| I've realised that planning a holiday is one of the most | | | | are estimated at 250kg/CO2. The equivalent journey |
| stressful experiences. I thought booking for two | | | | by train sees emissions cut to around 40kg/CO2. |
| people was bad – try booking for a whole | | | | Having made my decision to travel by train I looked |
| group. Adding to the stress is modern day air travel. | | | | into the other benefits of travelling on snow trains. |
| Restrictions on hand luggage, costs for taxes, costs | | | | The two main snow train providers are Eurostar and |
| for extra bags, costs for extra leg room, flights | | | | Rail Europe, both of whom operate day and night |
| cancelled due to strikes. The stress is never ending. | | | | services to the French Alps. On the night train, Rail |
| Flying to London once a week from Edinburgh, I get | | | | Europe's snow trains have a bar and a disco carriage. |
| to see my fair share of delays and extra costs, so | | | | A couple of glasses of wine followed by some |
| when I came to booking a group ski holiday I decided | | | | cheesy dancing and you can then retire to the four |
| to avoid risking a repeat experience. | | | | or six berth couchette accommodation (located well |
| Choosing not to fly to the French Alps leaves two | | | | away from the disco carriage). |
| options. One, a 24 hour coach journey with cramped | | | | Another great benefit of taking the train is the ability |
| seats or secondly, take the train. The big issue here | | | | to carry your skis or snowboard free of charge, |
| though is price. A typical return coach journey from | | | | unlike air travel where you normally have to pay at |
| London to Tignes costs £109 (quoted by | | | | least £15 per ski set, per flight. |
| National Express) whereas a return train journey | | | | But perhaps the greatest benefit of all is two |
| using Eurostar's overnight ski train service costs | | | | additional days skiing. Normally when you pay for a |
| around £219 for a standard return ticket in | | | | weeks ski holiday you travel Saturday to Saturday |
| March. | | | | but by taking the snow train and travelling overnight, |
| Ruling out the coach journey, I decided to go for the | | | | you can ski both Saturdays and get two additional |
| train. The other major factor between travelling by | | | | days skiing. Marvellous. |
| air and rail is carbon dioxide emissions. With all the | | | | With only 3 overnight ski trains left this season, the |
| publicity surrounding man made global warming, | | | | snow train is definitely worth considering for a final |
| travelling by train is the eco-tourists choice of travel. | | | | fling on the slopes. |
| Typical CO2 emissions for a return flight to France | | | | |