The journey from London St Pancras involves a platform change in Lille and a 45-minute connection, as it did last winter after Eurostar confirmed last July it was axing its non-stop London ski service. The train serves Val d’Isere, Tignes and the Les Arcs ski areas.

Inghams said it had tripled its commitment of seats on the train, which next season runs for a longer period – from 21 December 2024 to the last outbound train on 22 February 2025 – to incorporate half-term weeks. Eurostar Snow services operate on Saturdays and Sundays, meaning an extra day on the slopes compared with air travel.

Inghams’ packages include a seven-day lift pass for the price of six for customers returning by train on the Sunday, with the option to store luggage in their hotel or chalet. Clients will then be transferred on Saturday night to accommodation next to the station in Bourg-Saint-Maurice, ready for their return journey on Sunday morning at just after 8am.

Inghams Ski managing director John Mansell said a quarter of the operator’s resorts were now accessible by train, with new options to Morzine and Avoriaz.

“We’re delighted Eurostar has extended its snow train timetable this coming winter to include dates over half-term and are proud to announce that we’ve expanded our partnership for the season ahead,” he said. “Train travel isn’t a flash in the pan. Last year’s sell-out showed us and the entire industry the demand is real.”

He added the UK government needed to do more to encourage rail travel abroad. “We now urgently need better support for inter-European train travel from the UK; policies to help with price and infrastructure, making it more accessible to customers outside of London and the South East too.”

Eurostar confirmed the return of its snow service for the 2024/24 winter season on Tuesday (9 July), with trains departing from 21 December. In total, it will put on 11 weekend departures throughout the season, up from eight last year.

Services will call in Chambery, Albertville, Moutiers, Aime La Plagne, Landry, and Bourg-Saint-Maurice. Fares are available now and lead in from £139pp one-way.