Busting the 10 Biggest Myths About Getting to Morzine by Train

Surely from the UK to the Alps by train takes too long to be viable? Like many skiers and snowboarders, I started out believing this. But I couldn’t have been more wrong. Even when you fly, there’s no quick journey to the slopes.

Once I tried going by train, it was a game changer. The experience is so different. And when you are headed for the snow with a bunch of friends, it’s a lot of fun. I normally organise a chalet holiday for about 25 friends. We’ve been to Morzine many times and stayed with Alikats in the wonderful Ferme a Jules several times.

We go by train every time. My friends love it, because they get to hang out and bond en route to the chalet. The sound of cava corks popping as you speed through Kent towards France means that the fun’s begun. You get a real sense of travel and adventure – with a fraction of the pollution of flying or driving.

I’ve met lots of skiers who would love to go by train but end up flying simply due to lack of information about their rail options and how it works. So here are ten myths about going by train that are worth busting.

Myth 1: “You pay to take your skis or snowboard on the train.”

Fact: Eurostar and TGV both allow skis or snowboards as part of your luggage allowance. That’s one medium suitcase, one board or pair of skis (or a second case), plus a piece of hand luggage — all free. No strict weight limits, no hidden fees or special check in procedures.

Myth 2: “Train tickets are always expensive.”

Fact: If you book early, fares can be surprisingly reasonable. Eurostar tickets go on sale 6–8 months ahead; TGV tickets 2–4 months. Kids and groups of 10 or more are eligible for discounts too. You could also consider using a rail-booking agent – they have access to the best fares and journey options, and will book the entire trip for you for a small fee.

One bonus of choosing Morzine for your ski holiday, is as a train traveller you can benefit from discounts on a bunch of services through the AlpinExpress Pass. Get money off your train to resort transfer, ski lessons, restaurant meals and more, by simply filling in your details and uploading your train ticket booking receipt. You’ll also be eligible for 10% off your Morzine chalet booking with AliKats.

Myth 3: “Getting to Morzine by train is complicated.”

Fact: Travelling by train is often easier and far more relaxed than running from airport queue to airport queue. You’re looking at the Eurostar London–Paris, then a TGV (high speed train) Paris–Cluses, followed by a 40-minute transfer to your resort. Some journeys require a change of train at Bellegarde, but that’s easy, too. For example, a 9:31am London departure, will have you at your chalet in time for an apéro before dinner.

Myth 4: “Flying is faster.”

Fact: Door-to-door, it’s a very close call. To prove this plane v’s train myth, I once raced my journalist friend to the Alps, specifically a hot tub in Meribel. He flew and I took the Eurostar and TGV — the difference in our journeys was just 35 minutes. The real contrast is how you spend the time. With airports you shuffle from queue to queue. By train you get longer chunks of quality time, reading, chatting, playing games, making use of the wifi and enjoying the scenery through the window.

Myth 5: “Group train journeys are a pain to book.”

Fact: Group train travel is one of my specialities and it’s all fairly straightforward. Groups of 10+ qualify for discounts, but must book by phone or email with the groups department of a train company or a rail-booking agent. Crazily, the groups departments of Eurostar and SNCF can’t book each other’s services. So, if you book with them, it will mean two separate bookings – one with Eurostar and, the other, with SNCF Connect for the TGV (see resources below for contact details). It may be easier to contact Railtrail or Trainseurope to arrange the entire journey booked in one go. Remember to pre-book a private minibus transfer to resort (and claim your AlpinExpress discount), and your ski buddies will be highly impressed with your planning skills.

Myth 6: “Taking the eco-friendly option means ditching the comfort.”

Fact: Quite the opposite, trains are more spacious and sociable than planes, and the journey becomes part of the holiday. Watch the scenery shift from cityscape to countryside, and then ultimately the mountains; share food and wine with friends; and arrive feeling refreshed.

Myth 7: “Ski-train travel is only for Londoners.”

Fact: Board the Eurostar at St Pancras on a weekend in winter and you’ll meet skiers from all corners of the UK. A Friday evening departure is a great option; a stopover in Paris, and early morning TGV means you can be dining on the slopes for Saturday lunchtime.

Myth 8: “There’s all-you-can-drink champagne on the TGV.”

Fact: Sadly, no, but a decent TGV café bar is available, and there’s no limit to the number of drinks and snacks you can bring on board. The Eurostar café-bar is disappointing (bad design by Eurostar means it lacks any vibe). But at St Pancras London you’ll find an M&S Simply Food and a variety of high quality take away options (Pret a Manger, Le Pain Quotidien, Paul etc) to help you get stocked up for your journey.

Myth 9: “Kids will be bored.”

Fact: ‘The train that goes through a tunnel under the sea’ is a wonder to young travellers, and the long stretches of uninterrupted time on the journey are perfect for games, books, or puzzles. In fact, more and more families are choosing to take the train as their preferred travel choice. ‘My kids love the travel time with us playing games and watching the scenery go by’ explains Ian Collier, who recently took the train from Stroud to Morzine to ski with his wife and two kids, aged 7 and 10.

Myth 10: “Changing in Paris is a nightmare.”

Whilst it’s true, the thought of getting across Paris from Gare du Nord to Gare du Lyon to board to TGV, can feel daunting, with the right information you can find an option that works for you. These include the RER suburban train, a taxi from the rank outside Gare de Nord, or a pre-booked driver waiting at the platform. Consider it a mini-Paris interlude — and an opportunity to load up with fresh croissants! Find a complete guide to making this transfer across Paris here.

So why not make your next ski holiday a little greener — and a lot more relaxing — by travelling to Morzine by train? Explore the resources below to help you plan and book your journey with ease.

Next Stop: Train Travel Resources

Advice and journey planners:

Snowcarbon: Daniel’s website dedicated to making rail travel to the Alps simpler, packed with information and journey planners

AlpinExpress Pass: Exclusive discounts for those who take the train to Morzine

Seat61: a website about how to travel comfortably & affordably by train or ferry, with destination guides

ShowMeTheJourney: journey guides and personal accounts of rail travel across Europe

The rail map of Europe: map of all passenger rail route in Europe

Booking websites:

Eurostar
SNCF Connent  (TGV – France’s high speed train)
Rail Europe
The Trainline

Group booking departments:

Eurostar – 0344 822 4800 / groups@eurostar.com

SNCF Connect – savgroupes@sncf.fr

The Travel Bureau – 01902 326 662 / rail@thetravelbureau.co.uk