The TTT brings together trail-running events that are concerned with preserving the environment. What makes them special? Their starting points are all close to a train station. No need for a car to get there !
Runners are nature lovers, almost by definition. Unfortunately, they sometimes spoil it when they travel long distances by car or plane. The new TTT circuit has been designed to remedy these pitfalls. More serenity and less carbon dioxide! In 2025, 14 great events have already joined the TTT. Others will follow.
If you’re interested in the TTT, just follow these three steps:
1/Plan your trail-running year with at least two TTT stages.
2/Register for the free “train-takers” ranking.
3/Record your train mileage to get there and/or back.
At the end of the year, you’ll be rewarded with gifts, but above all, by experiencing trail running in a different way, you’ll be helping to get things moving in the right direction.
New for 2025, a train travel agency will help you find the best package to get to your TTT races.
Take part in the TTT 2025 in 4 steps
1/Plan at least two races this year (+ benefits, + services)
You’ll be spoilt for choice among the 14 RDVs on offer, many of which are references in their region. Beware: some of these events are victims of their own success, so don’t delay to book them.
Advantage 1: In the case of sold-out events, the TTT team can request access for you, if you’re coming by train. After registering for the TTT (see below), send an e-mail to event@zatopekmagazine.com .
Advantage 2: If you’re traveling to a TTT event “far from home” by train (from France to Sweden, for example), the TTT team can request free bib access to reduce your overall bill and encourage your virtuous approach. Simply explain your request in an e-mail to event@zatopekmagazine.com .
Services: Since 2025, you can contact an agency dedicated to trains, which will help you find the best value for money: https://railtrip.travel
2/Register for free
Use the green button below to register for the TTT. This registration allows you to be included in the annual ranking of train-taking runners. It also enables you to support the TTT’s principled initiative and stay up to date with the TTT news via a newsletter (which you can simply unsubscribe from if necessary).
3/Count your train kilometers
Use the blue button to enter the number of kilometers you have traveled by train to get to each stage of the TTT, with proof (picture of the ticket or the season ticket). At the end of the year, you’ll be rewarded if you’ve completed at least two stages of the TTT by train (either the outward or return journey, or both).
4/Participate in change and receive your gifts
Support an initiative that makes sense. Trail runners are nature-lovers at heart, and the TTT helps to make trail running even more coherent.
An original ranking system has been put in place. The aim is not to designate the best-performing runner of the season, but rather the most virtuous in terms of respect for the environment. This ranking is based on the choice of means of transport to get to the various races in the TTT calendar. Each time you use the train, you improve your personal score by one point per kilometer traveled to or from the event. At the end of the year, prizes will be awarded and a portrait of the winners will be published. To take part, all you have to do is register for the TTT and fill in the train mileage form (see above). At the end of the year, the kilometers will be added up to establish a ranking. From 2024 onwards, a bonus of 250 points per round trip will be added to the km to/from the event (one way = 250 points and round trip = 500 points). Example: I travel 750km by train to get to a TTT event. Points awarded: 750 + 250 (outward journey) + 750 + 250 (return journey) = 2,000 points.
Trail runners in the best “traileurs” ranking, with at least two races under their belt, will receive one of the following gifts:
- trail-running courses with sponsor Andy Symonds or Xavier Thévenard (worth between €300 and €400)
- European train passes (worth between €250 and €400)
- Bib numbers for prestigious trail-running events
Ranking
Here are the first rankings of trailers that take into account their mean of locomotion. A first in the history of trail-running!
These are the rankings of the best European “train taker” trailers. We could have talked about “ferrivopathic” trailers, i.e. those who love trains and prefer to use them for everyday travel or for more distant journeys such as going to a new trail-running event.
Of course, let’s remain modest. At this stage, these rankings only concern a selection of a dozen trail races in Europe and a few dozen participants. It is obviously the beginning of new mindset in sport. But it has the merit of existing and of tracing the way for the future, when, beside sport performances, the most precious gestures to preserve the environment will be taken into account. Make way for the pioneers!
Ambassadors
Several well-known trailers support the TTT. Andrew “Andy” Symonds is the first one to become an ambassador of the TTT. We are proud of this association for at least two reasons. The first one is obvious, it’s the track record! Andy, a British champion living in France, has won several prestigious events such as the Lavaredo Ultra Trail in 2016, the Trail du Ventoux in 2012 or Les Templiers in 2011, as well as a top 5 at the UTMB in 2019.
