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Train to 3 valleys from London

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
@drporat - I've also taken that direct train from Bourg to CdG - works well and actually takes similar amount of time to get from CdG to Gare du Nord if you are continuing journey by Eurostar as if you travel from Gare de Lyon (but on a OuiGo train, which is normally less expensive)

@DrLawn - Whereas you can typically arrive at St Pancras 45 mins before departure and comfortably get through with time to sit down and get a coffee and a croissant before your train, in Gare du Nord it always takes longer. I've not had 2 hours though. Most recently travelled by train in May and it was 45 mins to get into the departure lounge. The key issues seem to be that they want to check your passport three times - one on initial arrival, then going through the (horrifically bad) e-gates, then again one more time after that to stamp it. The Eurostar terminal is too small and the queueing system itself is poorly designed. I try and leave at least 1h30m to come back through and - to date - haven't missed yet.
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
The Ouigo trains that have been released


Last edited by Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person on Tue 17-01-23 17:29; edited 1 time in total
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
@Noob921, could you get the eurostar on a sat eve and overnight in paris, then catch the ouigo train on the sunday morning?

just looked at the website, and it seems they do not have the paris cdg to moutier/bsm route this winter, that i took last year.

there is a sncf option that departs in the afternoon, but that has a couple of changes (lyon and chambery)
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
indeed, the only direct train for December for BSM starts at Gare de Lyon and costs 118 euros on SNCF.
Trainline has it for 188 euros Shocked
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
drporat wrote:
indeed, the only direct train for December for BSM starts at Gare de Lyon and costs 118 euros on SNCF.
Trainline has it for 188 euros Shocked


Trainline are a rip off. Great for checking availability and options but you’re better off booking direct on the train companies websites once you decide what you want than with Trainline (and that goes for UK domestic train travel as well).
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 You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
@ster, Here's a thought: if you re booking a UK train and a Eurostar from London, there is a slightly higher fare level which guarantees transferring your E* booking to the next train if your UK domestric train should be delayed. Search/ask for "CIV" fares
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
drporat wrote:
indeed, the only direct train for December for BSM starts at Gare de Lyon and costs 118 euros on SNCF.
Trainline has it for 188 euros Shocked

You need to get yourself an SNCF Advantage Card. That should save a lot on that fare.
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
sugarmoma666 wrote:
drporat wrote:
indeed, the only direct train for December for BSM starts at Gare de Lyon and costs 118 euros on SNCF.
Trainline has it for 188 euros Shocked

You need to get yourself an SNCF Advantage Card. That should save a lot on that fare.

Thanks, first time I heard about it. Just checked it for my scheduled itinerary, it does pay for itself on the first trip as they say.
How many people can I add to one return journey and still enjoy the discount?
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 You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
drporat wrote:
sugarmoma666 wrote:
drporat wrote:
indeed, the only direct train for December for BSM starts at Gare de Lyon and costs 118 euros on SNCF.
Trainline has it for 188 euros Shocked

You need to get yourself an SNCF Advantage Card. That should save a lot on that fare.

Thanks, first time I heard about it. Just checked it for my scheduled itinerary, it does pay for itself on the first trip as they say.
How many people can I add to one return journey and still enjoy the discount?

There's different benefits for different cards. It's all set out somewhere on the SNCF website. In fact I provided a link to it on the previous page.
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 Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
^^^^
The SNCF card is great info. You’ve saved my group of 6 money.
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 snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
I never use Trainline - they leave too long for connections and not sure of pricing. Always go direct SNCFconnect and second that on the Avantage card - saved me the money it cost already and I have two more at least to book for the coming year.
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 And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
It turned out to be cheaper for our group not to get the SNCF card.
I’m impressed the cost of our fares for a one way trip Gare de Lyon to Bourg direct is only 36 Euro. Times are pretty perfect too.
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 So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
sbooker wrote:
It turned out to be cheaper for our group not to get the SNCF card.
I’m impressed the cost of our fares for a one way trip Gare de Lyon to Bourg direct is only 36 Euro. Times are pretty perfect too.

