By train to The Alps - Iain Martin
Wednesday January 25, 2012 - Email this article to a friend

There's much talk of train travel but only 6% of British skiers take the train to The Alps. Flying is faster and cheaper. So why should you go by rail? PlanetSKI reports.

There was once a time when train travel was the main way of starting a holiday, but in the age of cheap charter flights and discount airlines, it seems we are in a rush to get to our resort.

Traveling by train is said to be the most green way of getting to resort with claims that it has only 11% of the environmental impact of flying.

My chosen destination was St Gervais at the foot of Mont Blanc and then moving on to La Clusaz in the Lake Annecy Ski Resorts area.

I travelled out during the day and back on a sleeper train to Paris overnight.

It may be slower than flying but the biggest advantage of train travel is the lack of stress.

I turned up at St Pancras just 30 minutes before my Eurostar was due to leave, yet walked through security then customs, and still had enough time for a cup of tea before walking to the train.

Not only was my departure relaxed, but the location is beautiful.

It's worth a visit purely for aesthetic reasons.

The high vaulted roof fills the terminal with light, adding the impression of lightness to the space available.

St Pancras

There are staff every step of the way to help with any questions and point travellers in the right direction.

Helpful staff

I've travelled on Eurostar before, but this was my first time in Standard Premier.

The journey was comfortable, quick and I was well tended, with a reasonable meal.

Better than airline food?

Just over three hours later I arrived in Paris.

Getting from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon was simple on a direct RER train that stopped just twice and took less than 10 minutes.

The one mistake I made was not to buy my Metro ticket in advance on the Eurostar.

They are on sale in the buffet car, but unfortunately I left it too late and they had sold out their stock.

I still had an hour at Gare de Lyon to catch up on emails between 'people watching' in a café just opposite the station.

The journey to St Gervais went exactly to schedule.

My total travel time was just over 9 hours from London.

During the day I managed to read the paper, catch up on some projects that I'd been ignoring and watch a movie.

And all the time the French countryside whizzed by as I sped towards The Alps.

It was comfortable, relaxing and stress-free.

On arrival

After a day's skiing in St Gervais, I took a connecting train to Annecy and then a half hour taxi ride took me to La Clusaz.

The next day I had a superb day's skiing in La Clusaz, guided by the marvellous Stephane from the ESF.

I suppose it's no surprise that a resort that Candide Thovex calls his home should have such challenging skiing.

As for the negatives of train travel?

Well, the overnight train back from Annecy to Paris wasn't my best night's sleep ever, but it did allow me an extra day in resort.

Door to door it does take longer than flying and it is usually more expensive but it is altogether more pleasant and the journey out felt part of the holiday.

Would I travel by train again to get to The Alps?

Yes.

Iain Martin is the founder of Skipedia - Snowsports Marketing Consultants.

FACT BOX

Fares from London to Chamonix start at £154 standard class return. All prices are per person and subject to availability.

For booking visit www.raileurope.co.uk or call 0844 848 4070.

For the spirit of the mountains