The second reason is more surprising. Andy Symonds is one of the few elite international athletes (all sports included) to take into account the environmental impact of his travels when putting together his schedule. Recently, for example, he made the decision not to travel to the Trail World Championships in Thailand for environmental reasons. According to the calculation of his personal carbon footprint, this one trip would indeed ruin all the efforts made during the year to reduce his greenhouse gas emissions (link to the article). This responsible attitude seems to us to be in line with not only the climate challenges that our modern society have to face but also, of course, with the objectives of the TTT which aims, let’s remember, to encourage travel by train to reduce the carbon footprint of major trail-running events.
So we couldn’t dream of a better ambassador to launch the Trail by Train Tour.
Link to Andy’s blog : on his blog.
Xavier Thévenard does not need an introduction in the world of trail running. Nicknamed the “Little Prince of Mont Blanc” for his 3 victories on the UTMB, he is also the first trail runner to win all 4 distances of the event, and that is just part of his record of achievements! Xavier has also been crowned in Japan on the 2019 Ultra-Trail du Mont-Fuji and has twice won the 80km Marathon du Mont-Blanc.
Today, he shows a strong commitment to preserving the environment by renouncing participation in prestigious competitions far away in order to stop using airplanes. He has calculated his personal carbon footprint at 5 tonnes per year. He would like to aim for 2 tonnes per person per year by 2050, recommended to achieve carbon neutrality.
An interesting interview about his collaboration with the TTT can be found on Youtube.
Lucas Nanchen is one of Switzerland’s top runners, mainly on short trails. In 2022, he finished second in the renowned Trail Verbier Saint-Bernard and the Trail du Bresso in Switzerland. In 2023, he finished second in the 34km of the French GTL (Grand Trail du Lac), the final stage of the TTT this year.
Lucas justifies his commitment in these words: “We practice a sport in the middle of nature, which requires us to respect it. It’s paradoxical to promote a natural sport and, at the same time, destroy nature through our journeys. 80% of Co2 emissions linked to an event come from transport. If all runners undertook to take the train to competitions (whenever possible), the carbon footprint would be reduced. What’s more, the train is a very convenient means of transport, and one that is undergoing rapid development. The TTT allows us to enjoy our sport to the full, while preserving the environment in which we practice our passion. The future of our wonderful sport depends on it!”
Helena Roosen is a Belgian sportswoman who never stops setting herself sporting challenges: Ninjas Warriors in 2021, the famous survival programme Koh Lanta in 2023 and now her sights are set on running and trail running. She took part in the High Trail Vanoise the Millet X Trail Courchevel 2023 and she won the Run&Bike of the Meyboom Trail Brussels in 2023, a stage of the TTT.
Helena expresses her commitment for this european circuit in this way: “When you go trail running, you do it for the sporting activity, but also to enjoy the environment in which you’re running. Preserving this environment and being careful about our emissions is becoming increasingly important these days. Offering a European Trail circuit accessible by train means you can discover different races and environments while limiting your impact. We know that the travel of runners and companions accounts for the majority of emissions during a trail event, so it’s a great initiative on the part of the TTT to offer trails that are accessible by train”.
Sébastien Mahia, long known as the bulimic of running, has made a name for himself with his atypical vision of running: no training sessions, only official races! And all this without demerits. In fact, he was the winner of the Trail Meyboom Brussels (TMB) 2021 over a distance of 42km, which is a TTT event now known as the Europa Trail.
“I support the TTT because I think it’s an original way of travelling around Europe without having to use your car. During my binge years (200 competitions a year), I used my car a lot. Since I’ve reached my goal of 400 wins, I’ve calmed down in terms of my travels. Today, I’m just realising that it was excessive in terms of budget (petrol prices) but above all in ecological terms. This year, I’m giving drawing lessons in 2 schools in Brussels. I travel by train. It’s so much easier and less stressful.“
2025 calendar
14 European trail-running destinations, all accessible by train. The TTT team is working on benefits for prospective trail-runners when purchasing train tickets.
