Eurostar is set to carry tens of thousands of travellers from across the UK to France, Belgium and Switzerland over the festive period.

From today until January 3rd, Eurostar has seen a surge in bookings from the UK with over 160,000 passengers expected to travel for a winter getaway.

Friday December 21st and Saturday 22nd are the busiest days for departures as Eurostar’s French and Swiss ski services start their first services of the season. 

Hundreds of passengers will take Eurostar’s new weekly ski service between London and some of Switzerland’s most popular ski resorts on Saturday December 22nd for its inaugural journey.

The new Swiss ski service will carry ski and snowboarding enthusiasts from St Pancras International and Ashford International to the heart of the Swiss Alps and the Valais region.

Resorts including; Verbier, Zermatt, Saas Fee and Gstaad will be served on the new route from Saturday December 22nd until Saturday April 13th 2013.

With an easy connection in Lille Europe on to a high-speed TGV Lyria service, passengers will arrive into Aigle, Martigny, Visp and Brig stations for quick onward transfers to their ski resorts.

For added convenience, Eurostar and TGV Lyria will allow passengers to carry skis or snowboards at no extra cost.

Nick Mercer, commercial director. Eurostar commented; “We’re expecting this to be one of our busiest festive periods for years.

“Our French ski service grows in popularity year on year and with our new Swiss Alps ski service launching as well this weekend we’re expecting a bumper 2012 festive period.”