I thought tickets weren't released yet for your dates of travel (other than Ouigo). Where have you managed to find the prices?
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
@sugarmoma666, I just found it too on SNCF connect.
Those are the prices for weekends in January


In December and early March is way more expensive

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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Not sure what dates are included, but the below deal might be of use to some.

https://www.hotukdeals.com/share-deal-from-app/4005455
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Back up the first page I was talking about the French night trains from Paris Gare de Lyons around 8pm the Friday evening, rather than the Brit affair with disco. Mostly French passengers. You arrived early morning having slept in your bunk. Up to the resort with time to change before the lifts opened. Same on return Saturday night. It seemed well used so I don't know why they cancelled them, or perhaps kept them as special ski trains. You can still do it by day but the night train acted as equivalent to 2 extra hotel nights.
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
@snowball, i have used this service as well, and to a couple of other destinations, back in the late 90's.

i think that the reason the service was stopped, was that the rolling stock was beyond its best and would not be financially viable to refurb/re-new.

am sure other snowheads may be give a definite answer, but a quick scan of the SNCF website it doesn't look like there are sleeper services to anywhere in france, though there are overnight trains with what seems like reclining seats.
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
@snowball, @terrygasson, I was recently reminded that the Paris to Briancon sleeper still runs on Friday nights (handy for Serre Che), although I'm not sure if it is every week. There are one or two other French sleeper routes, but I don't think they're useful for the Alps.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
@ShakiraShakira, cheers, its great to hear there are still options for overnight trains to other destinations.
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
@ShakiraShakira, that is VERY interesting. Especially for the Off-Piste bash in March. But I can't quite picture where the rail would run. Perhaps via Italy?
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 You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
@snowball, It looks like it goes down Lyon way and then does a big loop down South and back up. It's a bit of a slow route, but that doesn't matter at night.

I just saw your post on the SoPiB about trying to ski an extra day - the sleeper train might well do the trick at the start of the trip. Unfortunately for the return, a wise snowHead tells me that the sleeper only runs on the Friday night, not Saturday like the Monetier/BSM one used to do.
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Yes, I just looked. Going out from Paris on the Friday 20.51 there are reclining seats but also a couchette option which looks quite attractive.
A train does run on the Saturday return to Paris without changes, but only with reclining seats (20.03 - 6.55). At least, that was with December's train times. I don't know what my bad back would say about a night like that. I think I'll put that on the Spring Off Piste bash thread.
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
@snowball, i think @leggyblonde has used this overnight service last season

Edit:

Here's the TR

https://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?p=3527800&highlight=night+train#3527800
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 You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
Couple of articles that may be of interest
Paris-Briancon Night Carriages to be upgraded
http://skiflightfree.org/paris-briancon-night-carriages-to-be-upgraded/

Take the night train to Serre Chevalier
http://skiflightfree.org/take-the-night-train-to-serre-chevalier/

My understanding is that they are bringing back night trains to other destinations, but currently Toulouse is the only other 'ski' option.
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 Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Decided to go Travelski package as I felt the total cost was a bargain.
Done E* to BSM a number of times. Both direct and crossing Paris. e* have released an earlier train 6:30am on Saturday (I’ve always caught the 7:55) and that will give you loads of options for BSM on Saturday.
Also return sat evening about 7pm means loads of time for return.

For us the E* return to Paris was going to be £83.50 ph. But add the BSM return and I was budgeting £150 each.

The package gave us premier/1st class which was worth it
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 snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Quote:

Just got in the door of the train as it moved off.


Must have been horribly stressful.
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 And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
For anyone waiting, SNCF have now released tickets for InOui trains up to 26 March.
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 So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
@iainm, thank you for the heads up on when the tickets would be available, got ours today Smile
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