A train journey connecting three capitals has some of Europe’s best views – and can cost you half the price of a plane ticket.
The Eurostar and France’s TGV take passengers from London to Geneva, making the most of a journey that spans three countries. The train leaves from St Pancras with a change in Paris before it heads to the Swiss capital.
It is an almost six-hour journey all in, passing through Montbard, Dijon and Bourg-en-Brasse, giving views of national parks and rolling countryside.
Passengers can stop off in Paris to explore the city – with sites including the Eiffel Tower, the Notre Dame, the Champs-Elysees, the Sacre-Coeur, and the Louvre.
Once the train arrives in Geneva, visitors can see Lake Geneva, Catherdrale de Saint-Pierre, the Palais des Nations, the botanical gardens and the Brunswick Monument.
From there it is also a short journey to the nearby Alps, with day trips available from the city to ski or snowboard on the slopes and enjoy the local restaurants.
The train can be half the price of a plane ticket. According to Google Flights, return flights for the peak ski season of February cost up to £274.
For the same period, return trains cost around £135, half the price of a flight, according to Trainline.
Families can also save money by getting Interrail passes – £482 for a family of four to travel on four days within one month plus seat booking costs.
And cost isn’t the only benefit. According to the Times, four people travelling from London to Geneva and back by train emit about 44kg of carbon emissions compared with 108kg by car and 1,608kg by plane.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says, to keep climate change within sustainable limits, each person has a carbon “budget” of 1,500kg carbon emissions per year.
