{"id":63506,"date":"2023-08-30T18:01:08","date_gmt":"2023-08-30T17:01:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.latania.co.uk\/blog\/?p=63506"},"modified":"2023-08-31T12:28:33","modified_gmt":"2023-08-31T11:28:33","slug":"the-return-of-the-ski-train-sort-of","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.latania.co.uk\/blog\/2023\/08\/30\/the-return-of-the-ski-train-sort-of\/","title":{"rendered":"The Return of the Ski Train (sort of)"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.latania.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/snowtrain.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"788\" data-attachment-id=\"63507\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.latania.co.uk\/blog\/2023\/08\/30\/the-return-of-the-ski-train-sort-of\/snowtrain\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.latania.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/snowtrain.jpg?fit=1170%2C1440&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1170,1440\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"snowtrain\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.latania.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/snowtrain.jpg?fit=300%2C369&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.latania.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/snowtrain.jpg?fit=640%2C788&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.latania.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/snowtrain.jpg?resize=640%2C788&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-63507\" style=\"width:450px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.latania.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/snowtrain.jpg?resize=640%2C788&amp;ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.latania.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/snowtrain.jpg?resize=300%2C369&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.latania.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/snowtrain.jpg?resize=81%2C100&amp;ssl=1 81w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.latania.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/snowtrain.jpg?w=1170&amp;ssl=1 1170w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The original overnight disco ski train disappeared long ago and the direct Eurostar services (as they were) were never replaced following the cancellation during the pandemic in 2020. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The last couple of years have seen a direct service with the tour operator <em>Travelski<\/em> chartering Eurostar trains but offering package holidays only including accommodation, transfer etc. This service has now been discontinued too. Travelski is owned by the giant <em>Compagnie des Alpes<\/em> company which runs Tignes, Val d&#8217;Isere, Les Menuires, Meribel Alpina, Les Arcs, La Plagne, Chamonix, Megeve etc etc, they have theme parks too now!<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.latania.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/eurostar.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"460\" height=\"287\" data-attachment-id=\"63508\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.latania.co.uk\/blog\/2023\/08\/30\/the-return-of-the-ski-train-sort-of\/es01482-jpg-eurostar-ski-train-4\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.latania.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/eurostar.jpg?fit=460%2C287&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"460,287\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Eurostar Ski Train \\rFrom: Nicola Grossfield [mailto:ngrossfield@raileurope.co.uk]=20\\rThe first image is of the Eurostar Ski Train.\\rNicola Grossfield\\rMedia Relations Assistant\\rRail Europe Ltd.\\rTel: 01732 526717\\rwww.raileurope.co.uk =20\\r=20\\r\\r\\r________________________________\\r\\rFrom: Alyson Whalley [mailto:Alyson.Whalley@telegraph.co.uk]=20\\rSent: 08 October 2008 14:39\\rTo: Nicola Grossfield\\rSubject: RE: Eurostar Ski Train\\r=09\\r=09\\rHI Nicola,\\r=20\\rWe talk about both .\\r=20\\rIdeally we would like  to illustrate the piece with images of\\rpeople on the trains with skis, or getting on or the train going though\\ra snowy landscape .\\r=20\\rAlso if possible the disco car!\\r=20\\r=20\\rmany thanks\\rAlyson\\r\\r________________________________\\r\\rFrom: Nicola Grossfield [mailto:ngrossfield@raileurope.co.uk]=20\\rSent: 08 October 2008 14:27\\rTo: Alyson Whalley\\rSubject: Eurostar Ski Train\\r=09\\r=09\\rHi Alyson,=20\\r=20\\rMany thanks for your enquiry through the media centre.\\r=20\\rPlease could you confirm whether you are referring to the\\rEurostar Ski Train specifically or the Rail Europe Snow Train?=20\\r=09\\rYou have come through to the media centre at Rail Europe not\\rEurostar but I would be happy to provide you with some images of the\\rRail Europe Snow Train.=20\\r=20\\rThe Snow Train serves 6 stations in the French Alps, giving\\raccess to around 30 resorts. With an early arrival on Saturday morning\\rand departure late the following Saturday afternoon, skiers travelling\\ron the Snow Train benefit from up to an additional two days on the\\rslopes while most other holidaymakers are making the tiresome airport\\rtransfers.