Terminal 1 at CDG - RER station

Terminal 1 does not have its own station. You will have to take a shuttle from the Terminal 1 RER station, which is closer to Terminal 1 and the Terminal 2 RER Station. The shuttle takes about 5 minutes. There is a shuttle bus to and from the terminal that goes to the Terminal 1 RER station, but there is also a shuttle bus that goes to Terminal 2. As the Terminal 2 RER station is in the terminal, it's basically dropping you off at the station.

TransitBuddie, I'm not following your explanation at all.
"Terminal 1 does not have its own station. You will have to take a shuttle from the Terminal 1 RER station"
- this seems to be a conflicting statement

I guess I could ask it this way:
if you can get OFF the RER at CDG-1, why can't you get ON at RER/CDG-1?

I don't know the precise answer to your question but I do know that last year there was a stop at Terminal 1 which was new (I had landed at Terminal 2 and so got on there, but it did stop at Terminal 1. The year before that I had landed at Terminal 1 and had to take the shuttle to the RER station at Terminal 2). All I can guess is that since it's new the guide books, and any posters here who haven't been to Paris in the last year) don't have up to date information. TransitBuddie's post is not at all clear. Keep asking, someone must have used it this year.

Hi T,

Are you sure about the RER at CDG1.

Except for one mention at www.parisby.com, I can't find any reference to an RER stop at CDG1.

I couldn't find it at the official site.

Yup, just open a current RER map - the stop for CDG-1 is before the stop for CDG-2 (end of line).
We rode out on RER last time, the stop for T-1 was closed, had to get off at T-2 and shuttle back to T-1.

PS,

I called Air France and was told that there is NOT an RER stop at CDG1.

Sorry for my unclear explanation:
Terminal 1 DOES NOT have a RER station INSIDE THE TERMINAL. You will have to takie a shuttle to the RER station.

Terminal 2 HAS a RER/TGV station INSIDE the terminal.

If you are arriving or departing from Terminal 1, take a shuttle to and/or from the CDG Terminal 1 RER (that's the name of the RER station). It is five minutes by the shuttle away from the terminal.

Ha, Ira, maybe Air France hasn't taken the RER to CDG in the past 2 years..?
---------------------------------------
See this:
http://www.transilien.com/GB/AerSom.htm

The Airport is located 45 minutes away from the center of Paris by RER B + according to the terminal, shuttle bus .

From Paris, take RER B towards "Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2 TGV".
Check your flight ticket for the correct station:

Station " Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 1" for the terminals T1 and T3 via shuttle bus.

Station " Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2 TGV" for the terminal T2.
-------------------------------------
So there are obviously two stations; as I mentioned, we had to bypass the station for CDG-1 b/c it was temporarily closed (Oct 2004).

To return to my point, is it true then, that for passengers arriving at CDG-1, there is no need to make them go to T-2 to catch the RER? that instead, they could take Green Shuttle to RER station for Terminal 1, which would probably be less confusing..? Since it is an RER station, they must sell tickets there, too.

..and TransitBuddie has restated that there are indeed 2 RER stations at CDG now...
Our next trip is on Continental, which typically goes to CDG2, so I'm not going to get to test route from T-1 next time... if anyone is arriving on United or US Air, those typically arrive at T-1....let us know how it worked out..!

I look forward to a report from someone who has taken the RER to and/or from CDG1.

When we took the RER to CDG this Feb, we panicked when we realized there were two stops, one at T-1 and one at T-2. We asked some fellow travelers what we should do, and if I remember correctly, we got off at the first stop (we flew NWA), but plenty of people stayed on the train, obviously headed for the second stop. We still had to get on a shuttle bus to get to the correct terminal. Sorry I can't be more specific, but we were grateful, and probably really lucky, that we didn't get big-time lost.

You did good! T-1 is the first stop on the RER from Paris, and you have to take a shuttle to get to the terminal (1); so you did 'luck out'

Okay, Travelnut, does that help answer your original question? I'm curious now, too. When we first landed at CDG (terminal 1 again? Still NWA), we followed the signs to the shuttle bus for the RER station. Where did the shuttle take us? I can't say for sure if it was the same RER station we came through on the way back. We took the express RER into the city (first stop at Gare du Nord, I think).

