Train Travel

All aboard for a civilised "cruise" by rail to the French, Austrian or Swiss Alps

Train Travel by Eurostar is as good as they say. Turn up at Waterloo with about half an hour check in. You're are your way to Bourg St Maurice. Perhaps catch the 9.43 and turn up in the middle of Tarentaise Valley in France 7 hours and 37 minutes later, having read a good book. Or played cards with fellow passsengers. Had a stroll around the train, popping into the buffet for a brew of whatever takes your fancy. Had a kip. Cuddled up to a loved one. Taken some pictures of those terric views.Whatever takes you.Train Travel is the way to go.

Now, what we came for. Some Ski-ing. Now it's only a 30 to 60 minute shuttle or taxi. No check in. No waiting for the carousel to lose your luggage. Bliss beautiful bliss. No stress.Straight off the train The shuttle now takes you to some of the worlds best ski resorts.

You want a totally civilised and in lots of ways, luxurious way to travel Train TRavel by Eurostar is the way to travel. The most popular week is kids half term in February and tickets are taken almost instantly within days of their July release. So be warned. Get your 2008 tickets in July 2007. By that time Eurostar will be starting at St Pancras.

I went by train around 1982/83 time. No Eurostar then. But it was the "bees knees" then. Magnificent scenery and they can't move or build on that. So nothing has changed.

Those other routes still exist, so let's have a look at them and what's on offer.

The French Alps

London to Bourg St Maurice by Eurostar Direct (Train Stops at Ashford, Aime La Plagne, Moutiers)

Saturday Daytime 9.43am Arrive 5.20pm

or

Friday Night-time 8.13 pm Arrive 6.27am (no sleeper on this train, so your seat is it)

You will find details of another way by Train in the main menu, on the home page. Snow Train.

Or should we call that the Rock and Roll Train? Sleeping compartments. Disco. Drinks. Party time. Glorious mountains ahead.

Train prices are better with SNCF who run loads of trains to the Tarentaise Valley from Paris. You do have to change though. Transfer from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon.

During the week there maybe extra changes to train times but as most skiers start on a Friday or Saturday there are direct services and sleepers.

Most of the best resorts including Méribel, Courchevel, Val d’Isère and Tignes — are an easy transfer from the train stations of Bourg St Maurice, Aime La Plagne or Moutiers.

Here's one thought.

Catch 8.12am train from Waterloo arriving Bourg St Maurice at 7.04pm.

Train Tickets for a return using Eurostar start at £99 from

Rail Europe 0870 830 4864

www.raileurope.co.uk

Several tour operators offer train travel services as part of their packages, including

Inghams 020 8780 4444, www.inghams.co.uk

Crystal (0870 160 6040

www.crystalholidays.co.uk

The Swiss Alps

If only the train system in the UK was as good as their Swiss counterparts!

The Swiss Rail will take you to the heights. Right into the guts of the mountains and to most of those well known and famous resorts, all within a day from the UK by train. It does involve a change of train stations, from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon in Paris. And again in Switzerland. Small price to pay if you have ever called in at Geneva Airport in Midwinter. Shudder at the thought.

Train Fares start at £166 or £199 for Zermatt. Leave London on the 8.12am train and be in Verbier by 7.25pm

Switzerland Travel Centre on 020 7420 4900

www.stc.co.uk for details.

Zermatt is free of cars and planes. High sure ski-ing on both sides of the towering and mighty Matterhorn. Ski both sides in Switzerland and Italy. The cog train from Visp takes you up into the town where cars are banned. Plenty of accomodation.

Hotel Mirabeau 00 41 27 966 2660

www.hotel-mirabeau.ch

The Austrian Alps

Train on Eurostar to Brussels. Have a change from Paris. Catch the the Friday-night Bergland Express train. This overnioghter has a range of sleeping compartments. The train splits in Austria terminating at Brenner and Zell

The Hahnenkamm at Kitzbühel is a world famous downhill race. Can you hear the music on ski Sunday?

Pretty is an absurd word to use really about the centre of a town but it is. The ski-ing magic and fast. The mountain restaurants alive with mulled wine and characters. Get your boots on!

The hotel Zur Tenne is reckoned to be the tops

00 43 5356 64444

www.hotelzurtenne.com

doubles from £100pp in mid-January, half-board

So first it's Eurostar Train 0870 518 6186

www.eurostar.com

00 31 30 232 0430

www.ttconline.nl returns from £102