CDG to Gare De Lyon
Jul 19th, 2005, 02:37 PM
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CDG to Gare De Lyon
Hello,
I just read a string of posts from January regarding travel from CDG to Gare De Lyon. I too need to make this trip this week on Thursday evening. However, my flight does not arrive at CDG until 6:15 pm and I am hoping to catch the last train out of Gare de Lyon to Avignon at 8:20pm. Is two hours enough time to deplane, get to the station and get on the train? Do you think I will make it? What will the traffic be like at that time of night? I am willing to pay for a taxi but would the RER or AF bus be a better option? I am most concerned about making the train, least about cost.
Also, would you suggest buying my ticket for the 8:20pm train ahead of time? what if I don't make the train? Is there any chance I can apply the money toward another ticket?
I would really appreciate any and all advice!
Thanks a ton!
I just read a string of posts from January regarding travel from CDG to Gare De Lyon. I too need to make this trip this week on Thursday evening. However, my flight does not arrive at CDG until 6:15 pm and I am hoping to catch the last train out of Gare de Lyon to Avignon at 8:20pm. Is two hours enough time to deplane, get to the station and get on the train? Do you think I will make it? What will the traffic be like at that time of night? I am willing to pay for a taxi but would the RER or AF bus be a better option? I am most concerned about making the train, least about cost.
Also, would you suggest buying my ticket for the 8:20pm train ahead of time? what if I don't make the train? Is there any chance I can apply the money toward another ticket?
I would really appreciate any and all advice!
Thanks a ton!
Jul 19th, 2005, 02:41 PM
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I recommend you defer the decision until you have your luggage in hand and are clear of customs and immigration. The amount of time remaining until 8:20 will determine your course of action.
All surface modes can get tied up in traffic, which is a complete question mark. This includes buses, taxis, and private cars.
The Air France bus will transit the distance in 45-55 minutes, but you may have to wait for up to a half-hour for the next departure.
A taxi will take about the same length of time if there are no delays, and has the advantage of departing immediately.
The RER might be your best bet from the point of view of predictability. RER B to Châtelet-Les Halles, then RER A (or Mé Ligne 14) to Gare de Lyon. Time enroute: less than an hour including waiting for trains.
Since your trip is this week, I think it's too late to buy a non-changeable ticket anyway, so just saunter up and buy a ticket when you're ready to get on the train.
Good luck - and let us know how you fared.
All surface modes can get tied up in traffic, which is a complete question mark. This includes buses, taxis, and private cars.
The Air France bus will transit the distance in 45-55 minutes, but you may have to wait for up to a half-hour for the next departure.
A taxi will take about the same length of time if there are no delays, and has the advantage of departing immediately.
The RER might be your best bet from the point of view of predictability. RER B to Châtelet-Les Halles, then RER A (or Mé Ligne 14) to Gare de Lyon. Time enroute: less than an hour including waiting for trains.
Since your trip is this week, I think it's too late to buy a non-changeable ticket anyway, so just saunter up and buy a ticket when you're ready to get on the train.
Good luck - and let us know how you fared.
Jul 19th, 2005, 04:18 PM
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Thanks for the advice--it turns out that since I will be flying in from London I will not have to deal with customs, just passport control. I think I will just have to make the call when I get there as far as how much time I have but it seems to make the most sense to take the RER if it will take less than an hour (I also have very little baggage which makes things easier). Will anyone at the airport be able to assist me in making my decision? Especially with regard to how bad the traffic is that evening?
Lastly, what are the chances the train I want to take will be sold out? I know reservations on the TGV can be complicated.
Thank you again!
Lastly, what are the chances the train I want to take will be sold out? I know reservations on the TGV can be complicated.
Thank you again!
Jul 19th, 2005, 04:49 PM
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I have three questions here that have to do with your time contraints. First, do you need to clear passport control?
Second, will you have checked luggage?
Third, are you coming in at T1 or T2.
If yes to any of these questions, then I think you would have a much better chance of catching the train at 21:37 that goes to Avignon from Charles de Gaulle airport.
There is a TGV that leaves from CDG at 18:45, but it is doubtful that you could buy your ticket and make the train because of time constraints.
True, if you take the 21:37 you will be quite late arriving in Avignon. But if you miss the TGV out of Gare de Lyon, you will not get there until the following day anyhow.
RER travel time alone will take you an hour. That is not counting any waiting for the train and other time consuming activities, such as buying a ticket.
