Inghams Ski Launch New Industry Leading Rail Packages to Four Countries and 22 Resorts Across Europe

Tuesday, Sep 19, 2023 0

As part of their industry leading approach to tackling carbon emissions produced by ski holidays, Inghams Ski have today launched new train packages for the 2023/24 season. The new routes are designed to offer customers a low hassle, sustainable option to four countries and 22 resorts across Europe in France, Austria, Switzerland and Italy.

Through yearly carbon audits, Inghams identified that 59% of carbon released on an average holiday comes from customer flights. With most of their destinations being short haul from the UK, the ski tour operator saw an opportunity within rail travel to have a large impact on their wider efforts to cut their carbon emissions by 50% by 2030.

Inghams Ski want to make it as easy as possible for customers to choose train travel and lower carbon transport alternatives. Departing from London St Pancras, all routes have been designed to be low-hassle and competitive on price, with minimum changes and easy transfers to final resort destinations. With an emphasis on the journey becoming a part of the holiday, customers have the chance to connect with the changing landscapes, at a gentler pace as they travel to their favourite resorts.

Krissy Roe, Senior Sustainability Manager at Inghams Ski comments:

‘We are so excited to be able to offer our customers a new, more sustainable travel option to their favourite ski destinations. Flights make up the largest slice of the pie when it comes to our holidays’ carbon footprint and aviation is one of the fastest growing sources of greenhouse gas emissions in Europe. That’s why we’re determined to make it as easy as possible for customers to choose to travel to our resorts by train instead of plane.

To be able to offer a lower carbon alternative that is convenient and competitive on price is very exciting, and travelling through, rather than above these European landscapes is going to be a big part of the future of travel.

At Inghams, we’ve committed to ambitious targets to half our carbon emissions by 2030. There’s a huge amount of work going on behind the scenes to reach this target. Our guests’ arrival transport into the mountains is our priority.

As an industry, we can’t bury our head in the sand (or the snow) when it comes to the climate crisis. We are already seeing the effects of temperature changes on our mountain environments. We must act collectively now to reduce our emissions and increase the positive impacts we can have on nature and communities as much as possible.’

Inghams Ski holidays by train:

With shorter check-in times, no weight limits on luggage and more freedom onboard, Inghams Ski customers can now access the following resorts across Austria, France, Switzerland and Italy via rail:

Switzerland: Davos, Klosters, St Moritz, Grindelwald, Murren, Wengen, Saas Fee and Zermatt. Full journey information here.

Italy: Sauze d’Oulx and Sestriere. Full journey information here.

France: Courchevel, Les Menuires, Meribel, Val Thorens, La Plagne, Val d’Isère, Tignes, Les Arcs, La Rosiere, Serre Chevalier and Montgenevre. Full journey information here.

Selected departures to Val d’Isère, Tignes and Les Arcs ski areas will also be serviced by the new Eurostar Snow train package, see below for more details.

Austria: St.Anton. Full journey information here.

Example packages with flight comparison pricing:

7 nights chalet catering at Chalet Cairn, Tignes, France. Departing 16^th December 2023 from London St Pancras from £1,399 per person. Includes all rail travel, accommodation and transfers. Based on 2 adults sharing. [Flight comparison from London Gatwick: also £1,399 per person].

7 nights half board at Hotel Butterfly, Zermatt, Switzerland. Departing 16^th December 2023 from London St Pancras from £1,499 per person. Includes all rail travel, accommodation and transfers. Based on 2 adults sharing. [Flight comparison from London Gatwick: £1,489 per person].

7 nights chalet catering at Chalet Rendl, St Anton, Austria. Departing 30^th December 2023 from London St Pancras from £1,769 per person. Includes all rail travel, accommodation and transfers. Based on 2 adults sharing. [Flight comparison from London Gatwick: £1,549 per person].

New Eurostar Snow Train Package:

Launched in August 2023, the Eurostar Snow train offers a low hassle, sustainable option for customers travelling to the Val d’Isère, Tignes and Les Arcs ski areas. Operating from Saturday to Sunday, from London St Pancras to Bourg-Saint-Maurice, with one easy change in Lille, the new train also offers skiers and boarders an extra day to enjoy the slopes. With traditional ski packages running Saturday to Saturday, Inghams Ski have arranged seven-day lift passes for the price of six for customers returning by train on the Sunday, with the option to store luggage in their hotel or chalet. Customers will then be transferred on Saturday evening to accommodation close to the station in Bourg-Saint-Maurice, ready for their return journey on Sunday morning.

Example Package:

8 nights half board at Hotel Ducs de Savoie, Val d’Isère. Departing 6^th January 2024 from London St. Pancras from £1,298 per person including rail travel, transfers and overnight stay with dinner in Bourg-Saint-Maurice. Based on 2 adults sharing.

https://www.inghams.co.uk/eurostar-snow-train

Inghams Ski Sustainable Initiatives

Inghams Ski are committed to protecting the future of mountain environments by reducing carbon emissions and increasing positive impact on nature and communities. In addition to rail travel, the operator has committed to these further initiatives, enabling customers to choose a more sustainable ski holiday:

Targets and commitments: Inghams Ski have clear carbon reduction targets, and are actively committed to being a more sustainable business. They have also signed the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism and the WTTC Nature Positive Travel and Tourism commitment.
More meat-free dishes have been added to menus across resorts, working with local and regional produce.
This year, working alongside Halti and EcoSki, Inghams staff seasonal jackets have been made from recycled PET bottles.
A contribution from every Inghams booking goes to partners Klimate and Rewilding Britain.
Inghams Ski have partnered with Snow Camp, who are committed to opening up career opportunities for all people, no matter background, gender or ethnicity within the snow sports industry.