luda5611

We are flying to CDG and getting there at 7:55 AM and then need to take train to Brive-la-Gaillarde, which I guess goes from Gare d'Auterlitz. What is the quickest way to make the transfer. There is a 10:18 train from Gare d"Austerlitz. Next one is at 13:52. We are planning to carry on our luggage. Maybe there is a way to take a train from CDG and make a connection further south to Brive?

Christina

There is no train from CDG to that location, trains from CDG don't go over in that part of the country. going south, trains from CDG pretty much only go to Lyon and then down that line, as far as I know. So while you can get a train from Lyon or Montpellier, etc. to Brive somehow, as there is train track, I can't imagine that would be efficient. I don't know, but France's rail system doesn't run trains E-W very much, in general (except down at the bottom on the coast).

too bad for your schedule, but I think you are stuck. If you know the rail system in Paris and the train stations, it is possible you could make that, though, if there isn't a long queue at passport control and if your plane is on time or early.

Fastest way would probably be to take the RER from CDG, transferring at St Michel/Notre Dame to the RERC line which goes right to Gare Austerlitz. Depending on your day (you don't give much info as to day or date), a taxi could be as fast or faster, I suppose since you wouldn't have to get over to the RER station. DO you know all about it and how to use it?

Geonev

I suggest you check out the SNCF site, www.visites.sncf.com. Plug in your beginning (CDG) and ending points and let them show you the possibilities. The routes all seem to take 6.5 to 9 hours, depending on routing and layover times.

There are indeed TGV trains that go from CDG to the southwest (Bordeaux and Poitiers being examples), although if their departure times match yours I can't say. Get creative and see if you can get from CDG to any city in the southwest, then from there to Brive in a clean fashion (no transfers or as few as possible.

Do beware of some of the routes that the website suggests – some are quite ugly (CDG to Lille to Paris? Really?)

luda5611

Thanks Christina and Geonev for your replies.

We are due to arrive to CDG on Sep 1 at 7:55 AM and I have reservations for hotel in Meyronne (close to Souillac and Brive)for Sep 1. I'm planning to make train (Teoz) reservation from sncf.com site. There is a direct train which leaves Care d'Austerlitz at 13:52(we won't be able to make earlier 10:18 train which would be nice) and it is a 4 1/2 hour trip. So probably the best way to get to Austerlits is like you Christina suggested - RER B to St-Michael Notre-Dame to RER C to Austerlitz or somebody also suggested ReR (or Air France bus) to Gare de Lyon and walk accros the Pont Charles de Gaule. Is it really 5 min walk? We are going to have each a suitcase and a backpack. Is RER located in Terminal 2 at CDG train station? How much in coins we need to buy RER tickets in the machine instead of standing in window line? Thank you for responding.

Geonev

Hmmm, sounds like a long day – arrive at Brive at 6 p.m., and then what -- rent a car to drive to Meyronne? You will certainly be tired after flying overseas and doing all that.

BTW. Souillac is far closer to Meyronne than Brive is, and the train to Brive appears to continue to Souillac, arriving around 6:26 p.m. Unless you can't find a rental car at the Souillac station (I am fairly sure there are some cars available there) why not stay on the train all the way to Souillac?

For the Paris piese, I estimate the walk from Gare de Lyon to Austerlitz to be closer to 15 minutes; it's a bit of a schlep. I think the RER option is better, but be aware that you'll have to change at St. Michel-Notre Dame and the correspondence may involve long corridors and stairs.

At CDG, the RER B does indeed stop at Terminal 2 -- the station lies between terminals 2C-2D and terminals 2E-2F. This is a clear description of the terminal layout, and shows the location of the RER B station: http://parisbytrain.com/paris-airpor...in-photo-tour/

My information is that RER tickets into Paris cost about 9.10 euros each (this price could change, of course). Not sure if the machines take only coins or accept bills also.

luda5611

Thank you Geonev. I did buy train tickets to Souillac and I plan to email the hotel and ask them to arrange a taxi from the train station. Hotel site says it's 7 km from Souillac train station.

On the way back to US we have a flight which lives CDG at 10:40 AM and we are staying 3 last nights in Paris in Latin Quarter. How long is the trip from Latin Quarter to CDG if we take Metro and RER B?

ira

Hi L,

>How long is the trip from Latin Quarter to CDG if we take Metro and RER B?<

www.ratp.fr will give you directions between any two points in the region.

Enjoy your visit.

La_Tour_de_Cause

two comments from my little peanut gallery...

1. There are no car rental agencies that I know of in Souillac, so taxi is definitely your best bet. If there is a car rental agency there, I'd love to know about it for future reference!

2. I usually take a taxi from CDG to Gare Austerlitz to make my trip south to Souillac/Sarlat. It costs about 45-50€, gets me there in plenty of time for that 10:18 train, and the driver schleps my bags for me. It's a bit of a splurge, but if I'm traveling with another person, it's not really so expensive. considering how much more relaxing it is.

Maybe I'm just lazy, decadent and out of shape, but it's really worth it for me to do the taxi rather than drag my bag on/off the RER and St. Michel metro stops (lots of stairs), and then dragging my bag(s) through the streets to Austerlitz. Especially if I've just flown from California to France.

StCirq

Like La Tour de Cause, I always take a taxi from CDG to the Gare d'Austerlitz. Sorry, but after an all-night flight, on which I never sleep, I'm not schlepping with luggage, even minimal, on the RER and métro.

If you do that you'll be there in plenty of time for the 10:18 train and your traveling time will be shortened by about 3 hours, which, on the day of arrival, makes a huge difference, IMO.

christycruz

I'm always game for RER and 3 station transfers after a flight from California (Really! I'm that cheap!)

But if I were in your shoes, I'd get a taxi to make the 10:18 train.

luda5611

Thanks for all the replies. My husband will be very happy to take a taxi after all-night flight.

I have already bought train tickets to Souillac for 13:52 train from Paris Austerlitz. If we to get to Austerlits before 10:18 train would we be able to change the tickets? On the conformation it says "Service d'echange jusque'a la veille du depart avec de 10E le jour du depart".

Louie_LI

Your quote from the confirmation seems to be missing a word or two, but it seems to say that you can change it on the travel day for a fee of 10 euros.

StCirq

It does seem to be missing a few words, but basically it says you can change it up until the day before your departure for no fee, and if you want to change it the day of departure you'll be assessed a 10 euro fee.