What did the RER station look like? The RER in Terminal 2 is inside the huge airline terminal itself...Does the RER for Terminal 1 look more like a 'standalone' building w/ no access/hallways going to airline gates..?

Here are pix of the RER/TGV station inside T-2:
http://airlinesgate.free.fr/cdg/tour2.htm

Here is a map that shows the T-1 RER location, vs. the Terminal-2...
http://www.hilton-paris.com/roissy-airport/access.html

I'm sorry, Travelnut, but we were thoroughly dazed and confused both times we came through the RER station(s?). On our way back, we kept saying to each other "Is this the same way we came in???" I don't think we came to a definitive conclusion. I'll email TC to see how she remembers it. If I had to guess, though, when we arrived at CDG at the beginning of the trip, I'd say we took a shuttle to "Terminal 2" as opposed to "the RER station." Since it is still a viable way to get on the RER, perhaps the airport has yet to change the signs, or feel they just don't need to? I am going back in June, and unless DH insists on taking a taxi, we'll do it again and I'll pay closer attention.

OK, then you can 'light the way'..

In March I landed in Terminal 1 took the shuttle bus to the Terminal 1 RER station and the RER into Paris.

On the return I took the RER from Paris to Terminal 2.

Terminal 1 RER station looks like it's in the middle of an office park of buildings with a couple of hotels. There are two entrances. On one side it's a small loop to let passengers off. On the other side it's a larger loop where most of the shuttle busses stop and awnings overhead on this side to help with the elements. The station has a Brioche Doree bakery on the ground level. There's a flat mostly glass wall with ticket agents inside. You're covered but still outside. I've usually found the lines here to be very long. If you have coins you can use a blue machine to buy a ticket. You put your ticket into the turnstyle and ride an escalator down. It's much more enclosed and tunnel-ish like a regular Metro stop feeling. There's only one platform in the middle of two rail lines. One side goes one way the other side goes the other.

Terminal 2 RER station is between the airline terminals. You can walk from any Terminal 2 concourse A thru F or take the shuttle bus. From the shuttle bus or walking you descend down to the ticketing level. The ticket agents are in offices to the side. There's no glass security wall between you and them. This area, though chilly, is actually indoors. There's an off-brand "sandwicherie" shop on this level. You go through glass doors to the "outside" to catch the train. I feel like I'm in the circus at this point. The area is covered with a white plastic canvas-type material held by wire meshing giving a "big top" feel. You put your ticket into the turnstyle and ride down to the platform levels. There are several platforms. A couple for the TGV trains and one for the RER trains. You have to make sure to descend to the correct platform.

I heard back from my TC and she's as clueless as I am.

Thanks for the descriptions, Indytravel. I keep waffling as to whether we were in T-2 at one point--I really can't say for sure. I promise I'll pay closer attention next time.

We took the RER to and from Terminal 1 in February, but we were connecting with the shuttle bus from our airport hotel and did not actually go into the airport. I didn't notice whether you could walk directly in to Terminal 1 from the RER stop.

No, I do understand the RER for T-1 is not connected to the Terminal building, you have to use a shuttle in-between.

That was a very good description, Indytravel, just what I was looking for.

Is it better to go over to the RER at T-2 to buy the tickets, or are there lines at both stations?

I know this will not be the last explanation but here goes:

There are and has been for many years two RER stations at CDG.

There is a station that serves Terminal 1 but it is not inside the T1 terminal building. It is a short 5 minute shuttle bus ride from the RER T1 station to the T1 terminal building. As someone else stated the T1 station is situated in a cluster of buildings. There is a Novotel, a Sofitel hotel next to it. When you get off the RER train (B3 train that is) you will walk out the doors to a semi-circular roadway where the green shuttle bus will take you to T1 terminal building. Beware: there will also be a red shuttle bus there that will take you to T2 terminal building and then on to T1 terminal building. Both buses make the loop to T1 and T2 but the green bus will take you directly to T1 terminal without first stopping at T2 and the TGV station that is inside the T2 terminal building.