So even if the plane is on time, that leaves you about 60 minutes to get off the plane, walk from the gate to the train at CDG. (Or take the shuttle from T1) Then, assuming wait time for the RER is minimal, you will need time at Gare de Lyon to buy your ticket and find the train.
I don't think you can assume that your late afternoon flight will be on time.
In my experience, flights scheduled to arrive after 2 pm at CDG are likely to be delayed a few minutes.
Why not take the surer bet of the late departure? I think you would be in far less of a state of panic when you got there even if you lose a little sleep.
Second, will you have checked luggage?
Third, are you coming in at T1 or T2.
If yes to any of these questions, then I think you would have a much better chance of catching the train at 21:37 that goes to Avignon from Charles de Gaulle airport.
There is a TGV that leaves from CDG at 18:45, but it is doubtful that you could buy your ticket and make the train because of time constraints.
True, if you take the 21:37 you will be quite late arriving in Avignon. But if you miss the TGV out of Gare de Lyon, you will not get there until the following day anyhow.
RER travel time alone will take you an hour. That is not counting any waiting for the train and other time consuming activities, such as buying a ticket.
So even if the plane is on time, that leaves you about 60 minutes to get off the plane, walk from the gate to the train at CDG. (Or take the shuttle from T1) Then, assuming wait time for the RER is minimal, you will need time at Gare de Lyon to buy your ticket and find the train.
I don't think you can assume that your late afternoon flight will be on time.
In my experience, flights scheduled to arrive after 2 pm at CDG are likely to be delayed a few minutes.
Why not take the surer bet of the late departure? I think you would be in far less of a state of panic when you got there even if you lose a little sleep.
Jul 19th, 2005, 05:12 PM
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If you have only carry-on luggage (and the planets are aligned correctly), you stand a greater than zero chance of getting on the 6:45 from CDG to Avignon. Having a ticket in hand would be very helpful.
If you miss that trip, you will still have considerably more than an hour to get to Gare de Lyon.
If you miss that trip, you will still have considerably more than an hour to get to Gare de Lyon.
Jul 19th, 2005, 05:23 PM
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Again, I very much appreciate all the advice. I do think I will need to clear passport control, however I will already have been in London that day and I assume most of that processing will happen there. Do passengers on flights from Britain normally face much of an ordeal flying into France? I will be carrying on my luggage and I will be flying into T1. I did not realize there was a 21:37 train going to Avignon. Is it a TGV? I could not find record of it. I highly doubt I will make the 18:45 TGV.
Where can I find a website which will show the 21:37 train?
I guess it is all dependent on my flight and how fast I can get to my transport.
I will have to be sure and let you know how it goes!
I appreciate the continued feedback!
Where can I find a website which will show the 21:37 train?
I guess it is all dependent on my flight and how fast I can get to my transport.
I will have to be sure and let you know how it goes!
I appreciate the continued feedback!
Jul 19th, 2005, 05:42 PM
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Last week we took the AF shuttle from CDG #2 to Gare Lyon. At CDG, entering the main terminal we didn't see any signs or directions, so we asked and were told to wait for the #4 bus outside of Door #2 (off to the left as you exit passport control). A bus arrived within minutes - we paid 12 Euro cash as we boarded and the trip to Gare Lyon took about one hour in moderate traffic. We were dropped off at the curb in front of the station, you have to walk up the steps and you are there. I think the bus runs every 30 minutes - it was clean, safe, and cheap and close to as fast as a taxi.
Jul 19th, 2005, 05:58 PM
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I've taken the TGV from CDG to Avignon just two weeks ago and I would have said two hours would be fine for that. But to go all the way into Paris -- I doubt it. Of course you will have to go through passport control. I don't know if it makes any difference where your plane is from (I could be wrong on that, not sure, I don't see why that makes a difference), but the lines for passport control are divided into two lines based on whether you have an EU passport or not. Sometimes they are fairly quick, and sometimes they are not. I've never spent more than about 20 minutes in those lines in the day time.
Jul 19th, 2005, 06:44 PM
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The train is a TGV, and the arrival time in Avignon is early morning.
Here is a paste from the sNCF site:]
AEROPORT CDG 2 TGV 21h37
TGV 5140
AVIGNON CENTRE 01h51
The 21h37 is of course the 9:37 PM departure time. And 01h51 is the arrival time. There are NO changes of train.
On the SNCF site, the airport is listed as Roissy (95). If you go to the SNCF website, you can check all aspects of the journey.
