 Poster: A snowHead
|
|
@lewisb22, information doesn't get much more up to date than what's on this thread.....
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
| graphitenexus wrote: |
| borntoski wrote: |
My flight (hopefully lands at 17.20) train is at 18.20 from the airport to catch the last train at 18.42 from Geneva to Moutiers. Assuming no flight delays looks like that one works....
|
Do you have an EU passport? Last Saturday non-EU passport queues at GVA got as long as 2h |
Unfortunately no. Hopefully between the Bens Bus transfer at 19.40 and the train I've got options either way. I think if I get out of Geneva in time I'll hop on the train.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
| Dr John wrote: |
@Sneachta2013, southbound to Moutiers is a dual carriage road that has a mahoosive rock in the middle of it. The road north from Moutiers goes through a tunnel. Currently and for the foreseeable future the normally dual carriage tunnel is being used as two way single carriage. There is no alternative but to queue at the tunnel. The delay shouldn't be too bad in the week (10-15mins), possibly longer on a Friday (30-40 mins), and comically bad on Saturday (anyones guess).
Hope this helps. |
Yes it does….many ‘tanks’…..doesn’t sound as bad as I thought…. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
| borntoski wrote: |
Does anyone have any details about booking trains from Geneva Airport to Moutiers?
I can find tickets for Geneva main station to Moutiers, that's no a problem. But I cant book from the airport, at least on 2 sites that I tired. Is it just a matter of getting a ticket on the platform at the airport?
My flight (hopefully lands at 17.20) train is at 18.20 from the airport to catch the last train at 18.42 from Geneva to Moutiers. Assuming no flight delays looks like that one works....
Has anyone any experience?
I do have a bens bus transfer booked, but this is a plan b/backup I'm looking at arranging going on advice of others. |
Haven’t needed it for a while but pretty sure you get a ticket for free, there’s a machine in the baggage hall before you leave and can’t get back in. It’s not sign posted very well, but gives you a free ticket in to Geneva centre.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
| ski3 wrote: |
Even conservatively thinking with the current difficulties, I'd put that at 6:00am past Moutiers to have some chance of avoiding/adding to the que. Especially with the children if you've got an indeterminate wait in confined conditions.
Planning to get fully into VT, finding a cafe etc to just get out of the way and relax would be my plan.
: |
After a little re arranging of the car hire situation we are now prepping to travel as soon as the kids get up which will likely be 4am anyway.
I'll let everyone else relax at the cafe and get myself and extra half day on the slopes. I can't see any downside.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
We left La Plagne at 9.30 on Saturday to transfer back to Geneva...... the mountain road down took 2 hours to get to the main road, then another hour to get to the coach station at Aime LePlagne...
With help from the excellent team ta Heidi.com we switched our party onto the last flight from Geneva to Luton, and then tried to catch a train from Aime to Geneva. As you can imagine that train was delayed so we missed our connection at Chamberry, but managed to get a train from there to Annecy, and just made it in time for a coach to Geneva in time to check in at 6pm and home by 10.30pm
I consider us fortunate looking at the pictures of people on camp beds!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ukoldschool, impressive!
Well done sorting the travel while on the move. Must look into Heidi.com.
Interesting you set off an hour before the rockfall, enough to get you past Aigueblanche on a normal day but not on a Saturday morning.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
My daughter is currently chalet hosting in VT. They are kicking this week's guests out at 0330 on Sat in the hope of getting them to GVA in time to make their flights... 
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
@jonpim they really were very impressive in their response!
They booked the coach at Annecy for us while I was standing outside it, 3 mins before it was due to leave. I was looking at the drivers ipad of names and ours appeared with 1 min to spare 
I dread to think what would have happened via Crystal
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Ski Tyke wrote: |
| My daughter is currently chalet hosting in VT. They are kicking this week's guests out at 0330 on Sat in the hope of getting them to GVA in time to make their flights... |
Any idea what time their flights are?
