Train Travel

Snow Train price hike.

The party train that takes Britains to the Alps is no longer offering low cost tickets, but not the disco carriage, it stays..

The Snow Train, the infamous rail route popular with young Britons who want to party on their way to the Alps, is about to raise fares by £50… but there's good news for revellers - the disco car remains. .

The train, operated by Rail Europe, is increasing prices because the low cost "Blue Train" alternative is being scrapped in favour of the White Train, which journeys via Paris. The Blue Trains return fair was available from £169 return last season, which was cheaper because passengers were taken by bus to Folkestone, from where they'd take the ferry to Calais before joining the train to the Alps. .

Now that the only alternative is the White Train, this will cost from £219 return this season. It offers departures from London Waterloo and Ashford International in Kent. From there passengers will travel by Eurostar to Paris where there is a platform change for the Alps-bound train..

Frequenters of the White Train will remember the annoying station change in Paris, which required them to lug bags and ski equipment from Gard du Nord station to Gard du Est. Thankfully the process has changed. The connection now requires only a simple platform change within Gard du Nord, where there's a luggage store. This enables passengers to spend the two-hour wait in the comfort of a Parisian bistro. .

The fun doesn't stop there - the sleeper train to the Alps retains its bar-disco carriage, where drinks are served and disco hits are played throughout the journey. The carriage is sound-proofed so families or older travellers not interested in partying can get some sleep, but take note that as all of the sleeping compartments are six-berth couchettes, occupants may be disturbed by returning revellers, so its worth trying to fill the whole cabin with like minded travellers. .

The Snow Train .

The journey time from London to the Alps takes around 14 hours. The first stop is Chambery at approximately 6.32am. The train then stops at Albertville, Moutiers, Aime la Plagne, Landry and finally Bourg St Maurice. Trains operate between January 19 and April 6 next season, leaving the UK on Friday evenings The return service leaves the Alps on Saturday evenings (allowing for a full day's skiing), and arriving in the UK on Sunday mornings. For more details and to book, contact Rail Europe (www.raileurope.co.uk).