\\r\\r=20\\r\\rPassengers travel from London St Pancras International or\\rEbbsfleet International stations to Paris Gare du Nord, where they\\rsimply change platforms to board the overnight Snow Train. Accommodation\\ris in flat beds in shared 6-berth couchettes, and for those who want to\\rkick off their holiday with a party, there is the famous bar disco\\rcarriage for dancing throughout t&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;ES01482.jpg Eurostar Ski Train&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"ES01482.jpg Eurostar Ski Train\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Eurostar Ski Train&lt;br \/&gt;\nFrom: Nicola Grossfield [mailto:ngrossfield@raileurope.co.uk]=20&lt;br \/&gt;\nThe first image is of the Eurostar Ski Train.&lt;br \/&gt;\nNicola Grossfield&lt;br \/&gt;\nMedia Relations Assistant&lt;br \/&gt;\nRail Europe Ltd.&lt;br \/&gt;\nTel: 01732 526717&lt;br \/&gt;\nwww.raileurope.co.uk =20&lt;br \/&gt;\n=20&lt;\/p&gt;\n&lt;p&gt;________________________________&lt;\/p&gt;\n&lt;p&gt;From: Alyson Whalley [mailto:Alyson.Whalley@telegraph.co.uk]=20&lt;br \/&gt;\nSent: 08 October 2008 14:39&lt;br \/&gt;\nTo: Nicola Grossfield&lt;br \/&gt;\nSubject: RE: Eurostar Ski Train&lt;br \/&gt;\n=09&lt;br \/&gt;\n=09&lt;br \/&gt;\nHI Nicola,&lt;br \/&gt;\n=20&lt;br \/&gt;\nWe talk about both .&lt;br \/&gt;\n=20&lt;br \/&gt;\nIdeally we would like  to illustrate the piece with images of&lt;br \/&gt;\npeople on the trains with skis, or getting on or the train going though&lt;br \/&gt;\na snowy landscape .&lt;br \/&gt;\n=20&lt;br \/&gt;\nAlso if possible the disco car!&lt;br \/&gt;\n=20&lt;br \/&gt;\n=20&lt;br \/&gt;\nmany thanks&lt;br \/&gt;\nAlyson&lt;\/p&gt;\n&lt;p&gt;________________________________&lt;\/p&gt;\n&lt;p&gt;From: Nicola Grossfield [mailto:ngrossfield@raileurope.co.uk]=20&lt;br \/&gt;\nSent: 08 October 2008 14:27&lt;br \/&gt;\nTo: Alyson Whalley&lt;br \/&gt;\nSubject: Eurostar Ski Train&lt;br \/&gt;\n=09&lt;br \/&gt;\n=09&lt;br \/&gt;\nHi Alyson,=20&lt;br \/&gt;\n=20&lt;br \/&gt;\nMany thanks for your enquiry through the media centre.&lt;br \/&gt;\n=20&lt;br \/&gt;\nPlease could you confirm whether you are referring to the&lt;br \/&gt;\nEurostar Ski Train specifically or the Rail Europe Snow Train?=20&lt;br \/&gt;\n=09&lt;br \/&gt;\nYou have come through to the media centre at Rail Europe not&lt;br \/&gt;\nEurostar but I would be happy to provide you with some images of the&lt;br \/&gt;\nRail Europe Snow Train.=20&lt;br \/&gt;\n=20&lt;br \/&gt;\nThe Snow Train serves 6 stations in the French Alps, giving&lt;br \/&gt;\naccess to around 30 resorts. With an early arrival on Saturday morning&lt;br \/&gt;\nand departure late the following Saturday afternoon, skiers travelling&lt;br \/&gt;\non the Snow Train benefit from up to an additional two days on the&lt;br \/&gt;\nslopes while most other holidaymakers are making the tiresome airport&lt;br \/&gt;\ntransfers.&lt;\/p&gt;\n&lt;p&gt;=20&lt;\/p&gt;\n&lt;p&gt;Passengers travel from London St Pancras International or&lt;br \/&gt;\nEbbsfleet International stations to Paris Gare du Nord, where they&lt;br \/&gt;\nsimply change platforms to board the overnight Snow Train. Accommodation&lt;br \/&gt;\nis in flat beds in shared 6-berth couchettes, and for those who want to&lt;br \/&gt;\nkick off their holiday with a party, there is the famous bar disco&lt;br \/&gt;\ncarriage for dancing throughout t&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.latania.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/eurostar.jpg?fit=300%2C187&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.latania.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/eurostar.jpg?fit=460%2C287&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.latania.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/eurostar.jpg?resize=460%2C287&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-63508\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.latania.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/eurostar.jpg?w=460&amp;ssl=1 460w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.latania.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/eurostar.jpg?resize=300%2C187&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.latania.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/eurostar.jpg?resize=100%2C62&amp;ssl=1 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 460px) 100vw, 460px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>However, new for Winter 2023\/24 is the Eurostar Snow Train service via Lille from \u00a399 one-way Standard Class or \u00a3149 Standard Premier Class (no Business Class option) and includes bags and skis and check-in and security and seat reservation and tax etc etc!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Tickets are on sale from 31 August for travel between <strong>16 December 2023<\/strong> and <strong>4 February 2024<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The new service involves a Eurostar train between London and Lille; then a second, newly-branded, Eurostar Snow train (run by Thalys) between Lille and the ski resorts at Chamb\u00e9ry, Albertville, Moutiers, Aime-La Plagne and Bourg-Saint-Maurice.