled by train. It does not entitle you to a discount on your train ticket.

WHERE IS THE NEAREST TRAIN STATION?
The closest train station to Morzine – Avoriaz – Les Gets is Cluses. From there you can get picked up by one of our participating transfer company partners and with your pass you will receive a discount.

DOES IT COUNT IF TAKE THE TRAIN TO THE AIRPORT?
No. If you take a train to an airport and fly to Geneva (or any other alpine airport), you do not qualify for an AlpinExpress Pass. This initiative is to promote rail travel as an alternative, not a supplement.

HOW FAR DO I HAVE TO HAVE TRAVELLED?
The pass is valid for those travelling from outside of 100km of Morzine.

See here for further details on the AlpinExpress Pass.

There is no reliable data on the number of people that reach Morzine by train, but in general only 2% of British skiers and snowboarders reach their ski resort by train.

Morzine hopes to change that and is already lobbying for better train routes to Lille-Cluses.

It is looking at up to 10 years in the future as this the time-scale for ordering and putting into place new trains and lines.

Morzine has France’s Flocon Vert award (see link above) which verifies its environmental achievements.

Austria awards the EcoLabel and KLAR (Tirol’s Seefeld resort is Austria’s first EcoLabel resort), and in Switzerland look out for the Swisstainable mark.