MitchGross

I am flying to Paris from Athens and I arrive at CDG at 12:20. I am wanting to take a train from Gare L'Est which leaves at 1:44. Am I pushing it? How can I get from the airport to the train station in enought time?

Merci

Seamus

It may be a bit tight if you get held up waiting for bags, but you may make it OK. With this time frame I'd suggest a taxi.

viking

Isn't east gare right next to north gare, which has express trains from that airport? You can find their exact schedule on the web, and they aren't held up by road congestion. Also I would suggest careful research of the airport web maps to see which terminal wing you will probably land at, and memorize the walking path (more reliably fast than the shuttle bus) to the train station at the airport.

DonTopaz

If you have carry-on bags only, you have a decent chance of making a 1:44 train from gare de l'est.

I'd also suggest a taxi. Traffic at that hour on the A1 and peripherique won't be nearly as bad as at rush hour, and a taxi avoids the transfer time from the CDG terminal to the RER station and then from Gare du Nord to Gare de l'Est.

There is an RER train that leaves CDG at 12:55 and arrives at Gare du Nord at 1:26. You could probably hustle over to Gare de l'Est in 10-12 minutes and make the train, assuming you know the walking route and know hot to quickly find the track for your train.

If you have checked luggage, the chances of making a 1:44 train decrease dramatically.

Gretchen

Personally, I don't think there's a chance to do it.

ira

Hi MG,

I would say that the odds are about 50:1 against your getting to Gare de l'Est 1:25 hr after your scheduled landing time, even if your plane is on time and lands at CDG 2.

PalQ

If i were a betting man I'd up Ira's optimistic odds to about one in a million chances. There must be later trains as things run about hourly on French mainlines. First plane must be on time, bags take a while then wait for taxi - clogged roads into Paris or if take RER have to transfer by bus to RER terminals, wait to buy ticket, 30 mins to Gare du Nord - 5 min walk to Gare de l'Est or longer by taxi (lines again) or metro - scratch that plan.

indytravel

I'm with the "making this connection would be a travel miracle" camp.

In this case I would buy a full fare ticket for the 1:44. If you make it, you do. If you don't make it you can exchange the full fare ticket for the next train.

This will do 2 things

1. Save you time waiting in line to buy a ticket for the 1:44 'cause it's gonna be close.

2. Save you the cost of wasting a non-refundable Prem's fare 'cause you didn't make it.

SebastienHK

I don't know if it's really possible, but I will try to do it the 7/06/06 I arrive at 8:45 from Hong Kong in CDG Airport and I will try to reach the train station Gare de l'est before 10:45.
the website of the subway is very helpfull, give precise schedule and maps from the path, even the walking time !
http://www.ratp.fr

Flyboy

Regarding the OP's question, I agree with those who are telling you that this is an unrealistic itinerary. You are not only pushing it, but you are asking for problems. It is simply a mistake to book that itinerary. Don't do it.