How much time to allow--CDG to TGV?
 

We will be arriving at CDG airport, Paris from the US at 10 AM on a Saturday morning in July, and then want to take the TGV to Avignon. How much time do you think we should allow? We won't have any checked luggage to wait for.

I think there is a train leaving at about 11:30 AM. Would that be enough time?

What happens if your plane is delayed and you miss your train. Will they allow you to go on the next one if there is space?

Thanks for any help on this!

It very much depends on whether you're arriving in the same terminal as the TGV station. Are you arriving at Terminal 1 or 2?

I've been allowed to get on the next TGV once when my plane was late and I missed the train I was booked on - don't know whether that's the norm or the agent just took pity on me.

Marcy, I've been wondering the exact same thing as you.My plane arrives at 9:40 (hopefully!), and I would like to make the 11:30 train to Avignon. I arrive at Terminal 2, which is not far from the TGV. However, I will have a checked suitcase. I think the next train to Avignon isn't until 1:30 or so.
I think they will definitely let you take the next train if you miss your reserved one. I would love to buy the "Prem" ticket (much cheaper), but don't dare, as it's non-changable.

My past experiences getting out of CDG quickly have been fine (as long as the plane is on time!) I guess this situation is just a "wait and see" thing. I'll be doing this in May, so I'll post on here to let you know how I did!

We're arriving on USair, which I believe is Terminal 1. Is that very far from the TGV station?

I've never arrived at Terminal 1, but I think you have to take a shuttle to the TGV station at Terminal 2. St. Cirq can probably answer this better than I.

marcy,

You will indeed have to take a 15-20 minute shuttle bus ride from terminal 1 to the TGV station, so that would be too tight a connection :(

Here's a link with the shuttle bus routes which will give you an idea of what's involved:
http://www.adp.fr/webadp/a_cont01.nsf/0/7D6D3B8F4EDA9373C1256B1F0059E5CB/$File/CircuitsNavettes.pdf

You need to take line 1.

Hope this helps,
Andre

Andre, Sue, and St. Cirq,
Thanks for the help. It looks like it will have to be the 1:30 train. Oh well!

As for getting the next train, it's possible if

-Your ticket isn't a non-exchangeable, non-refundable one (obviously)

-The next train isn't fully booked (still obvious)

You'll lost your reservation, though, and you'll have to pay a new one.

Clairobscur,

If the fare you booked is flexible, you can rebook to a later train at NO additional charge before the departure of the train you were originally booked on or up to 1 hour thereafter (in the latter case this is only possible in a SNCF station or at a Boutique SNCF, not at the travel agency where you originally booked your ticket if you did so). Details (in French) at:
http://www.voyages-sncf.com/info_res...ur/Echange.htm

Hope this helps,
Andre

This thread is just was I was here to inquire about!
Just to clarify - I have plans to arrive at CDG Terminal 1 at 9:40am, and am checking luggage. My reservation is on the 11:24 TGV train to Avignon.
According to what I read here, I won't have enough time to make this connection?
Any advice most welcome!
J

Julie: Don't count on it. It has taken me up to 90 minutes to be free and clear of Immigration and Customs at Terminal 1. The time your plane touches down can often bear no relation to when you are actually through with Customs and Immigration. Especially at Terminal 1, the planes seem to go for joy rides all over the airport before docking, and then there may be long lines at Immigration if a bunch of planes land at about the same time, and then, well, the luggage carrousels are just SLOW. I often plan, as you did, to be on a train withing two hours, but I've missed a fair number of trains.

That said, I'm a risk taker, and for example have booked myself a near-impossible train reservation for my late-March trip, arriving CDG at 10:40 a.m. and hoping to catch a 12;15 train from Montparnasse to Périgueux. It will be a miracle if I make it (and if I don't, I'll be stuck in Périgueux and unable to pick up my rental car until the next day!). Only one thing working in my favor - I won't be checking any luggage. What's life without a few impossible travel connections?

Julie, I'm making a reservation on the 11:24 train to Avignon, (and hope I can make it), but have contingent plans to change the ticket for the next train. My plane also arrives at 9:40, but at terminal 2. My flight arrival (American) has already changed arrival time twice since I made the reservation. Yours might do the same! My first arrival time was 10:25, then 9:15, and now it's 9:40. Who knows by May when I leave! Be sure to check with your airline, as American has not notified me of these changes, I've discovered it on my own.

Another thought - if you miss the 11:24 train, you can take the Air France bus to Gare de Lyon (it's easy to do) where there are more trains to Avignon. I might do that, as there is direct train to Avignon at 1:20, arriving Avignon at 3:57. The CDG train to Avignon leaves at 1:10, with change in Lyon, arriving in Avignon at 5:55. I'd rather take the bus to Gare de Lyon, and arrive in Avignon an hour earlier.

and for Marcy and Julie:
As I write this, I have another thought.
"Prem" fares for 25 euros are usually available from Gare de Lyon to Avignon.
If you (or I!) book the 1:20, leisurely take the France Bus (for about 11 euros)
we get to Avignon only 1 1/2 hours later than the 11:24 from CDG, without the mad rush, and MUCH cheaper!

Thanks everyone - you've suggested some excellent alternatives.

Maybe if I offer a cabbie 20E to hurry us from Terminal 1 to the TGV station I can make the 11:20....!

Otherwise I may consider the bus connection to the Gare de Lyon, as I also noticed the change in Lyon on the 1:13.
J

It seems thatI should be able to make it in time for my train, providing my flight is not delayed. I land at 11:05AM at aerogare 2, terminal A, I should be able to get my luggage, go through customs and catch the TGV to Amboise at 13:45(1:45). This will be on a Friday before a major holiday, so there will probably be many people traveling on that day.

Just to close this thread, I want to report that I was able to make my 11:20 TGV connection even though my 9:40 flight arrived at 10:10.

I should note that we I used my upgrades to fly Envoy class which helped get us off the plane early, and may have contributed to our success.

J

Julie-
Thanks for reporting back!
We' haven't made our train reservation yet, so now I'm not sure whether to gamble on making the connection (90 minutes), or not.

We also are flying business class, and won't be checking any luggage, so maybe I'll gamble......