Also, this gives me hope that our chalet might be turned around early if we manage to execute on our leave GVA at 4.30am plan.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
@borntoski I’m puzzled, using the SBB website, can’t you get the answer you’re looking for?
Last edited by snowHeads are a friendly bunch. on Tue 4-02-25 10:36; edited 3 times in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
| afterski wrote: |
| Ski Tyke wrote: |
| My daughter is currently chalet hosting in VT. They are kicking this week's guests out at 0330 on Sat in the hope of getting them to GVA in time to make their flights... |
Any idea what time their flights are?
Also, this gives me hope that our chalet might be turned around early if we manage to execute on our leave GVA at 4.30am plan. |
No, sorry. I think normal departure time is around 0530/0600 so looks like allowing a couple of hours extra.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| afterski wrote: |
| ski3 wrote: |
Even conservatively thinking with the current difficulties, I'd put that at 6:00am past Moutiers to have some chance of avoiding/adding to the que. Especially with the children if you've got an indeterminate wait in confined conditions.
Planning to get fully into VT, finding a cafe etc to just get out of the way and relax would be my plan.
: |
After a little re arranging of the car hire situation we are now prepping to travel as soon as the kids get up which will likely be 4am anyway.
I'll let everyone else relax at the cafe and get myself and extra half day on the slopes. I can't see any downside. |
I love skiing in Tarantaise Valley locations, but recognise that travel there has a cadence etc of it's own and particularly within busy holidays, then more exception again a transfer Saturday, that's in normal operation  . No complaint from me, it is what it is and practical working around it usually gets result in keeping out of the way and focus on the skiing.
This additional consideration, even more so. Hopefully you'll be able to leverage that early approach to get through relatively without too much delay for your party. Interested to hear how it rolled out for you and families in the group.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
@Origen, my mistake, I could only see posts from Saturday!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
| Jonpim wrote: |
ukoldschool, impressive!
Well done sorting the travel while on the move. Must look into Heidi.com.
Interesting you set off an hour before the rockfall, enough to get you past Aigueblanche on a normal day but not on a Saturday morning. |
Agree, having developed approach of being through Moutiers by 8:00am (in or out of valley) else you'll likely be joining all the others in "conga" travelling on a transfer Saturday.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
I couldn't read the whole article as it is paywalled but the last sentence I could read did suggest that the road might not reopen this winter at all! I'm sure they'll be doing everything they can to avoid that - the impact on the economy would be massive. Looking at the projected traffic figures where they are anticipating 35000 vehicles to pass the road at a rate of 800 - 100/hour this weekend just sounds impossible. We're seriously looking at alternatives for our trip in mid March now. We have a hire car booked from Turin but we might now drive to Chambery instead and get the train to Moutiers and a taxi from there. A bit of a faff but preferable to being stuck in infinite traffic all day. Are there any better options? I like the suggestion above of packing with a light rucksack instead of a suitcase and doing a transfer by ski via Orelle!
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Tue 4-02-25 11:06; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
| Quote: |
through Moutiers by 8:00am (in or out of valley)
|
you said 0600 earlier, which sounds much more like it to me, though I'd expect it to be fairly busy by then, in the circs.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
@monkey, I think mid March you will be fine, it is just the next few weeks when everyone is on half term that is going to be a problem. Even if you change your transfer day to a Sunday? Daughter working in La Plagne and her company transfers on a Sunday, even this week their guests were "only" delayed by 2hrs after a 6am transfer from Geneva.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
SNCF have confirmed they are scheduling additional Paris-Bourg St Maurice services this weekend, and for the rest of the school holiday period. Should take some pressure off the roads.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
I drove down past the N90 on monday morning. There was a short tailback heading up the hill, as they are using traffic lights to moderate the flow up the contrflow in the tunnel.
The next few weekends are going to be hell.
The only real option is to spread the driving over as much of the 48hrs of the weekend if you have a fixed time flight, or leaving a day earlier or later (clearly not an easy option).
