Trenitalia rivals SNCF to offer train service to French ski stations
The service is a clear sign of the Italian operator’s strategy for the French ski resort market
Trenitalia’s iconic red trains now serve Chambéry, a gateway to the French Alps
NataliaCatalina.com / gorillaimages / Shutterstock
Italian train operator Trenitalia is once again offering train services to French ski stations this year as part of its increased competition with French provider SNCF.
Trenialia started offering the winter time services last year (2023), and began running train services in France in 2021. The winter route is an extension of its already-popular Paris-Lyon line.
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The ski station services began yesterday (December 15), and are set to run until the end of the season, March 2025.
The company’s iconic red trains now serve Chambéry (Savoie) for the second consecutive year and also - new for this year - stop at Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne (also Savoie).
When supplemented with bus and local train services these two stations provide access to a range of ski resorts.
Trenitalia has said it is aiming to make Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne “a truly international station”, and “an economic and cultural hub for the region” after the completion of the Lyon-Turin tunnel.
Read also: France-Italy train tunnel: How is the Lyon-Turin project progressing?
Trenitalia strategy and SNCF competition
The route looks a clear attempt from Trenitalia to make its mark on French ski resort transport. A recent blogpost on its website, ‘Top 10 ski stations accessible by train’, clearly shows its strategy in this area (as highlighted by French site Mon Séjour en Montagne).
The service also comes after SNCF has been criticised for a lack of rail connections to ski stations with its routes having decreased in recent years despite high demand. Tickets for the winter resort services typically sell out quickly, with demand far outstripping supply.
Yet, while Trenitalia is clearly setting its sights on winter services its offer remains limited for now. The services to Chambéry and Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne only run once a day on Saturday and Sunday, making them far less frequent than SNCF’s TER winter resort timetable.
