France to axe sleeper routes

The termination of sleeper train services from Paris will affect skiers and snowboarders who opt for overnight rail journeys to Alpine resorts.

Among other users of the dozen or so services, those who catch the typical Friday night train to Bourg St Maurice or St Gervais, for winter sports holidays in places such as La Plagne, Tignes and Val d’Isère, must find other means of travel.

The French ministry of transport has withdrawn support for the services, citing expense, but no operator has yet stepped in, meaning all but three routes will be terminated by July 1.

The loss will be huge, says David Briginshaw, editor-inchief of International Railway Journal. “An overnight train means you can get to a destination early in the day,” he said.

Read more at telegraph. co.uk/travel