The travel time is a little slow, possibly because it makes 4 stops.
I don't know about passport control.
I heard that France was checking since the London bombings. Customs in the past has been a wave and a grunt even for US arriving passengers.
If you elect the RER route, I also think you need to factor in the time it will take you to get from T1 to the RER station/TGV station at CDG which is between T2C and T2F.
I have no real grasp of how long that might take. It depends on when the bus shows up.
I agree with Robespierre that surface traffic conditions can vary and are hard to predict. The Paris perimeter can be a real Great Wall of China. I never drove on it around 6:30 to 7:00 pm.
But in the mornings on a week day it is like the DC Beltway.
Here is a paste from the sNCF site:]
AEROPORT CDG 2 TGV 21h37
TGV 5140
AVIGNON CENTRE 01h51
The 21h37 is of course the 9:37 PM departure time. And 01h51 is the arrival time. There are NO changes of train.
On the SNCF site, the airport is listed as Roissy (95). If you go to the SNCF website, you can check all aspects of the journey.
The travel time is a little slow, possibly because it makes 4 stops.
I don't know about passport control.
I heard that France was checking since the London bombings. Customs in the past has been a wave and a grunt even for US arriving passengers.
If you elect the RER route, I also think you need to factor in the time it will take you to get from T1 to the RER station/TGV station at CDG which is between T2C and T2F.
I have no real grasp of how long that might take. It depends on when the bus shows up.
I agree with Robespierre that surface traffic conditions can vary and are hard to predict. The Paris perimeter can be a real Great Wall of China. I never drove on it around 6:30 to 7:00 pm.
But in the mornings on a week day it is like the DC Beltway.
Jul 19th, 2005, 06:54 PM
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the sncf site:
www.sncf.com
Look way down at the bottom left for a little UK flag, if you need English captions.
Then be sure you use Roissy (95) for your origin. The system will probably go squawk, but just confirm that is what you want. Then continue.
I have tried Roissy, Roissy 95, Roissy(95) and Roissy (95). The system hiccups every time. But it will give you the information.
www.sncf.com
Look way down at the bottom left for a little UK flag, if you need English captions.
Then be sure you use Roissy (95) for your origin. The system will probably go squawk, but just confirm that is what you want. Then continue.
I have tried Roissy, Roissy 95, Roissy(95) and Roissy (95). The system hiccups every time. But it will give you the information.
Jul 19th, 2005, 11:19 PM
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I assume that you are no EU citizen, which means that you'll have to stand in line with the numerous North American, Japanese, Korean, Australian, etc tourists commuting between Paris and London at this time of the year. This can be quite lengthy. Given that the cost is no option, if I were you, I would just chance it:
1) You are out of customs with your luggage before 19h00: take a cab to Gare de Lyon (it is already late July, and the traffic has considerably eased up). Even if you don't have time to take your ticket at Gare de Lyon, board the train without it, spot the conductor ASAP, explain him your situation, you'll pay on board (credit cards accepted). With a bit of luck, he'll pity you and you won't have to pay the small fine due to not buying your ticket prior to boarding! And if you miss your train (pretty unlikely with more than an hour to spare), well, there are plenty of cheap hotels around Gare de Lyon, relax, you're in Paris!
2) You can't make it out of customs before 19h00: in this case, you should head for the 21h45 out of CDG
There is no need to pre buy your ticket on the SNCF site since, anyway, with a non French credit card, you wouldn't be able to retrieve it directly from the vending machines and you would have to stand in line come what may.
1) You are out of customs with your luggage before 19h00: take a cab to Gare de Lyon (it is already late July, and the traffic has considerably eased up). Even if you don't have time to take your ticket at Gare de Lyon, board the train without it, spot the conductor ASAP, explain him your situation, you'll pay on board (credit cards accepted). With a bit of luck, he'll pity you and you won't have to pay the small fine due to not buying your ticket prior to boarding! And if you miss your train (pretty unlikely with more than an hour to spare), well, there are plenty of cheap hotels around Gare de Lyon, relax, you're in Paris!
2) You can't make it out of customs before 19h00: in this case, you should head for the 21h45 out of CDG
There is no need to pre buy your ticket on the SNCF site since, anyway, with a non French credit card, you wouldn't be able to retrieve it directly from the vending machines and you would have to stand in line come what may.
