According to specialist eco-travel organisation Ski Flight Free, a survey for YouGov for travel website Omio, 45% of Brits would like to choose train travel over flying from 2021, for environmental reasons.
So expert ski property portal, Skiingproperty.com has identified five railway stations in the French and Swiss Alps that easily access a number of ski resorts popular for British buyers.
Although travelling by train from the UK to the Alps can take a little longer than flying, there are routes available from London that connect through Paris or Lille and it can cut a journey’s carbon emissions, compared to flying, by over 80%.
Buyers considering a property purchase in the Alps will be able to reach these destinations by train all year round and with the growing summer mountain market becoming more and more important in purchasing decisions, knowing there’s a good rail connection in place could increase the value as rail travel could become a more popular mode of transport.
Here’s the pick of railway stations and some of the resorts that are easily reached from each one, chosen by Skiingproperty.com.
France
Station: Cluses
Resorts: Megeve, Les Gets, Combloux, Samoens, Flaine, Morzine.
Cluses is just a 20 to 25 minute taxi journey away from the resorts of the Portes du Soleil, including Les Gets and Morzine, as well as the Grand Massif ski area destinations of Flaine and Samoens, with Megeve a 30 minute drive in the opposite direction.
Property Pick: new build 2 bedroom apartment in Les Gets, £391,000.
Station: Chamonix
Resorts: Chamonix, Argentiere, Les Houches, La Tour.
Chamonix Mont-Blanc is well-known for its big mountain freeride ski scene and has its very own railway station in the middle of this large Alpine town. The valley is also home to several other ski areas that are suitable for all abilities and they can all be accessed by bus from the station.
Property Pick: new build luxury 5 bedroom apartment in Chamonix, £1,864,000.
Station: Bourg St Maurice
Resorts: Val d’Isère, Tignes, Les Arcs, La Rosiere, St Foy
In the heart of the Tarentaise Valley, home to some of France’s most famous ski resorts, Bourg St Maurice has a new direct winter only service from London St Pancras operated by Travelski. This is tied into their own accommodation, but property owners can still take the TGV from Paris with a journey time of around 5 hours.
Property Pick: 3 bedroom apartment in Val d’Isère, £2,254,000.
Station: Moutiers
Resorts: Meribel, Courchevel, Val Thorens, Les Menuires, Saint Martin de Belleville
For the resorts that make up the ‘world’s largest ski area’, the 3 Valley’s, the station of Moutiers (on the same line as Bourg St Maurice) is the gateway point and around 30 to 40 minutes taxi ride depending on the final destination. Connect through Paris via Eurostar and the TGV service.
Property Pick: new build 3 bedroom chalet in Saint Martin, £1,361,000.
Switzerland
Station: Martigny/Sierre
Resorts: Crans-Montana, Verbier, Grimentz (and Zermatt)
Changing trains in either Geneva or Lausanne accesses some of Switzerland’s finest ski resorts in the Valais region. For Verbier, change again at Martigny for La Chable and then a final cable car journey to the resort. Crans-Montana requires a change in Sierre for the 12 minute funicular ride straight up into the town. Further along the valley with a change in Visp, the journey of just over one hour takes you into the heart of the car free town of Zermatt.
Property Pick: new build Six Senses 2 bedroom apartment, £6,196,000 – 5 bedroom from £10,500,000.
