Speeding effortlessly towards the slopes by train, you might wonder why you ever flew to a ski resort. On paper, it seems a short hop by plane; in reality, airport queues, cramped flights and long transfers can mean the journey eats up a whole day.
Measured door-to-door, daytime rail travel from London can be as fast as flying, while taking a sleeper train gets you extra time on the slopes. And with Alpine glaciers suffering significant loss of snow cover as global temperatures rise, rail travel constitutes the biggest emissions saving a skier can make.
What happened
An exciting recent development is the arrival of a dedicated sleeper train for skiers, the Travelski Night Express (TNE), launched last winter and with an additional new route for the coming one. Each carriage has couchette berths, but the train’s crowning glory is its large, speakeasy-cafe-bar-restaurant, with retro decor, soft lighting and music – you get the romance of overnight rail travel with the potential for two extra days’ skiing thrown in.
The detail
Overnight journeys to Austria are also possible, with a Eurostar to Paris or Brussels and then a Nightjet sleeper train to the Salzburgerland region; or, for Innsbruck and the Tirol, a Nightjet from Amsterdam and Cologne.
The wider picture
An array of resorts in France and beyond can be reached every day of the week by taking the Eurostar to Paris Nord, getting a taxi or the RER for the short transfer to Gare de Lyon, and from there catching a fast TGV train south.
What comes next
The most direct daytime option is Eurostar’s flagship ski service, Eurostar Snow, which carries snowboards and skis free of charge on top of the usual luggage allowance.
Additional context
Unfortunately, the final outbound departure for this coming season is on 20 February, leaving the ski industry frustrated. Eurostar’s explanation is that it needs to “deploy rolling stock to where it best meets customer demand. Historically, March has not always been the strongest period for Eurostar Snow.
Analysis
Iain Martin, founder of sustainable ski-travel campaign Ski Flight Free, says: “It’s ridiculous for Eurostar to curtail their flagship service and blame lack of demand. If Eurostar worked effectively with the ski industry and ski tour operators to market the train, they could sell it out many times over.
Reactions
Ski tour operators are certainly hungry for more train seats. “We’re keen on promoting rail travel to the French Alps and we know clients want this,” says Alison Willis, managing director of French ski specialist Peak Retreats. “While changing in Paris is straightforward, we know that direct services are an even more compelling alternative for those who usually fly. March ski holidays, with longer days and excellent conditions, are really popular. So, we’d welcome more direct rail options across as much of the ski season as possible.
Developments
It’s a view echoed by ski tour operator Inghams, which has increased its range of rail-inclusive packages to include 75% of its French destinations, as well as some in Switzerland, Italy and Austria. “There’s a genuine appetite among skiers to travel to the mountains by train,” says head of sustainability Krissy Roe.
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Here are 12 resorts you can reach easily by rail.
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“The cradle of skiing”, St Anton is consistently ranked among the best resorts in the world. While its slopes are known for being challenging and exhilarating (the mighty Valluga being the pinnacle), there are plenty of gentler areas, too. St Anton isn’t just about skiing, either: this delightful village offers a host of activities, including swimming, bowling, indoor rock climbing and some of the best toboggan runs in the Alps.
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Completing its ski-hard, party-hard image, the resort is renowned for its après-ski, with a long list of celebrated terraces where visitors can dance to live music while knocking back schnapps.
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By train: 10h 30min Depart London St Pancras on the 07. 31 Eurostar to Paris Gare du Nord; transfer to Paris Gare de Lyon and take the 12. 22 TGV to Zurich; then the 16. 40 Railjet to St Anton, arriving at 19. 01.
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Where to stay Ski Solutions offers seven nights at the Hotel Post from £1,870pp half-board, including return rail travel.
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Comprising antique, chocolate-box chalets, Alpbach is perhaps the prettiest village on this list, with fantastic skiing to boot. Despite its low altitude, the resort’s north-facing slopes protect fresh powder, with the best off-piste and snowboarding terrain being on the far side of the Wiedersbergerhorn. Alpbach has gone to great lengths to preserve its rustic character. The main lifts are a short shuttle ride away from the village, and you’ll find gorgeous Tyrolean dishes at mountain hut restaurants such as Böglalm, torchlit walking trails, horse-drawn carriage rides and an Alpine coaster. Pick up a free Alpbachtal Card for access to local activities.
