Kinloch

Hello Everyone, I have done a bit of research but want to make sure I have all the details correct so I don't run into confusion. I am going to Giverny this weekend. I really want to spend lots of stress free time at Monet's gardens and share them with the fewest people. I am travelling from Paris on Friday afternoon, staying in a B & B in Giverny and already have ticket so I will be right there and get in early. Then that afternoon I will travel back to Paris and stay at airport hotel for my morning flight.
So I fly into CDG Friday afternoon. I know I can take the RER from CDG to St Lazarre where I catch the train to Vernon. There seems to be some confusion about the RER trip. Do you know if I transfer at Magenta or Gare du Nord? Does anyone know for sure which RER train I am looking for? Any other suggestions to make this go smoothly. Thanks in advance. K

PalenQ

Transfer at Gare du Nord and take walkways to Magenta RER station and take that west to its terminus which takes you into Gare Saint-Lazare.

PalenQ

check www.voyages-sncf.com or www.capitainetrain.com for schedules and fares Saint-Lazare to Vernon.

Kinloch

Hello Palen Q, Thanks for the information. I want to be sure I understand things. These are commuter trains which run regularly, I don't have to buy a ticket in advance do I? K

Christina

no, but you do have to buy one before you get on it, of course. I just say that because some people seem to think you can buy a ticket on the train, and you can't. And for the regular train (not the RER), you have to punch or validate your ticket in a yellow machine before you get on.

kerouac

The only reason that the "Magenta" (which is really at Gare du Nord) name exists is because at some time in the future it will also be connected to Gare de l'Est, probably when the CDG Express is built, which will depart from Gare de l'Est. But that is at least 6-7 years away.

PalenQ

though these are commuter trains there are gaps in the schedules out of rush hours - check schedules carefully, especially on a Sunday. Yes a flat fare ticket - you could buy at CDG I believe a thru ticket for the RERs and train to Vernon and back - getting a contremarque de passage to trip the turnstiles to get into and out of the RER - where you may also have to put the contremarque to exit the system.

Tickets are valid on any train - no seat reservations required.

for lots of info on French trains if taking more check www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

If into walking the 3.5 miles or so one way to Giverny there is a sweet walking path over an abandoned rail line after you cross the Seine from the center of Vernon.

Kinloch

I want to thank you all for your help. I have been to Giveny and back and your advise saved my butt. If you want to read more about my trip the trip report is under Channel Island Hoping.

PalenQ

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...and-hoping.cfm

Kinoch's good-read Channel Islands Hopping report.