Jul 20th, 2005, 08:12 AM
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Thank you all so much for your advice. I now feel I have a definite plan which makes the trip a bit less stressful. However, I still cannot get the train you mentioned to come up on the sncf website. It continues to tell me that there are no trains to avignon leaving later than 6:45 from Roissy on the 21st. I have heard that there is a english speaking number at sncf but I can't seem to get through--maybe I don't have the city code?
Again, I can't thank you all enough.
Again, I can't thank you all enough.
Jul 20th, 2005, 08:31 AM
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An hour by RER? Seems optomistic to me - that is if you land at Terminal 1 as many North American flights do - meaning you have to locate, wait for and then take the free airport navettes to the RER station (none in terminal 1, but is in terminal 2) and then wait to buy tickets at RER - wait for train to leave and then a 40-minute transit to Gare de Lyon. Taxi would seem to be the only way you should consider.
Jul 20th, 2005, 09:11 AM
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See what time it is when you get to the TGV station, and how long it will likely take to get a ticket.
If you get on any RER up to the 19:24, a cab will not be necessary. That trip gets to Châtelet at 20:02, with Gare de Lyon 3 minutes away. That leaves 15 minutes to get from RER to Métro, wait for the next train, and get from the Métro to the TGV platform at the other end.
I'd even try the 19:34 if missing the TGV wasn't going to cost me anything.
If you get on any RER up to the 19:24, a cab will not be necessary. That trip gets to Châtelet at 20:02, with Gare de Lyon 3 minutes away. That leaves 15 minutes to get from RER to Métro, wait for the next train, and get from the Métro to the TGV platform at the other end.
I'd even try the 19:34 if missing the TGV wasn't going to cost me anything.
Jul 20th, 2005, 09:12 AM
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Hi J,
>I still cannot get the train you mentioned to come up on the sncf website.
I think that that is because it does not run every day. It doesn't show up at bahn.de either for this Thursday.
>I still cannot get the train you mentioned to come up on the sncf website.
I think that that is because it does not run every day. It doesn't show up at bahn.de either for this Thursday.
Jul 20th, 2005, 09:14 AM
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Oh my God, you are right. I just checked the SNCF schedule again after I read your message, and that train is no longer listed. I checked the Swiss site, too, and it shows the same thing: no more train.
Last night when I was looking, I know I put in the date of July 21 and the train listing at the 21:37 daparture time showed up. Otherwise I could not have gotten the TGV number.
OHHHH. (assorted profanities) That is what drives me to dislike going to France. It seems like there is always some blooming glitch in the schedule. Like the printed schedule on the SNCF postings don't match the trains that are actually operating.
This is another case of it. In fact, last night when I looked, I think I could have printed a ticket. (Not sure about that.)
I am truly sorry I even brought it up, but I was acting on the best information I could get out of the SNCF web site.
I also got the same data from the Swiss site.
Oh well. The 18:45 TGV from Charles de Gaulle still shows on the schedule. So I presume the train will not disappear before you get there.
I guess I am left shaking my head and saying, "How could they?"
Well, they do and they did.
Last night when I was looking, I know I put in the date of July 21 and the train listing at the 21:37 daparture time showed up. Otherwise I could not have gotten the TGV number.
OHHHH. (assorted profanities) That is what drives me to dislike going to France. It seems like there is always some blooming glitch in the schedule. Like the printed schedule on the SNCF postings don't match the trains that are actually operating.
This is another case of it. In fact, last night when I looked, I think I could have printed a ticket. (Not sure about that.)
I am truly sorry I even brought it up, but I was acting on the best information I could get out of the SNCF web site.
I also got the same data from the Swiss site.
Oh well. The 18:45 TGV from Charles de Gaulle still shows on the schedule. So I presume the train will not disappear before you get there.
I guess I am left shaking my head and saying, "How could they?"
Well, they do and they did.
Jul 27th, 2005, 02:24 PM
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Hello all,
well I did not make the 8:20pm train and there was no later train so I ended up staying overnight in Paris and taking the 6:20am train the next day. When I arrived at the airport I moved as fast as I could. I was told not to the AF bus or a taxi since the traffic was bad. I took the RER train and had time to spare when I left, but it was running so slow that I missed the TGV. C'est la vie!
Thanks for the help!
Jessica
well I did not make the 8:20pm train and there was no later train so I ended up staying overnight in Paris and taking the 6:20am train the next day. When I arrived at the airport I moved as fast as I could. I was told not to the AF bus or a taxi since the traffic was bad. I took the RER train and had time to spare when I left, but it was running so slow that I missed the TGV. C'est la vie!
Thanks for the help!
Jessica
