off2CU

I've never taken a metro or subway with my luggage before (always used taxis or shuttles) so I'm not sure what to do with my luggage so it won't be in the way.

I'm thinking about taking the RER from CDG into Paris on my next trip.

Any information of what to do or expect will help.

Thanks!

Christina

The metro is very different from the RER, as there is a lot less room.

On the metro, you have to try to get some space in the relatively open area near the doors, that's all. This is possible if the car isn't crowded. If it is crowded, forget it, you can't get on.

The RER is basically suburban light rail, and so there is more space. There is some larger area near the doors on RER trains, also, and if you weren't going far, you could stand with it back there. If the car isn't crowded, you should be able to fit it into a seat area with you, on the floor. I think there are some small overhead racks on the RER, but you won't fit any large luggage up there--it's basically like any suburban train. You shouldn't have a problem if you are going when it isn't really crowded. Just look around and see what others are doing. If you are taking the RER from the airport, that would be normal to have luggage. The problem will be the metro, but there are usually some people with small bags on the metro during times of day when it isn't crowded. Nor sure I've ever seen what happens if someone wants to get on the metro with luggage during some time when it is literally wall to wall people and it's hard to even get on yourself. I plan my metro trips with luggage to avoid those times.

PalenQ

U.S. State Department has in the recent past at least issued warning about bag snatching on these trains so be careful as well. Be sure to take the non-stop train to Gare du Nord and beyond rather than the stopping train that stops at and fills up in some dicey areas.

Since the RER starts at Roissy you will have plenty of room to situate your bags and if on a non-stop train so problems with storing them.

bdjtbenson

It's not hard if you have only one carry on size bag and keep it close. This is not only the best way to travel, it's the safest.

kerouac

At this time of year, the metro is full of luggage, particularly on the lines that go to the main train stations. Most of the Germans, Scandinavians, Belgians, Swiss and Italians take the metro even with massive luggage, and I can reveal that there is no etiquette to their behavior -- it is survival of the fittest!

PalenQ

And on RER B from the airport you WILL be seranaded by old farts playing their tattered accordions - this is for sure - i guess they must have a Carte Orange?

lola618

I did it in London and it was a pain in the butt. I have no intention of trying it in France. The Airport Shuttles aren't that expensive and they are door-to-door.

I would suggest using a shuttle so that you can avoid the RER and Metro with your suitcase.

MrNuke

Luggage on the RER is typically a non-issue heading into Paris. Terminal 2 is the terminus of the RER B3 spur. This means you will find a seat and have room for your luggage. If you get on one of the express trains that runs directly from the airport to Gare Du Nord, obviously you don't have to contend with any additional people getting on the train until that point.

Depending on where you are going, Gare Du Nord may be your connection point to a taxi or the metro. In that case you don't have to contend with the influx of people getting on the train. If you are continuing on beyond Gare du Nord, you will probably have to share you seat, but you already have your spot staked out. The same thing applies in reverse. If you are one one of the express trains back to CDG you'll find the cars open up drastically after Gare du Nord and their is typically plenty of space.

For the metro, it will likely be crowed. If I have a larger bag that takes up space, I will try to work my way to one of the corners of the car and stand with it to get out of others way.

Aduchamp1

I must have been on the wrong train at the wrong time. It was crowded with people and the aisles could not accomodate my one medium sized, not large at all suitcase.

StCirq

I had the same experience as Aduchamps. I could hardly move, and I had only one small suitcase. I missed my stop because it was impossible to maneuver to the door in time, even though I knew the stop was coming up and started for the door plenty of time in advance.

I never took the métro/RER again, and never will.

Michel_Paris

I guess the answer is "it depends" I took the RER from CDG last November with my ibe piece of luggage and had no problem putting it by the door and then sitting beside it. I transfered to the Metro at St Michel and made it to my final stop with no real issues. Yes, it is a bit trickier on the Metro depending on how crowded it is. I wastaking the Metro mid-day.

Plane touched down at 10AM, by 12:30 I was in my hotel room.

For 8 euros, I'm prepared to be inconvenienced, which I was not. On the way back, I took the Metro to Montparnasse and then the Air France bus, to see what that would be like. Very good service there.

Robespierre

Don't spend any time looking for a "non-stop" from CDG to Gare du Nord. Such does not exist.

Some trains skip a few intermediate stops, but all trains end up in Paris in the same order they left the airport.

Some people are leery of the folks who get on in the stations that some trains skip, but observe basic security precautions and you should have no trouble.

You can download and print RER A & B schedules here: http://www.ratp.info/horaires

MrNuke

"Don't spend any time looking for a "non-stop" from CDG to Gare du Nord. Such does not exist.

Some trains skip a few intermediate stops, but all trains end up in Paris in the same order they left the airport."

That has nothing to do with a train being non-stop, direct, express, etc. Such a train does exist in both directions. It skips 9 suburban stops.

My point was you have a 50% chance on the express train being the next to leave. If you are on that train anyone wanting to stop at one of the 9 suburban stops is obviously not on that train. I can't recall ever having the direct train crowded before Gare Du Nord in the direction of Paris or after Gare Du Nord heading to the airport when things are running normal. I'm not advocating waiting at CDG an additional 9 or 10 minutes for a train that will arrive 4-5 minutes later.

PalenQ

I have ridden NON-STOP trains from CDG to Gare du Nord - in fact i believe every other one is Sans Arret Jusqu'a Gare du Nord so i don't know what Robespierre is saying that they don't exist???

I say it's worth the extra 10 mins or so to ride the non-stop train rather than risk being swamped by passengers who may, perhaps unjustly, look dicey to the average yank in Paris for the first time - like at Aulnay-sour-Bois

MrNuke

"I have ridden NON-STOP trains from CDG to Gare du Nord - in fact i believe every other one is Sans Arret Jusqu'a Gare du Nord so i don't know what Robespierre is saying that they don't exist???"

Yes and it is every third train going to the airport from Gare Du Nord because of the Mitry-Claye spur.

Robespierre

Oops. I looked closely at the schedule, and sure enough, every other train goes from CDG TGV 1 to Gare du Nord without stopping. But the first one isn't until 9h10 and there aren't any in mid-afternoon. In the evening, the "non-stop" scheme resumes.

So don't count on it.

ontoeurope

In late June we took the RER B to Gard du Nord and transferred to the metro. There were four of us, each with our own rolling carry-on sized suitcase. We were able to navigate onto each train and through the stations with minimal problems.

That being said, we were not traveling during rush hour. We took several metro trains later in the week when it certainly would be a challenge with any size luggage.

If you will be arriving during rush hour, then I would consider a different alternative. Otherwise, it's a great strategy to save some money.

MrNuke

"Oops. I looked closely at the schedule, and sure enough, every other train goes from CDG TGV 1 to Gare du Nord without stopping. But the first one isn't until 9h10 and there aren't any in mid-afternoon. In the evening, the "non-stop" scheme resumes.

So don't count on it."

The 9:10 start covers the majority of the flights to and from North America especially when you factor customs and luggage time.

kerouac

The main thing to know is that there are none of the non-stop RER trains during morning or evening rush hour.

Louie_LI

Be aware that, on the RER, the doors open on either side (not at once, but depending on the station), so don't set up by the closed doors and expect to be out of the way.