I have always wanted to travel on the Mont Blanc Express train during the winter, as this scenic route takes you through snowy mountain meadows with incredible views of the Alps including the peak of Mont Blanc.

The day started with an early breakfast in the hotel and a short walk to the main railway station in Geneva to catch a tram to the SNCF Geneva Eaux Veux station on the other side of the lake. A two car double deck train soon appeared and a throng of people disembarked, there are a lot of French people working in Geneva who commute across the border. There were six passengers waiting to board the train including two skiers (the first of many I would see on this snow extravaganza).
The train was heading for St Gervais les Bains in the Alps and as the train slowly climbed up into the mountains, snow became more abundant on the ground. With perfect weather, chilly but a clear blue sky the snow looked spectacular very much lying crisp and even.

At St Gervais there was a very smooth connection onto the narrow gauge Mont Blanc railway that takes you from St Gervais via Chamonix over the mountains to Martigny in Switzerland, with a change of trains at Vallorcine. The French side of the journey was in a very modern three car train with the middle car having a semi glass roof for perfect panoramic views of the mountains. I favoured sitting at the front of the train with a clear view of the track ahead and the mountains. The snow gradually got deeper and deeper the higher we climbed until for a few kilometres the track disappeared due to drifting snow.

You can tell you are in ski territory as the train has ski racks on board, which were well used, although a snowboarder could not work out how to put his board into the rack much to the amusement of the older skiers. It seemed that people used the trains to get between pistes and to their accommodation which really seems a perfect way to get around on holiday.

Mont Blanc came into clear view and looked amazing set against a clear blue sky with snow blowing off the peak; it was a view that made the journey worthwhile!

At the border station of Vallorcine we changed from the modern train to a slightly older train, there being two distinct differences. Firstly this train has a system that allows it to travel down very steep gradients via a cog mechanism and secondly (which was especially useful as the weather was so good) the windows opened which allowed some amazing photo opportunities.

Passing through the mountains one has to marvel at how they keep the line running and then it all became clear as we passed a snow plough. Even on a beautifully clear day like the one I travelled on the snow ploughs are operating as drifting snow presents a real problem.

The last section of the route involves a steep descent into Martigny which drops for 2 ½ kilometres, I was standing up taking pictures and at some points was having to hold on to keep steady as the drop is so steep.

This trip was definitely one for the train in the snow enthusiast and the comfort of trains really added to the experience.

Posted in: Switzerland | Author: The Railbooker