From my read of what needs to be done to open the road, the issue is mostly ‘why did the rocks fall’ and ‘how do we stop that happening again’…. Fixing the road is easy…. Being ‘insurably certain’ that it wont happen again (given that the rocks were appparently behind the protective netting) is going to be an admin challenge.
As an aside, I’ve not seen a definitive statement as to where the rocks came from // why they fell - presumably loosened by rain water, freeze/thaw, but where they individual rocks in earth, or did they shear from a larger piece, and where they behind the protective nets, or did they bounce over the ‘catch’ nets that are usually near the road.
I was about 4K below the site driving up on Saturday…. Or 4 minutes away @60kph….. given how busy the road was, it’s a miracle it wasn’t a disaster.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@hamilton, I’ve seen a photo which showed the boulders went through the catch nets, not over them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This will surely take weeks, if not months, to fix?
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
| ski3 wrote: |
Definitely advised afterski of 6:00am though |
You certainly did. As I said I can't see a downside, especially having just checked with the accommodation that we can drop our bags early.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| hamilton wrote: |
I drove down past the N90 on monday morning. There was a short tailback heading up the hill, as they are using traffic lights to moderate the flow up the contrflow in the tunnel.
The next few weekends are going to be hell.
The only real option is to spread the driving over as much of the 48hrs of the weekend if you have a fixed time flight, or leaving a day earlier or later (clearly not an easy option).
From my read of what needs to be done to open the road, the issue is mostly ‘why did the rocks fall’ and ‘how do we stop that happening again’…. Fixing the road is easy…. Being ‘insurably certain’ that it wont happen again (given that the rocks were appparently behind the protective netting) is going to be an admin challenge.
As an aside, I’ve not seen a definitive statement as to where the rocks came from // why they fell - presumably loosened by rain water, freeze/thaw, but where they individual rocks in earth, or did they shear from a larger piece, and where they behind the protective nets, or did they bounce over the ‘catch’ nets that are usually near the road.
I was about 4K below the site driving up on Saturday…. Or 4 minutes away @60kph….. given how busy the road was, it’s a miracle it wasn’t a disaster. |
When you say 'hell' over the next few weekends what are we talking about here? A two hour delay....four hours - more?
I'm going this Saturday and will be hitting this around mid-day. I've got the option to go Friday night - instead of Saturday - to Geneva. Stay in a hotel and leave at the crack of dawn to get there closer to 6am on the Saturday morning. This will be £400 extra (changing car hire, hotel stay etc) not to mention logistically more challenging with a little one.
I know you aren't oracles, but I haven't done this journey for a long time and certainly not at French half-term - albeit just one zone. Any advice would be most welcome. Thanks
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
Whilst we already had hotel in GVA on the Friday, we still had to change car rental as we were not planning to collect until Saturday morning. In fact we had to rent two cars as previous van rebooking was changing the price from 400 to 1800 quid. In the end we paid an extra 200 quid total (100 per family). Unfortunately we don't land in GVA till 6.45pm after 6.5 hour flight so not realistic to go Friday night with the kids.
My kids are 7 and 9 but that change is going to be totally worth it if we manage to beat the traffic.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
@Kingsdown, Not just french half term - https://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=167136. I think you'll be looking at 4hrs+ delays at the times you are talking about. Grim but not the end of the world, till you factor in a small one! If you could do the Friday I would recommend it. Would it be cheaper to stay in a hotel in the valley rather than Geneva airport (ideally past the closure)?
Last edited by And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports. on Tue 4-02-25 13:28; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@Kingsdown, per this post before:
| chocksaway wrote: |
| Last Saturday, the bidirectional tunnel had a capacity of a thousand cars an hour each way. This Saturday the expectation is for 35k vehicles coming up the Valley. As the American cousins say “Do the math!” |
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
@Kingsdown coach transfers were taking 7-8 hrs from Geneva last Saturday. There will be even more traffic on the roads this weekend, as it is the start of French school holidays. The two way trafic flow is now organised through the Moutiers tunnel but I would still expect long delays. I would either try to get beyond Moutiers on Friday night or catch the train to Moutiers and get a bus to resort from there. I think that a lot of people will be thinking of travelling early, so there could still be heavy congestion at 6 am.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
| Kingsdown wrote: |
| hamilton wrote: |
I drove down past the N90 on monday morning. There was a short tailback heading up the hill, as they are using traffic lights to moderate the flow up the contrflow in the tunnel.