All concerned cities will be connected with high speed and/or international trains. 5 first European networks/corridors are used or will be used :
-the SNCF/SNCB/Thalys network > North Sea – Mediterranean – Atlantic corridor
-the SNCF/Lyria network > Alps – Rhone – Rhine corridor
-and the SNCF/Trenitalia network : Northsea – North of Italy corridor.
-the Nightjet network > North Sea – Eastern Europe corridor
-the EuropeanSleeper / SJ EuroNight > North Sea – Baltic Sea corridor
# 6 - L'Ultra Trail Grand Colombier |
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| From 2025/05/24 Culoz | |
| Cross majestic mountains, verdant valleys and rugged trails | |
| Station Culoz 1,9km from the shuttle start | Distances 120 / 80 / 42 / 25 / 16 / 7 km |
| Info | Press |
# 8 - L'Xtratrail Lavaux |
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| From 2025/06/01 Lavaux | |
| Europe's only trail running through vineyards | |
| Station Lutry750m from the start | Distances 50 / 34 / 20 / 10 km |
| Info | Press |
# 13 - Sörmlands 100 |
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| 2025/09/05 Jogersö | |
| Explore the scenic wonders of one of Sweden's most biodiverse | |
| Station Jogersö | Distances169 / 100 / 55 / 21 / 2 km |
| Info | Press |
TTT train destinations
The use of the train as a means of travel to the different events of the TTT is the real thread of the project. Studies show that, in large popular running events, transport of participants represents the bulk of their carbon footprint.
To help you prepare for your train journeys, the Trail by Train Tour team has compiled a selection of tips and tricks (at the bottom of the page) and a simplified map of train access for each stage of the TTT below.
A trail in the streets of Paris
Paris has two major international train stations from which you can easily travel from all over Europe.
Paris-Gare-de-Lyon: Place Louis-Armand, 75012 Paris (FR)
Gare Paris Nord: 18, Rue de Dunkerque, 75010 Paris (FR)
From these stations, you can take a number of public transport lines (metro, RER) to get to the various race starts (see below).
Starting addresses: The Paris ECOTrail offers a large number of races, with different starting locations. Some are directly accessible via the public transport network, while others are accessible via organized shuttles. We invite you to find out more directly on the organization's website
We invite participants to visit the official website of the event to stay informed of the latest information: https://ecotrail.pr.co/
A unique Trail in the heart of the Haute Ardenne
International and national trains from Paris, Brussels and Cologne arrive at Gare de Liège-Guillemins, located in the Meuse Valley. From here, you can take a train to Gouvy station (duration 1h14), just a few kilometers from the departure point. Don't miss the first train at 6.07 a.m., arriving at Gouvy at 7.21 a.m., the last Belgian station on the line. In Liège, numerous accommodation and catering options are available around the station. For the return journey, there is a train every 2 hours on this line.
Station address: 2, Place des Guillemins, 4000 Liège (BE)
From Luxembourg-City station, you can reach Gare de Gouvy by taking a train on the Luxembourg (LU) - Liège (BE) line, just a few kilometers from the trailhead. You'll easily find accommodation around Luxembourg-City station. At the latest, take the 7.16 a.m. train on race day to arrive at 8.40 a.m. in Gouvy, the first Belgian station on the line. For the return journey, there's a train every 2 hours on this line.
Station address: 1, Place de la Gare, 1616 Luxembourg (LU)
Gouvy train stationAt the Gouvy train station, trail runners are 7km from the race start. In Gouvy, a few lodgings are available (it is advisable to book a room well in advance), and a shuttle service is provided on race day between the station and the start of the trail.
Station address: 31, Rue de la Gare, 6670 Gouvy (BE)
Start address: Rettigny at 6673 Gouvy (BE)
We invite participants to visit the official website of the event to stay informed of the latest information: https://www.latharee-trail.be/
• +32 495 31 64 95
• info@latharee-trail.be
On the fairytale paths of the Baltic Sea
Hyllie station
The Hyllie station is part of the Hamburg -- > Copenhagen --> Malmö --> Simrishamn rail corridor, and is the organizers' preferred solution. An hour's drive from the start, buses run from the station on race day (outward and return, with two departures for the return, depending on the riders' level).
