MauiOmi

From Dijonville, we arrive at Paris Gare Lyon at 12:03pm and need to make our way to Paris Nord, where we are planning to catch a train to Bruxelles Midi, and then to Bruges. Do we take the RER D Metro line to get to Paris Nord? Do we have enough time to get from the train to the Metro line, buy tickets and catch the 12:46pm to Paris Nord with our bags, and how do we get there (without sprinting and unable to speak French)? How much time should be allowed for the transfer, tickets, etc? Or can metro tickets be purchased ahead?
Once we arrive at Bruxelles Midi, do we need to do another transfer or allow for walking to another area of the station to catch the train to Bruges?
Would appreciate any help here, as we have never done any transfers and are unfamiliar with the train stations...Aloha!

Man_in_seat_61

The RER runs every 5-15 minutes, allow AT LEAST 60 minutes between your arrival at Paris Gare de Lyon and your departure from Paris Nord.

The physical transfer will take 25-35 minutes, the remainder of the 60 minutes is to allow for any small delay to the incoming train and any general faffing about.

kerouac

Man in Seat 61 is wise. There is a good chance that you could make the connection using the RER D, but it is still a very tight and stressful transfer.

Christina

yes, you take the RER D train, that is if it's running. I think they are having some work on that line in pats until some time in September, you don't say when you plan this.

no, you can't buy Paris metro tickets outside of Paris or ahead, unless you know someone with some to sell you privately.

I'm a little lost on the rest of that question, what is that time of 12:46 and where'd you get it? I don't think that's on the schedule, at leat not for summer, but in any case, trains can be more than 5-15 minutes apart, sometimes they are 20-30, depends on day and month. Just get the next RER train when you are there. I would hope you could get from the train arrival quay to the RER station in about 40 minutes, it's not that far. You follow the signs to the RER, there are always signs in train stations for how to get to the metro/RER or taxis, etc. The metro/RER will be on the bottom level. At least you don't have to know French to read RER. There should be ticket machines near the RER entrance to buy a ticket, be sure you have some euro coins in change to do that, you only need one. Should cost 1.9 euro.

Buying a metro ticket from a machine shouldn't take that long, but maybe a bit longer if you don't know what you are doing. Still, I would think you could make that in 40 minutes or so.

The metro and RER aren't the same thing. So you need to be careful about following signs to where you want to go. They should say RER D.

PalenQ

Man in Seat 61 is wise. There is a good chance that you could make the connection using the RER D, but it is still a very tight and stressful transfer.>

+ buy a ticket?

why not book your tickets ahead at www.thalys.com and if far enough in advance get sweet discounts over full-fare tickets bought the day of the train -saving for 2 maybe $100 or so for the exact same seat type. Plus Thalys trains could always be full.

And get an ABS or All (Any?) Belgian station fare for a few extra euros that will let you hop on any train after your Thalys train's arrival in Brussels to Bruges within the next 24 hours -much cheaper than buying a regular Brussels to Bruges ticket.

When are you going on this train? Even if no time to nab discounted tickets at least you would have your ticket in hand and be sure of getting on the train and save time buying tickets in Paris (actually you could buy the full-fare Thalys ticket in Dijon I believe.)

For lots on trains check www.ricksteves.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.seat61.com.

lavandula

Here is a map of the Bruxelles Midi (Brussel Zuid) train station. If you look at the map at the bottom right-hand corner there is a PDF icon that you can click to expand the map. It shows the platforms that you will arrive on if you come by the Thalys (i.e. platforms 5 - 6). I don't know which platforms you will go to to get to Bruges but you can see that it is a short walk to the other platforms, just a matter of minutes. Yes, you probably will have to change platforms, the Bruges trains are regional and the Thalys is international, ditto Eurostar.

http://www.raileurope.com.au/place/brussels-midi

Don't buy your tickets through Rail Europe (where I found the map) as they add a hefty premium for buying through them; instead you can use https://www.b-europe.com/EN (the Belgian railways international website) or the French railways.

Lavandula

lavandula

... or www.thalys.com as advised by Pal ...

Lavandula

PalenQ

Yes, you probably will have to change platforms, the Bruges trains are regional and the Thalys is international, ditto Eurostar.>

Yes no doubt - and don't worry about connections as with the Thalys ABS fare you can hop on any train without formality Brussels-Bruges and they leave I believe twice hourly or at least hourly.

PalenQ

Do we have enough time to get from the train to the Metro line, buy tickets and catch the 12:46pm to Paris Nord with our bags>

Again when are you going on this trip -soon or months from now - if early enough book discounted tickets Dijon Ville- Paris at www.voyages-sncf.com - if discounted tickets they are non-changeable from a specific train -build plenty of time in between arrival in Paris and departure- Thalys trains leave about every hour.

PalenQ

Gare du Nord is a huge station with multi levels - the metro can be a long walk from the Grandes Lignes )long-distance trains area or main floor and perhaps flummoxing for novices-but just follow "Grandes Lignes" signs after getting off RER at the Gare du Nord Commuter train station and you'll get to the main hall where Thalys is well marked.

But leave more time than you think.

PalenQ

When booking TGV Dijon to Paris many of these I believe are Duplex or doube-deckers -when chosing your seat I suggest getting one on the top deck for way better views over being in the sunken lower level where views can be obscurd by windblocks; route sidings, etc.