Call for Dedicated Bus/Transfer Lane to Main French Ski Areas

3rd April 2024

Last modified on April 5th, 2024

We have an occasional series on PlanetSKI at this time of year as we look back at the season for some of our friends and partners in the ski industry.

One is the transfer company, Alpine Fleet.

“This winter there has been some of the worst traffic we have encountered in many years despite little snow on the roads,” said the co-founder of Alpine Fleet, Simon Carrelli.

“If not the farmers strikes causing havoc then terrible bottlenecks on most Saturdays between Albertville and Moutiers.

“Something needs to be done by the authorities, at least for  professional transportation.

“A dedicated bus and taxi lane is long due.

“Journeys that should take 3-4 hours are hitting 5-6 hours consistently on Saturdays and upwards.

“We have been forced to bring forward pick up times on departures often to the dismay of customers who do not welcome going earlier but there is no other way around this issue.”

Simon Carrelli, Alpine Fleet. Image © PlanetSKI

Some are calling for major works on the road so it can deal with extra vehicles.

N90, France. Image © PlanetSKI

This though would be expensive and have an environmental impact.

There has been some reaction over on the PlanetSKI Facebook page:

Dartbus: Totally agree with this call, even if it were just during the hours the regulation lights were operational, the police are there anyway, surely it makes sense to prioritise transport en commun in line with France’s goals to reduce emissions.

Kevin Young: We need to stop over-development where infrastructure can’t cope. It’s already too much in some places.

Brett Bennett: In 2014 it took us 16 hrs to get from Grenoble airport to Courchevel 1650. I have never done a sat-sat since in a ski resort that requires N90 access.

David Norris: A solution is needed. Rather than new roads, the regional government could force ski schools and accommodation owners in each resort area to changeover on a different day. So say Espace Killy was a Saturday, then Paradiski would be Sunday. Maybe Three Valleys on a Saturday and then Valmorel, La Rosiere on a Sunday. As well as unlocking traffic, this would spread support workers and teams across different days (coaches, taxis, cleaners, laundry etc). If resorts keep getting bigger every year, there will be gridlock every Saturday.

Nick Davies: So they want a lane that will be empty 90% of the time whilst jamming up the other lane even more… nope.

Mark Coomber: It’s only a problem when everybody tries to arrive in resort on the same day at the same time. Especially when the masses arrive on the same charter flights – and especially during school holidays in Feb and Easter.For the remainder of the time it’s not a problem.

I have driven to/from this area on numerous occasions, and by being a bit smarter with the timing of our journeys…..AT WEEKENDS…..I have avoided the N90 ‘car park’ scenario.

Stephen Newlands: The ski resorts need to change their outdated Saturday to Saturday bookings, as we travelled this route on the 3rd, and from Tignes to Geneva it was a leisurely 3- hours via Annecy, where we experienced the ONLY slow moving traffic of our trip.

Ski passes can now be bought daily, so why are accommodation bookings restricted to Saturday to Saturday?

Simon Fox: So you are all clearly misinformed !!! The road can eaisly handel the traffic (as it did once many years ago when the lights failed) The traffic is held back by Traffic lights ,The reason for holding back the traffic Polution in the mountains which is lies ! The truth is so all all the resorts are drip fed traffic and tourists all day , This makes it easy for ski hire , ski passes , keys and appartment allocation , linen distribution , and all the resorts have a constant manageable supply of tourists , all of you who are organised and ready in chalets and drivers hoping to do it your own tine NO chance !!! its not the roads or police ITS YOUR LOCAL TOURIST OFFICE !!! LOBBY THEM , turn the lights off.

Image c/o Alpine Fleet.

Alpine Fleet is the new kid on the block and claims a successfull winter.

“We have seen a great second season in the Three Valleys and Haute Tarentaise,” said Simon.

“The new resorts of La Plagne, Les Arcs, Val D’Isere, have delivered excellent growth and ours services will expand to these resorts next season along with La Rosiere joining the gang.”

It claims excellent growth across Val Thorens, Tignes and Meribel.

Next winter it will be focusing on the high-altitude resorts as it sees these resorts as a main growth area.

It also plans to build on the personal touch.

“Our customers really like that we have reps in the ski resorts as a point of contact but also to assist meeting passengers at the different stopping points.”

Alpine Fleet Rep Thor in Val Thorens with driver Nidal. Image c/o Alpine Fleet.

Its new Friday services to the resorts in the Tarentaise have also been popular and Alpine Fleet plans to expand this next season.

The company has also been focusing on offering transfers to some of the major music festivals in the French Alps.

The Snowboxx music festival 16th and 23rd March was a great success in Avoriaz with Alpine Fleet being the exclusive transporter for all shared transfers.

Alpine Fleet was also the exclusive shared transporter for the Rise Festival in December from Geneva to Les Deux Alpes.

“Our strong experience in alpine transportation gives us an edge in managing these complex events which need around 60-70 coaches on each arrival and departure day,” added Simon.

Alpine Fleet Staff at Airport on Transfer day. Image c/o Alpine Fleet.

So, will its idea of a special lane for professional transfer services, buses, taxis & transfer vehicles, on the N90 between Albertville and Moutiers meet with success?

We’ll let you know.

Image © Alpine Fleet.