Trains continue to captivate an increasing number of travellers. More environmentally friendly, trains allow for the discovery of new horizons gently and responsibly – making up for the fact that their prices are usually high compared to the faster option of flying.
The appeal of night trains illustrates this renewed interest from both users and railway companies. These journeys appeal to tourists by saving accommodation costs and allowing holidaymakers to not waste any sightseeing time. They offer a scenic and convenient travel experience and allowing for flexible and efficient itineraries between destinations too far apart by road. Proof of their popularity is a new night train set to launch in winter 2025, connecting Paris to the French Alps.
Affiliated with the Compagnie des Alpes, this new night train will be called the Travelski Night and will allow passengers to fall asleep in the City of Light and wake up surrounded by snowy mountains, having arrived in Bourg-Saint-Maurice in Savoie. The eight-hour journey will also call at Aime and Moûtiers in Southeast France.
Once there, it enables easy access – with a reduced carbon footprint – to the eight ski resorts in the Tarentaise valley: La Plagne, Les Arcs, Tignes, Méribel, Val d’Isère, Les Ménuires, Val Thorens and Courchevel.
Among the amenities on offer are 660 berths with electrical outlets, duvets and pillows provided, as well as a bar-restaurant car. It will also offer a space dedicated to women travelling alone and private cabins for passengers seeking more privacy.
The train will be in service from December 19, 2025 to March 20, 2026, with a total of 14 round trips.
“The launch of the Travelski Night Express offers an alternative for an increasingly carbon-conscious public, for which we have already observed a keen interest,” said Nicolas Delord, director of the Travelfactory, according to El Figaro.
Delord also told local media Ici Pays de Savoie: “There is awareness on the need to try to find ways that emit less carbon to get to the site. Moreover, I think the idea of gentle travel like that offered by the night train is very popular.”
Each departure will be on Friday evening with arrival at Bourg-Saint-Maurice on Saturday morning. The return journey will take place on Saturday evening with arrival in Paris on Sunday morning.
Upon arrival, a transfer from Moûtiers, Aime or Bourg-Saint-Maurice stations will allow holidaymakers to reach their resort without stress. Reservations will open in May 2025.
However, certain conditions must be met to enjoy the Travelski Night. You will need to subscribe to an all-inclusive offer: transport, accommodation, and ski pass for one of the Compagnie des Alpes domains in Tarentaise.