Anyone hunting for a ski home in France will welcome the launch of a new direct train from London St Pancras to Moutiers in the Savoie region of the Alps.

The service kicks off on December 17 and will take passengers within 30 minutes of some of France’s best resorts, including Méribel.

Bringing more good news for owners of ski properties, the first Ski Resort Property Index by leading agent Knight Frank shows that during Q2 2011 European ski resorts started to show signs of recovery after the economic downturn. Prices in many resorts, says the report, have stabilised and in some cases even increased, particularly across the Alps where British investors currently make up 35%-40% of property buyers. Courchevel, Méribel, Megève and Val d’Isere are highlighted as being particularly in demand.

One of very few new-build projects in Méribel this season is Les Balcons de la Chapelle, where 2, 3 and 4-bedroom apartments and chalets are available fully furnished from €560,000. In a prime spot, the development is just a short walk from the ski lifts, shops and restaurants and offers mountain views.

Charlie Williams of Terresens, developer of Les Balcons de la Chapelle, commented: “While the market is still very price sensitive, viewings for property in prime French Alpine resorts have increased and we at Terresens have seen considerable interest in our luxury new-build development in the heart of Meribel, perfect for those who desire year-round indulgence.”

To understand the full step-by-step process to buying a property in France, collect The Overseas Guides Company’s ‘France Property Buying Guide’