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Trains depart Saturday morning and return Sunday morning allowing 7 days on the slopes (so not really helpful for the traditional Sat to Sat or Sun to Sun holiday bookings &#8211; hotels in Mo\u00fbtiers for the Saturday night will be popular!).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Some Tour Ops will also be running packages using these services but train only tickets are available from 10:00 on Thursday 31 August 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Confirmed Timetable for Winter 2023\/2024<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>OUT:<\/strong> <em>(8hr 29min travel time)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>London St Pancras dep: Sat 09:01<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lille arr: 11:27 <em>(48min to change platform)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lille dep: 12:15<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mo\u00fbtiers arr: 17:30<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>RETURN:<\/strong> <em>(8hr 5min travel time)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Mo\u00fbtiers dep: Sun 08:52<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lille arr: 14:30 <em>(1hr to change platform)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lille dep: 15:35<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>London St Pancras arr: 15:57<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The Eurostar website currently has a few errors (it says to get a coach from Bourg St Maurice for La Tania instead of Mo\u00fbtiers!). Also note the limited dates with the service running only until 4 February 2023 and then the options are via Paris using the SNCF service to Mo\u00fbtiers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Examples of the alternative Eurostar \/ SNCF service:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>SATURDAY OUT:<\/strong> <em>(8hr 18min travel time)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>London St Pancras dep: Sat 06:31<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Paris Gare du Nord arr: 09:48 <em>(1hr 44min to change station)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Paris Gare de Lyon dep: 11:32<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mo\u00fbtiers arr: 15:49<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>SATURDAY RETURN:<\/strong> <em>(9hr 1min travel time)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Mo\u00fbtiers dep: Sat 10:31<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Paris Gare de Lyon arr: 14:54 <em>(2hr 18min to change station)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Paris Gare du Nord dep: 17:12<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>London St Pancras arr: 18:32<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>SUNDAY RETURN:<\/strong> <em>(8hr 40min travel time)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Mo\u00fbtiers dep: Sun 09:50<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Paris Gare de Lyon arr: 14:11 <em>(2hr 1min to change station)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Paris Gare du Nord dep: 16:12<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>London St Pancras arr: 17:30<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The original overnight disco ski train disappeared long ago and the direct Eurostar services (as they were) were never replaced following the cancellation during the pandemic in 2020. The last couple of years have seen a direct service with the tour operator Travelski chartering Eurostar trains but offering package holidays only including accommodation, transfer etc. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":63507,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-63506","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.latania.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/snowtrain.jpg?fit=1170%2C1440&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.latania.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63506","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.latania.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.latania.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.latania.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.latania.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=63506"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.latania.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63506\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":63516,"href":"https:\/\/www.latania.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63506\/revisions\/63516"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.latania.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/63507"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.latania.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=63506"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.latania.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=63506"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.latania.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=63506"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}