Station address : 215 32 Malmö, Sweden
Simrishamn station
Just 5 minutes from the start of the 60km, this station is the terminus of the Hamburg -- > Copenhagen --> Malmö --> Simrishamn line. To avoid potential delays (accumulated along the line), the organization recommends arriving the day before and staying at their partner hotel: Hotel Svea (where you can collect your race number on request).
Station address: 272 32 Simrishamn, Sweden
The Swedish train company is Skånetrafiken.
We invite participants to visit the official website of the event to stay informed of the latest information: www.osterlentrail.se
In the Belgian Ardennes, along the Ourthe river
Liège-Guillemins station
From Liège Guillemins international station, it will be possible to take a shuttle* (by train) to the two departure locations (42 and 21km) according to the following schedule:
8:07 a.m : departure of the train to Esneux, starting point of the 21 km trail.
8:14 a.m : departure of the train towards Comblain-La-Tour (Hamoir), place of departure of the 42km.
Station address : 2, Place des Guillemins at 4000 Liège (BE)
Departure address of the 21 km : Parc du Mary at 4130 Esneux (BE)
Departure address of the 42 km : Terrain C of RRC de Hamoir - 34, Rue de Fairon at 4180 Hamoir (BE)
*Registration includes train shuttle
We invite participants to visit the official website of the event to stay informed of the latest information: www.zatopekmagazine.com
team@zatopekmagazine.com
From the historic heart of the capital
Luxembourg City station
From Luxembourg station, you can reach the start of the races on foot or by public transport. Since 2020, all public transport (bus, train, tram) has been free throughout Luxembourg.
Station address de la gare : 1, Place de la Gare at 1616 Luxembourg (LU)
Races starts address : Cité judiciaire - 18, Plateau du Saint-Esprit at 1475 Luxembourg (LU)
We invite participants to visit the official website of the event to stay informed of the latest information: https://urbantrail.lu
contact@urbantrail.lu
Cross majestic mountains, verdant valleys and rugged trails
Lyon Part-Dieu station
International and national trains from Paris, Brussels and Cologne arrive in Lyon.
Station address : 5, Place Charles Béraudier 69003 Lyon
Geneva station
International trains from the East and South arrive in Geneva.
Station address : Pl. de Cornavin 7, 1201 Geneva, Switzerland
Culoz station
Culoz train station is 1.9 km from the base camp (the 7km arrival and departure village).
Lines served :
Genève/Annecy – Grenoble – Valence
Saint Gervais / Evian / Genève – Bellegarde – Lyon
Chambéry – Culoz – Genève
Chambéry – Culoz – Ambérieu – Lyon
The organization is planning paid shuttles between the finish village and the various departure points.
Station address : Place Pierre Semard 01350 Culoz
Start area and shuttle adress : zone de Loisirs En Verbaou, Av. Jean Falconnier, 01350 – Culoz-Béon
We invite participants to visit the official website of the event to stay informed of the latest information: ultratrailgrandcolombier.com
An experience of at least two days in the land of volcanoes
Clermont-Ferrand station
From Clermont-Ferrand station, it will be easy to get to Volvic. Regular regional train lines are in fact organized once an hour, from 6:20 a.m. to 6:40 p.m. The journey takes only 25 minutes on average.
Station address : 40, Avenue de l'Union Soviétique at 63000 Clermont-Ferrand (FR)
Volvic (Luzet) station
Volvic station is located in Luzet and is therefore a little off-centre from Volvic. It is 3.5 km from the starting point and 5 km from the town center of Volvic. The organization nevertheless provides shuttles between Volvic station and the place of departure.More information about the organized shuttles will follow, stay informed on the VVX website.
Station address : 15, Rue des Besses at 63530 Volvic (FR)
Races departure address : Site of Goulet - 5, Rue des Sources at 63530 Volvic (FR)
We invite participants to visit the official website of the event to stay informed of the latest information: https://www.volvic-vvx.com/
Europe’s only trail running through vineyards
Two train lines (R3 and R4) connect the Lausanne and Lutry stations every 20 minutes. The journey takes 9 minutes on average.
The station is served by the TGV from Paris and the Léman Express from Annemasse.
Station address: Pl. de la Gare 5A, 1003 Lausanne, Suisse
The Lutry train station is a 750-metre walk from the departure point, the Collège du Grand-Pont.