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By train: 16h 49min Depart London St Pancras on the 15. 04 Eurostar to Brussels-Midi; then catch the 18. 25 ICE to Cologne; get on the 21. 45 Nightjet to Jenbach, arriving at 08. 53. From there, it’s 20 minutes by bus or taxi.
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Where to stay STC Ski offers the four-star Hotel Alphof, with doubles from £955pp for seven nights’ half-board.
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Sainte-Foy, the smallest resort on this list, is highly regarded among ski writers as a “hidden gem”. Just 25 minutes from Bourg-Saint-Maurice station, it has retained its cosy, quiet ambience, thanks to bigger nearby names drawing the crowds. Yet Sainte-Foy has truly excellent skiing: powder that lasts on its untracked, north-facing slopes, and fantastic provisions for children and beginners. Despite some development, the village has remained rustic, with traditional dishes served in 16th-century farmhouses and glasses of local rosé downed on sunny terraces.
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The quiet pine woods are perfect for snowshoeing, while adrenaline junkies can try their hand at paragliding high above the Tarentaise.
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By train: 7h 58min Eurostar Snow departs London St Pancras at 09. 01 to Lille Europe; switch to the 11. 35 Eurostar Snow continental train to Bourg-Saint-Maurice, arriving at 17. 45.
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Where to stay Premiere Neige offers seven nights’ self-catering in the three-bedroom Panorama apartment from €600pp, based on six people sharing.
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Commanding spectacular views of the Tarentaise valley, La Rosière is as beautiful as it is convenient. Its position on the Franco-Italian border allows skiers to choose between south- and north-facing slopes (in neighbouring La Thuile), while its two core villages are relaxed and compact, in classic chalet style. La Rosière has kept up an excellent pace of development, exemplified by the new high-speed Petit-Bois chair, ensuring a high-quality experience all-round. Sledging is popular, including the new sunset toboggan run from the top of the Les Eucherts lift.
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While fairly quiet, you’ll find some decent après-ski and DJ sets at Le Comptoir, too.
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From there, it’s 40 minutes by bus or taxi to the resort centre.
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Where to stay Traditional chalet-hotel L’Accroche-Cœur has double rooms from €240 a night B&B.
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Part of the famous Three Valleys, Les Menuires is one of the best value-for-money resorts in the Alps: 600km of piste but without the high price tag of Méribel or Courchevel. Unsurprisingly, it’s very popular with families who love the resort’s early-access ski patrol lessons with ESF Club Piou-Piou. Dining is similarly family-oriented: expect hearty, locally sourced Savoyard meals at restaurants such as Chez Pépé Nicolas. Finally, in March, Les Menuires hosts a seasonal silly slalom, Complètement à la Masse, open to all ages.
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By train: 13h 5min Depart London St Pancras on the 17. 52 Travelski Night Express to Moûtiers, arriving at 07. 36.
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Where to stay Travelski offers seven nights at Hôtel Les Menuires Les Bruyères from £1,356pp B&B, including rail travel from Paris, transfers and seven-day ski pass. The Eurostar to Paris needs to be booked independently.
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France’s oldest ski resort, Montgenèvre was the stomping ground of the Parisian set before British skiers started arriving in the 90s, attracted by its bargain prices and easy access to Italy. Pleasantly old world and fully pedestrianised, “Monty” is the ideal family resort, with an extensive beginners’ zone and affordable accommodation. Intermediates will enjoy the network of red and blue runs, while experts can plough through off-piste powder in the Gondrans bowl and off the Col de l’Alpet.
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Over the past year, the resort has extensively redeveloped its lift system to dramatically improve speed and ease – in time for hosting the 2030 Winter Olympics.
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By train: 8h 20min Depart London St Pancras on the 08. 46 TGV to arrive at Oulx at 17. 21.
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Where to stay Peak Retreats offers seven nights B&B in a suite in Hôtel Anova from £1,046pp, including rail travel, based on four sharing.
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Peisey-Vallandry occupies a prime position between Les Arcs and La Plagne, connecting to both via the immense Paradiski domain.
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Source: Fast track to the slopes: 12 European ski resorts by rail – in less time than you may think (theguardian.com) · Oct 24, 2026
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