The Snow Train will not run throughout winter 2009 – 2010. Rail Europe, which had operated the train for the past 20 years, blamed the decision on “economic uncertainty”.
It is hard to imagine a winter season without the Snow Train. It had become an integral part of the ski scene – and the start of countless ski holidays. Hopefully, it will be back soon. In the meantime, the good news is that there are many alternative trains to European ski resorts.
Snow Train alternatives
If you are heading for the same Tarantaise resorts previously served by the Snow Train, including Tignes, Val Thorens, Les Menuires and Meribel, there is the overnight Corail Lunea sleeper train, which has plenty of comfortable couchettes.
What the Corail Lunea does not have is a disco carriage. The Snow Train became famed for its disco carriage, which caused many people to start their ski holidays with a sleep debt and a nasty hangover.
Without the Snow Train, overnight journeys will involve a change of stations in Paris. However, this is easy to navigate by Metro, RER, taxi or even on foot. For full details on how to do it, see our guide to changing trains in Paris.
While the Snow Train served only the Tarantaise area, overnight Corail Lunea trains from Paris can be taken to resorts in other parts of the French Alps such as Serre Chevalier, Chamonix, Megève, St Gervais and Montgenèvre. It will also get you as far as Grandvalira (Pas de la Casa, Soldeu, etc) in Andorra.
Eurostar Direct Ski Train
Another alternative is the Eurostar Direct Ski Train, which runs non-stop from London and Ashford to the Tarantaise, with both daytime and overnight services. The overnight train has reclining seats rather than couchette accommodation.
If you fancy Austria by overnight train, there are yet more options. The City Night Line from Paris is a fantastic experience, with a full restaurant on board.
The Bergland Trein is the Dutch equivalent of the snow train, and has its own soundproof disco bar – though whether it can match the all-night party of the Snow Train’s disco is another question. When we tried it, it was definitely more bar than club.
A disco-less service running at Christmas, New Year and half-term holidays is Treski. It delivers you to Austrian resorts such as Zell am See / Kaprun and Saalbach-Hinterglemm-Leogang, where you arrive in the morning to enjoy extra days on the slopes.
Find out more about train options.