Station address: 1095 Lutry, Suisse
We invite participants to visit the official website of the event to stay informed of the latest information: xtratraillavaux.ch
A festival of canyons, cliffs, gorges and waterfalls
Neuchâtel station
Neuchâtel station is located on the heights of the city center of Neuchâtel, which can be reached by tram or funicular.
With 2 train lines per hour, it is easy to reach Couvet station. The journey takes 30 minutes. The first departure is at 5:40 am.
Staion address : 1, Place de la Gare at 2000 Neuchâtel (CH)
Couvet station
Couvet station is 800m from the start and finish of the races. It will therefore be easy to get there on foot, in just 10 minutes.
Station address : 5, Rue Pierre-Dubied at 2108 Couvet (CH)
Races departure address : EspaceVal - 15, Clos-Pury at 2108 Couvet (CH)
We invite participants to visit the official website of the event to stay informed of the latest information: https://swisscanyontrail.com/
info@swisscanyontrail.com
The trail of the Alps. Grenoble, 4 massifs : Magic !
Grenoble station
All destinations lead to Grenoble! Whether you come from the region, from all over France or from abroad, Grenoble station is served by both TER and TGV trains.
As soon as you arrive at Grenoble station, you will be close to the city center. To reach the base camp located on Place Victor Hugo, tram A or B, or the C1 bus will take you there directly in less than 10 minutes. Finally, to get to the bib number pick-up, take tram A or B, or bus C1 to the Chavant stop, then walk the 550m to Halle Clémenceau.
Station address : 1, Place de la Gare at 38000 Grenoble (FR)
Base camp address :
Place Victor Hugo at 38000 Grenoble (FR)
Address for collecting race numbers: 40 Boulevard Clemenceau, 38000 Grenoble
We invite participants to visit the official website of the event to stay informed of the latest information: https://ut4m.fr/fr
Contact : info@ut4m.fr
Through the Belledonne massif, as beautiful as it is demanding
Grenoble station
The organization has provided bus shuttles from the place of arrival, that is to say Aiguebelle.
Train travelers arriving in Grenoble have two possible choices. Either go to the start of their trail via Aiguebelle (arrival + collection of bibs) and take advantage of the organization's paid shuttles, or go directly to the start of the races by taking the option of sending the bib by postage. This last option seems more favorable to runners of the 149km Integrale which starts 20km from Grenoble. Be careful, if you go from Grenoble to the start of the races, you will have to find a transport solution (carpooling or public transport). In both cases, you will have to return from Aiguebelle (arrival) to Grenoble (possible accommodation) via the train for example.
Station address : Place de la Gare 1 at 38000 Grenoble
- Departure of the 149 km: 20km from the station
- Departure of the 84 km: 57km from the station
- Departure of the 64 km: 41km from the station
- Start of the Skyrace (21 km): 57km from the station
- Arrival of all races (except the Skyrace) in Aiguebelle: 72 km from Grenoble station
The journey from Grenoble to Aiguebelle only lasts an average of 1h40. To get from Grenoble to Aiguebelle, you can take one of the 12 trains that make this route daily.
Departure of the first train at 5:39 am, arrival in Aiguebelle at 7:00 am.
Aiguebelle station
In Aiguebelle, the trail runners are directly near the bib collection point, the arrivals of all distances (except the 21km skyrace) and the departure of the organization's paid shuttles (200m from the station).
Station address : Pré de Foire at 73220 Val-d'Arc (FR)
Schuttles departure : gymnasium - Collège de la Lauzière : 15, Rue des Écoles at 73220 Val-d'Arc (FR)
Information about the shuttles can be found via this link.
We invite participants to visit the official website of the event to stay informed of the latest information: https://www.lechappeebelledonne.com/
Fabien : contact.belledonne@gmail.com
In the forests of the European capital
Brussels-Midi station
The Brussels-Midi International station is served by trains from all over Europe. This main station is also a departure point for regional public transport (train, tram, bus, metro). This will be useful for you to easily reach Boitsfort station, located 850m from the departures and arrivals village.
Brussels-Midi station will also allow you to reach the main attractions of the European capital as well as its city center.
In order to get to Boitfort, the train (departs every 40 minutes), the journey will take you 30 minutes.
