SNCF for my winter holidays i prefer to travel by train 1975

In this delightful 1975 promotional poster, the SNCF (French National Railways) captures the charm and efficiency of train travel for winter sports holidays. Featuring an irresistibly cheerful snowman holding a pair of yellow skis and wearing a snug red, white, and blue bobble hat, the image is both whimsical and strategic, appealing directly to families, tourists, and winter sport enthusiasts.

Designed in a naïve, cartoon-like style, the snowman emerges against a crisp alpine backdrop—his form humorously echoing a train barreling through snow-capped mountains. Flanked on either side by stylized train cars, he wears a sweater with the SNCF logo emblazoned across his chest, serving as both a friendly mascot and mobile advertisement.

The slogan, boldly placed above—“For my winter holidays I prefer to travel by train”—conveys a simple, persuasive message. During the 1970s, France was experiencing a golden age of state-driven infrastructure development. The SNCF sought to position rail as the ideal mode of transportation, particularly to the Alps, in an era when cars were gaining dominance and air travel was becoming more accessible. This poster was part of a broader campaign to encourage sustainable, scenic, and family-friendly travel options.

Printed for French Railways' international audience, the poster was often displayed in British train stations and travel agencies to attract tourists to ski resorts serviced by France’s efficient rail lines.

More than just advertising, the poster reflects a period when public transportation embraced playfulness and personality in its branding. The snowman character—wide-eyed and joyful—epitomizes 1970s optimism and design simplicity, while advocating for collective travel as a cozy, dependable choice.

Today, the image is a cherished piece of transportation nostalgia and graphic design history, evoking an era when taking the train wasn’t just practical, but magical.

Railway - Tourism - Skiing - France

French Railways

Printed by Lalande Courbet in Wissous

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