The next few weekends are going to be hell.
The only real option is to spread the driving over as much of the 48hrs of the weekend if you have a fixed time flight, or leaving a day earlier or later (clearly not an easy option).
From my read of what needs to be done to open the road, the issue is mostly ‘why did the rocks fall’ and ‘how do we stop that happening again’…. Fixing the road is easy…. Being ‘insurably certain’ that it wont happen again (given that the rocks were appparently behind the protective netting) is going to be an admin challenge.
As an aside, I’ve not seen a definitive statement as to where the rocks came from // why they fell - presumably loosened by rain water, freeze/thaw, but where they individual rocks in earth, or did they shear from a larger piece, and where they behind the protective nets, or did they bounce over the ‘catch’ nets that are usually near the road.
I was about 4K below the site driving up on Saturday…. Or 4 minutes away @60kph….. given how busy the road was, it’s a miracle it wasn’t a disaster. |
When you say 'hell' over the next few weekends what are we talking about here? A two hour delay....four hours - more?
I'm going this Saturday and will be hitting this around mid-day. I've got the option to go Friday night - instead of Saturday - to Geneva. Stay in a hotel and leave at the crack of dawn to get there closer to 6am on the Saturday morning. This will be £400 extra (changing car hire, hotel stay etc) not to mention logistically more challenging with a little one.
I know you aren't oracles, but I haven't done this journey for a long time and certainly not at French half-term - albeit just one zone. Any advice would be most welcome. Thanks |
I'm speculating just like anyone, but I suppose it depends how much spending that £400 will hurt you.
If you arrive at the back of the queue at midday and the forecasts are true then you might be in for a 6-8hr wait in the queue, maybe a bit better, maybe worse. I suspect that is not in any way ideal with a young child in the car but it depends if they're a baby or an irritable 8yo! If you arrive at the queue at 6am that costs you £400, it also costs you your Friday evening to get ready at home, it forces a very early start and it might/should buy you a shorter queue, maybe 2hours based on reading this thread. And you get a load of extra time in the resort which may on may not be useable time based on your situation, accommodation etc.
Tough choice. I'd pick the Friday if I had the £400.
Last edited by Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name: on Tue 4-02-25 13:39; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
Does anyone have any experience of the size of the queues outside of the weekend . We will be passing Moutiers at approx 11.00pm tomorrow( wednesday ) night , Im assuming a lot less traffic and hopefully just a short hold up , we then return on Monday morning , approx 8.00 am , maybe we need to leave a few hours earlier . Any locals have any idea of the early morning traffic delay ?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
Thank you for all of the responses. You've all been very helpful. We could always travel late on Saturday evening and spend the day in Geneva. I don't think I'll be able to get past Moutiers on Friday night as we land late - but not impossible.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
| Kingsdown wrote: |
| Thank you for all of the responses. You've all been very helpful. We could always travel late on Saturday evening and spend the day in Geneva. I don't think I'll be able to get past Moutiers on Friday night as we land late - but not impossible. |
Geneva is an incredibly dull place! Once you've seen the fountain there really is nothing else, I think I'd rather be sat in a big traffic jam. And if the flight lands in the right direction you've already had the best view of the fountain!
There are of course other places to visit on the route or just off it that are much nicer, as long as they're before the back of the queue. If you had the whole day you could go skiing somewhere on route!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
| bouquetin wrote: |
| Kingsdown wrote: |
| Thank you for all of the responses. You've all been very helpful. We could always travel late on Saturday evening and spend the day in Geneva. I don't think I'll be able to get past Moutiers on Friday night as we land late - but not impossible. |
Geneva is an incredibly dull place! Once you've seen the fountain there really is nothing else, I think I'd rather be sat in a big traffic jam. And if the flight lands in the right direction you've already had the best view of the fountain!