Station addrese : 47B, Avenue Fonsny at 1060 Bruxelles (BE)
Boitsfort station
Located 850m from the village of the departures and arrivals of the trails, Boitsfort station will allow you to get there on foot (10 min) or by tram (6 min).
Station address : 195, Chaussée de la Hulpe at 1170 Watermael-Boitsfort (BE)
Races departure address : 114, chaussée de la Hulpe at 1180 Uccle (BE)
We invite participants to visit the official website of the event to stay informed of the latest information: https://www.zatopekmagazine.com/
team@zatopekmagazine.com
The arduous tour of the largest natural lake in France
Chambéry - Challes-Les-Eaux station
Chambéry train station is less than 1 km from the city centre. Chambéry station will also allow you to reach Viviers-du-Lac station in just about 10 minutes. You will be able to take this line on average 11 times a day.
Station address : 1, Place de la Gare at 73010 Chambéry (FR)
Viviers-du-Lac station
From the Vivier du lac station, it is easy to reach the departure point (+ shuttle for the 34km trail) by bus. The journey takes an average of 20 minutes with departures every 20 minutes (bus 01).
A shuttle (at the price of 5€) is provided by the organization for the start of the 34km which is done in Chanaz. Booking is mandatory and can be done online, when you register or afterwards, in your customer area until October 12.
- Departure: 8 a.m. – "La Traverse" cultural space in Bourget-du-La
- Arrival: 9 a.m. – Chanaz (no bib pick-up).
Station address : 232, Route du Lac at 73420 Viviers-du-Lac (FR)
Address of the 75 km race departures + departure of the shuttles for the 34 km race: "La Traverse" cultural space - 15 Avenue Lac de Constance at 73370 Le Bourget-du-Lac (FR)
34km race departure address : Maison de Chanaz - Place Antoine/ Place Gianetto at 73310 Chanaz (FR)
We invite participants to visit the official website of the event to stay informed of the latest information: https://www.grandtraildulac.com/
contact.grandtraildulac@gmail.com
In order to prepare your train journeys as well as possible, the Train by Train Tour team summarizes a selection of tips and good plans.
Discover our various tips to help you to plan your train journeys.
For a pleasant journey by train, it is important to anticipate. It is important to pay attention to the different companies and connections. To do this, we advise you to visit the different websites of the companies in order to know what is offered. To buy a ticket, it is advisable to first check the national companies. Indeed, it is on the official websites of the companies concerned by your journey that the prices will be the most advantageous. If you are crossing borders, compare the fares of all the national companies of the countries you are crossing before buying. For example, if you are traveling from Luxembourg to Italy, you will most likely travel through France. It is therefore advisable to compare fares between Luxembourg, French and Italian companies. When a connection implies a change of company, it is sometimes more advantageous to buy the tickets separately. There are also private companies, such as thetrainline, which centralize different companies in order to propose you trans-European offers.
In order to find the best deal for your train ticket, the time of purchase is important. For high-speed trains, such as the EUROSTAR or ICE, prices are often more attractive two to three months before your trip. Anticipation is important, as is monitoring the promotional actions offered throughout the year for cross-border travel. For regional or national trains, prices generally do not vary. This can allow some flexibility when planning your trip.
Booking a non-flexible ticket well in advance can be very advantageous. This option is best if you are certain of your itinerary, such as going to a fixed date event. Another tip for saving money on train tickets is to find out about the many discounts that are available for different age groups or statuses (large families, students, military, journalists, railroad employees, etc.). Some high-speed train companies such as ICE even offer tickets without seat reservations. Be careful with this last point, you may be traveling standing up if all seats have been reserved. Some running or trail-running events regularly reserve entire carriages for their participants, but these are regional trains. This formula is not yet possible for cross-border trains but we are not far from it.
There are also various rail "passes" that can be a nice perk. For example, there is the Interrail Pass (interrail.eu or the app) which offers European commuters unlimited travel for a given period in 33 European countries at a fixed fare, but some fast or night trains still require seat reservations in advance, and thus an additional cost.
Seat reservations are not included in the Interrail Pass, but they guarantee comfort on busy European routes. In general, trains that require reservations save you time and offer many advantages, such as Wi-Fi connection, electrical outlets and sleeping places. You can also secure a seat next to your friends. Regional and national companies also offer similar passes for exclusive use in their territory (excluding high-speed trains).