There is also a station at T2 terminal building and it is located inside the T2 terminal building. No shuttle bus is necessary to get to the T2 terminal building as you are already there although you can take the shuttle if your T2 concourse is farther away than you care to walk.

Coming from Paris on the RER B3 train you should get off at the T1 station if your flight leaves from T1. (US Airways, Lufthansa and others) If your flight leaves from T2 (Air France, American) you should get off the train at T2. If you mess up and get off at the wrong station, don't worry you can take the shuttle bus to the proper terminal building.

If your flight arrives at T1 and you want to take the RER into Paris; you will notice that the T1 building is circular so just walk to hall 34, take the elevator behind the information kiosk, get off elevator at ground level (inside elevator the little placard will tell you what level for buses)go left out the door and get on the green shuttle bus which will take you directly to the T1 RER train station. Don't get on the red shuttle as it first goes to the various T2 concourses and the TGV station.

I have flown in and out of countless US and European airports and without a doubt CDG is the most confusing of them all but just stay calm and focused and you will be fine. It's not that difficult but it's just not a traveler friendly layout either.

As information, I always stay at a hotel in the 7th arr. and using the Metro and RER B3 train I can get from hotel to the US Airways check-in counter at T1 in about an hour to an hour and 15 minutes.

Larry J

That's great information, Larry. Thank you.

Ginny

I just returned yesterday from a weekend in Paris, flying United in and out of Terminal 1. The RER DOES NOT have a stop at Terminal 1. Upon arrival at Terminal one,take elevator down from baggage claim to departure level and go to Porte 22 where you will take the navette (shuttle bus) to the RER station at Roissy (which, by the way, serves all terminals at CDG). Upon returning on the RER to CDG, you must get off at what is shown as the RER Terminal 1 Station. Take the navette (shuttle bus) marked for Terminal 1 which will again take you to Porte (Door) 22 and the check-in areas for Terminal 1 departures. Incidentally, if you are going to Gare du Nord or Chatelet, take the trains marked KROL which are express to Gare to Nord and then to Chatelet. Saves time and much less hassle with luggage as the regular trains are commuter trains with many stops.

"The RER DOES NOT have a stop at Terminal 1.... Upon returning on the RER to CDG, you must get off at what is shown as the RER Terminal 1 Station."

Weekender - we know there is no RER stop inside Terminal 1, but you just contradicted yourself as to whether there is a stop at all for T-1.

There is absolute proof of a stop for both T-1 and T-2 - just look at the RER map. Secondly, they are both listed on the timetables for RER-B on ratp.fr.

The stop for T-1 is separated from the Terminal building-a shuttle ride is required to link them. This is what you experienced on your return to CDG.

The stop for T-2 is inside the Terminal building. You can walk to it from any hall, or you can ride a shuttle along the outside of the Terminal to get nearer to it, but it's still inside the Terminal.

Wow, this thread has gotten insanely complicated. Travelnut you are spot on in your explanation of T-1 and T-2 stations. I have been in BOTH RER stations. I dont understand why people are so confused about this.

Just to add, the T-1 RER station serves both T-1 and T-3. From T-3 you can actually walk to the T-1 RER station.

Thanks, Morgan... I think it is "complicated" because a lot of people don't realize there are two stations...I started thinking about it, wondering why 'we' seem to continue to direct everyone to the RER/TGV station, when it might be simpler to go to the T-1 station...It's much clearer for me now, thanks to everyone posting their experiences and descriptions.

Travelnut:

When you take the navette from Terminal 1 at Porte 22 you will go the Roissy RER station which on the RER B schedule is shown as CDG Terminal 1.

Right. So what were you saying before? Were you just clarifying that there is no RER station IN the terminal?

Travelnut:

Yes. Be advised, however, that Terminal One is circular and very confusing to navigate. Just remember to take the elevator down to the departure level, find Porte 22, go outside and you will see the sign for the navettes to the RER station. I found that returning to CDG is actually easier and would highly recommend taking the express trains back and forth. These are far less crowded and you will have better control of your luggage, etc.