There are of course other places to visit on the route or just off it that are much nicer, as long as they're before the back of the queue. If you had the whole day you could go skiing somewhere on route! |
Ha - we have friends we could hang out with in Geneva....dull friends clearly. But I appreciate the viewpoint
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
| Kingsdown wrote: |
| I don't think I'll be able to get past Moutiers on Friday night as we land late - but not impossible. |
Getting past Moutiers on Friday night isn't the issue as I would expect it to be reasonable traffic-wise, finding somewhere to sleep for one night will be.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
| Kingsdown wrote: |
| Thank you for all of the responses. You've all been very helpful. We could always travel late on Saturday evening and spend the day in Geneva. I don't think I'll be able to get past Moutiers on Friday night as we land late - but not impossible. |
Thinking along those lines of mitigation
Annecy and "parking stade nautique " location lakeside is a particularly useful place to hold up for a while. Exceptional views, walk into Annecy environs and on the road that takes you to Albertville. Check location on gogglemap, at top of lake bordering town.
If you sat it out and ate etc there, then consider a 4:00pm departure, after general assessment and view of traffic situation, that should get you to the "rock" in about an relaxed hour "road" time PLUS any traffic delay added on. At least you'd have some room for manoeuvre being away a bit from the epicentre, with no real options once on that road from Albertville to Moutiers.
Projecting that it would be more reasonable situation than rock arrival & 12:30 original.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interesting that neither Google Maps or Wayze are flagging the road closure as an issue.
We are doing the half term trek so will watch this weekend with interest. In reality though there is not much we can do. Le Suttle booked, Accommodation booked, lessons booked, lift passes booked. We are overnighting in Troyes, so about 5 hours from Moutiers. Historically we usually get to Moutiers around 3pm and resort half 4. Can't access accommodation any earlier than 4pm, so really its a case of accessing later, maybe getting in at 6pm or 7pm.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@Kingsdown, I'd swallow the £400 and get to the site of traffic (well, hopefully not obv.) as early as poss.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
| gwatts10 wrote: |
| Does anyone have any experience of the size of the queues outside of the weekend . We will be passing Moutiers at approx 11.00pm tomorrow( wednesday ) night , Im assuming a lot less traffic and hopefully just a short hold up , we then return on Monday morning , approx 8.00 am , maybe we need to leave a few hours earlier . Any locals have any idea of the early morning traffic delay ? |
My experience of driving non-peak transfer days is that you would be fine - even in these circs.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Kingsdown wrote: |
| Ha - we have friends we could hang out with in Geneva....dull friends clearly. But I appreciate the viewpoint |
Ha - well that changes everything!
Only concern I'd have with that plan (assuming your friends aren't dull after all) is whether the queue would still be large at that time of night. The forecasts mentioned earlier say 35k vehicles need enter the valley on Saturday. Assuming that 30k of them arrive between 5am & 11pm and the road has been operating at the quoted flow rate of 1,000 vehicles per hour for that whole 18 hours then there would still be 12k vehicles queuing to get through the tunnel at 11pm when you arrive. You're then looking at not getting to the resort until lunchtime on Sunday.
That seems ha much worse prediction compared to the 8hrs mentioned last weekend, but that was a quieter weekend, some cars will have got through before the blockage happened etc.. And maybe the 1000 vehicles per hour estimate is a low ball. But if we up the flow rate to 1,500 vehicles per hour there would still be 3k vehicles in the queue or a 2hr queue at 11pm. Get through at 1am and another hour up to the resort means arriving at 2am.
Personally I'd be trying to be one of the earliest of the predicted 35k cars as possible, accepting that may mean being in a queue for a while, if the problems are less bad than the traffic model suggest then you'll have a nice short queue and extra time in resort. If the predictions are as bad as the 35k cars at 1k per hour then going early on the Saturday protects getting there on Saturday at all.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
