Changing station in Paris..is child's play

Many journeys to ski resorts involve a change of station in Paris, to switch from a Eurostar (which arrives at Gare du Nord) to a TGV train (which departs from Gare de Lyon) or a sleeper train (which departs from Gare d’Austerlitz).

It’s not uncommon to hear skiers say how much they love the idea of travelling by train, but that they are put off by the hassle of changing station – particularly families, with children in tow.   That’s understandable. But fortunately, it is also mistaken.

There is an easy way to change – and that is by taxi.  You can even pre-book taxis, so that the drive waits for you at the end of the Eurostar platform with your name on a placard.  The taxi will then drive you across to your onward station.  The actual drive time is 15-20 minutes.  You’ll look out the window, enjoy the Paris scenery, and wonder why you didn’t do this before. 

But it’s all very well me telling you it’s easy. Seeing for yourself is a different thing.  So on a journey to a ski resort recently, I made a little film to show exactly what it’s like. A friend, Jarrad, and I dressed up in outfits that resemble characters from a popular children’s television programme, so that we stood out.

The Eurostar staff and passengers were amused at the outfits, and were brilliant help.  Walking though the stations we certainly drew some eyes. It was a lot of fun to film, and all in the name of helping skiers travel more enjoyably and sustainably.  Not a bad day at the office, all said and done.

On Snowcarbon there’s a special section with information on how to change station in Paris, whether it is by pre-booked taxi, taxi rank or the Metro/RER. Here's an example.

The really important thing to realise is that by changing station in Paris, you have the option to travel by train to a far wider variety of great ski resorts, and to travel on TGVs (fast, comfortable daytime trains) or sleeper trains with couchette beds.

And if you’ve got any questions about it, you are always welcome to get in touch with Snowcarbon founder, Daniel (that's me)