A new independent website has launched with the aim of encouraging more people to travel by train to ski resorts. SnowCarbon.co.uk explains exactly how to book rail journeys, how to get the best fares, and which resorts are easiest to reach by train.
The site which was founded by two respected national travel journalists, fills a vital gap. Until the launch of snowcarbon, there was no single source of information about rail travel to ski resorts.

With a clean, simple design, the site features 30 resorts across Europe, from Andorra to Austria, plus France, Italy and Switzerland, all of which can be conveniently, quickly and cheaply reached by train.

SnowCarbon also features independent resort reviews written by leading ski journalists, as well as a sophisticated Resort Finder and unique email alerts that send users an email reminder on the day the lowest fares are available for their journey.

The site aims to encourage skiers and snowboarders to abandon increasingly stressful and expensive journeys by air in favour of the train. The environmental benefits are huge: the carbon footprint of a trip by plane to a ski resort is typically 10 times greater than the equivalent rail journey.

If more skiers chose the train, the environmental benefits would be significant. According to the Agence De l’Environnement et de la Maîtrise de l’Energie (a French government agency), 73% of a typical ski resort’s carbon footprint is made up by the journeys of tourists take to get there.

The rail journeys detailed are comfortable and stress-free. Couples, groups and families will love the space and freedom on board, and children under four travel for free on all UK and European trains. With vistas of lakes and mountains, the scenery is spectacular and by travelling overnight in a couchette, you can get two extra days on the slopes.

Many resorts have mainline railway stations – including St Moritz in Switzerland, St Anton in Austria and Chamonix in France – so the transfer from train to ski accommodation takes only a few minutes. Some resorts can be reached directly from London without a change of train, including Tignes, Meribel and Courchevel.

Surveys suggest that skiers and snowboarders are keen to take the train, but don’t have the necessary information or encouragement. A survey in 2005 by the Ski Club of Great Britain found that 68% of its members would prefer to travel to resorts by train.
A comparison of a door-to-door journey between London and Sauze d’Oulx, Italy, booked 5 weeks in advance, found the flight took 10 hours, rail travel 11 hours, 30 minutes. The flight costs £217 (including train to Gatwick, minibus transfer to resort, luggage charges), the train £178 (including private taxi transfer to resort, Metro fare in Paris). The carbon footprint for the flight was 96.8kg CO2, train 11.1kg CO2 (Car would be 227.1kg CO2 per car, by Eurotunnel)

Snowcarbon also offers practical advice on how to change trains in Paris. Precise Metro changes or private taxis that meet you on the platform can be pre-booked using a simple email form. There’s a guide to how to get the lowest fares from London to European ski resorts (from £99 return). The site also has a guide to UK tour operators that feature rail-inclusive packages and that offer non-flight discounts as well as information and links for booking accommodation independently.

The UK snowsports market fell by 6% across all sectors in 2008/9 according to the Ski Club of Great Britain’s annual Snowsports Analysis report. The total UK snowsports market is now reported at 1.27 million people.

The decline in overall numbers can be attributed to the economic climate and the weak pound, although the report suggests that the excellent snow conditions last winter may have influenced some people not to forego their winter sports holiday as they might otherwise have done. Additionally the report discusses a returning confidence to the industry and last season’s great snow acting as a catalyst for more people to start skiing again or go for the first time.

Although overall sales fell, a 2% rise in the tour operator market means it now makes up 79% of the overall market. This increase is at the expense of the independent sector, which now sits at 21%. It seems more skiers favoured a package holiday as this enabled them to know the upfront cost of their holiday. The increased cost of flying at peak times with no-frills airlines, and ski carriage charges, may also have impacted the independent market.

France continues to dominate the UK snowsports market with a 43% share – this has stayed static from 2007/8. Austria increased their market share by 2% and Italy and Switzerland both saw a 1% increase in market share which meant there was a small decline in visitors to the USA and Canadian resorts and to Andorra and Bulgaria.

The report goes on to identify the rise in the average cost of a snowsports holiday, going from £664 (per person) in 2007/8 to £686 in 2008/9. The pound’s weakness against the Euro and Swiss Franc meant that there were increased costs for holiday companies which in turn were passed on to the consumer.

Caroline Stuart-Taylor, Chief Executive of the Ski Club, commented on the report: “We are not surprised to be reporting a decline in the overall snowsports market after a really challenging winter season. The ‘credit crunch’ hit at a bad time for the snowsports market, but the ski industry is actually very resilient and we are feeling positive as we head into 2009/10. Already we have seen ski operators offering some excellent early season deals and combined with the industry pulling together to promote the snowsports to both existing skiers and boarders, as well as first timers, we are remaining cautious but confident as we head into the winter season.”

Other findings from the report include the fact that skiers make up 79% of the snowsports market and snowboarders 18%.

The ski weekend decreased by 5% with the market share for a seven day holiday rising to 81%.

Market share for the train as a transport method to get to snowsports holidays increased 1% year on year to 6%.

The catered chalet maintains its dominance in the UK snowsports market with a 37% share of all sales.

45% of the snowsports market is made up of females, and 55% males.

Scottish resorts received 5,000 fewer visitors than the previous season, but Cairngorm Mountain, Glenshee and The Lecht all saw an increase in skier days.

New label Yew Clothing www.yewclothing.com has announced the launch of its new range of active wear made from 100% recycled materials. The company believe this is the first collection of high performance sports gear that’s kind to the environment.

Designed by athletes who wanted a little more from the sports clothing they wear, Yew’s selection of jackets and Everywear performance tops feature everything you would normally expect from high quality sports gear, but are made with 100% recycled polyester from consumer waste.

This means that the fabric used to create them is produced from re-processed plastics like drinks bottles or food containers, helping to reduce waste and using much less energy to produce than brand new fibres.

The resulting collection of high quality, durable garments are built to last, fit well, and will keep you comfortable and dry as a base layer on the slopes.

The range includes cosy, fleece-lined jacket that will help keep you warm when the temperature drops. The jacket features hidden pockets, a seamless shoulder to aid comfort and a fold over zip to protect the neck. The warm, breathable material will keep you snug and dry and is available in Carbon Grey and Skyrise Blue priced £55.00.

Yew Clothing is Jun Wong and Kresse Wesling, two athletes and budding environmental entrepreneurs who wanted a little more out of the sports clothing they wear. Unable to find clothing that reflected their ethical values and aspirations, Jun and Kresse formed their own sports wear company, Yew, which offers stylish, high performance gear made from 100% recycled or organic materials.

The material is manufactured into Yew active wear at a modern factory in Istanbul with good facilities for staff. Yew recycled polyester comes from Taiwan where recycling is more prevalent.