This winter it's even easier to reach 20 Austrian ski resorts by train, including St. Anton, Kitzbühel and the Skicircus. The Alpen Express leaves from the Netherlands and Cologne, but offers an option to combine the journey with a train or ferry from the UK. Alpen Express trains will run from December 20, 2019 through March 13, 2020.
The Alpen Express will serve 20 Austrian ski resorts and also offers the option to book a transfer to ski resorts not on the train route, including resorts in Italy. Tentative schedules suggest the train will leave from Amsterdam at 6:59pm and get to most ski resorts between 8am-10am, giving you time to ski on the day you arrive. Prices start from €149 for a second-class ticket in low season.
Stop paying through the nose for checked luggage fees and stressing about queueing at the airport! Unlike flying, travelling by train to the Alps is stress-free and comfortable. The Alpen Express is a night train and will stop at several places including Amsterdam and Cologne before continuing on to Austria, with no stops at night. Silence is required after 10pm, so you can get a good night's sleep before hitting the slopes. The train arrives in the morning and departs in the evening, giving you 8 days of skiing or snowboarding. There is a bar on board and the option to order breakfast in the morning for just €6.50. Passengers can choose between a sleeper compartment or a couchette with 5 or 6 berths.
There are a myriad of ways to get to the Alps from the UK, each with their pros and cons. Here are some articles to help you plan your ski holiday this winter:
Ski resorts easily accessible from Grenoble Airport >
Ski resorts easily accessible from Chambéry Airport >
Ski resorts easily accessible from Turin Airport >
Ski resorts easily accessible from Innsbruck Airport >
Ski resorts easily accessible from Salzburg Airport >
Ski resorts easily accessible from Geneva Airport >
Ski resorts easily accessible from Lyon Airport >
Ski resorts easily accessible from Zurich Airport >
Best airlines for flying to the Alps >
Taking the Eurostar ski train to the Alps >
Easy ski resorts to reach from the UK >
Driving to the Alps via Calais >
Born and raised in the ski paradise of Vancouver, Canada, I learned to ski before I can remember, balancing precariously on my parents’ skis as they sailed down the hill. I started snowboarding in my teens and am now delighted to be exploring everything Europe’s ski scene has to offer!
