All Aboard for the Alps

by Louis Tovell

November 6, 2025

5 minute read

Most skiers pile onto cramped planes every winter. But there’s another way - one that’s calmer, greener and often just as fast. Taking the train.

Switzerland happens to make this easy. The country’s rail network is world-class, and most ski resorts are directly connected - you’ll often step off the train right into the village centre, skis in tow and mountains all around.

Taking the train allows you to skip the airport and enjoy the scenic route.

A Smaller Footprint

It’s hard to pretend skiing is an environmentally gentle pastime. But how you get there makes a huge difference. According to the Ski Club of Great Britain, travel to and from resort can account for up to 75% of a ski holiday’s total carbon emissions. Swap a flight for the train and you cut that dramatically - emissions are roughly a tenth of those from flying the same route.

So while no form of travel is entirely impact-free, taking the train is one of the simplest, most meaningful ways to protect the mountains you’re travelling to enjoy.

The mountains we love are at risk from climate change - every small step helps to protect them.

The Experience

If you’re travelling from the UK, you’ll usually start at St Pancras International, take the Eurostar to Paris, then make a short cross-city hop to Gare de Lyon before boarding a TGV Lyria to Basel, Geneva or Lausanne. From there, the famously efficient Swiss rail network fans out to every corner of the country.

Yes, it’s a longer journey on paper. But once you factor in the airport faff - getting there early, queuing, waiting for luggage, and then the transfer to resort - the total travel time isn’t wildly different. The real difference is in how you spend it: with space to stretch, a café carriage nearby and scenery that gets better by the mile.

There are plenty of ways to get to the Alps, but few as memorable as arriving by train.

Cost and Convenience

It’s no secret that train travel is greener and more comfortable than flying. Where most people hesitate is the price. Flights often look cheaper at first glance, especially with budget airlines, but those savings start to fade once you add in airport transfers and luggage fees.

Advance rail fares can be surprisingly competitive, particularly if you’re flexible with dates and departure times. And even if the train costs a little more, it’s worth remembering what you’re paying for - a calmer, more scenic, lower-carbon journey that drops you straight into resort.

Eurostar just announced the newest, most sustainable addition to their fleet, the Celestia train.

Looking Ahead

Direct trains from London to Switzerland are already being planned, with Eurostar recently announcing a new route to Geneva for 2030 being serviced by increasingly more sustainable trains. The recent approval for Virgin Trains to operate services through the Channel Tunnel should bring much-needed competition - and hopefully, lower fares and more connections across Europe.

For now, a quick change in Paris adds a touch of European flavour to the journey. But it’s nice to know even smoother, faster options are on the horizon.

Extra competition will bring down prices, according to Sir Richard Branson.

Let the Journey Be Part of the Holiday

If you ask us, skiing in Switzerland is too special to rush. The train lets you ease into it - to see the landscape change as you travel, enjoy the journey itself and arrive rested instead of frazzled.

At OTP Holidays & SwissPasses, we can arrange rail travel from St Pancras International or any major European hub to your chosen Swiss resort. We’ll take care of the connections so all you have to do is sit back, watch the mountains appear, and feel smug knowing you’ve taken the scenic - and sustainable - route to the slopes.

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