A staggering 92% of skiers would travel to ski resort by train if it were cheaper and easier to do so, according to a new survey.
The finding was made by researchers compiling the 2023 State of the UK Snowsports Market survey, on behalf of The Ski Club of Great Britain.
The survey, conducted earlier this autumn, received 1,100 responses from UK skiers across a wide demographic of over 1 million.
Besides the 92% would take the train if it cost less and there were more services finding, comparing results from the last survey a year ago, the Ski Club found that those actually intending to take the train this winter had jumped dramatically to 12% of respondents, up from only 2% taking the train last season. How many of the 12% end up actually taking the train won’t be known until next winter.
“There are rising concerns about climate change and the rate at which climate change is becoming a factor in decision making for snowsports is climbing more steeply than any other factor, although the data is more mixed in terms of the significance of individual sustainability related polices on skier decision making. Skiers say they care deeply about sustainability, but other factors – most notably cost – currently rank higher,” a spokesperson for the Ski Club of Great Britain commented.
Eurostar has reintroduced its Snow Train service from London to the French Alps this winter. The service was cancelled in 2020 although direct charter trains were available for the last three seasons, operated by Travelski, a holidays division of Europe’s largest ski resort operator the Compagnie des Alpes.
The new service no longer goes direct, with a quick platform change at Lille, but Eurostar say this allows for a more flexible service. A number of tour operators including one of the largest, Inghams, have put a focus on rail travel and ski travel agencies including SNO and Ski Solutions have all made a big focus of ski holidays by rail this winter, making it easier to book a ski holiday with rail rather than air travel, and report a big jump in interest.
Travel To Resort By Rail CREDIT Voyages SNCF
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