lkdrill

I am flying into Orly (arrive 11:30am) and would like to take the TGV to Strasbourg the same day. I understand that I can take a shuttle to CDG and pick up the train there, but would like to know if there are other (closer? more convenient?) options for picking up the train.

Robespierre

Trains to Strasbourg depart from Gare de l'Est, in the northern part of Paris.

From Orly, you could buy a combined ticket on the OrylyVal and RER B to Denfert-Rochereau, then change to Métro Ligne 4 straight to Gare de l'Est.

You could also ride the Orlybus to the Denfert-Rochereau RER B station. See this map: http://www.ratp.info/orienter/f_plan...eur&fm=pdf

PalenQ

go to www.voyages-sncf.com for exact schedules and pricing including online discounts. Reservations are mandatory on this brand new highspeed TGV-Est train line in any case.

Though i believe there is now the odd TGV from CDG east towards Strasbourg like Robes Peter says nearly all leave from the Gare de l'Est. Allow plenty of time between train scheduled arrival and departure if buying discounted tickets as they may not be refundable or changeable then you'd have to buy walk up fare that could be many euros more expensive

kerouac

Just go to Gare de l'Est. Strasbourg is only 2h20 away and there are about 15-20 trains a day.

Michael

Although it must be something of a hike, there are walking tunnel connections between the RER B Gare du Nord station and the Gare de l'Est via the Magenta RER E station. At least that is what my Petit Parisien métro map indicates.

ira

Hi lk,

Enter Orly and Gare de L'est (SNCF) at www.ratp.fr.

It's about 0:45 hr.

kerouac

No, there is no underground tunnel connection for pedestrians between Gare du Nord and Gare de l'Est yet; it must be done up on street level.

However, I am sure that there will be a tunnel connection by 2012 if the CDG Express new train line is built out of Gare de l'Est as scheduled. Keep your fingers crossed.

Michael

Kerouac,

I'm curious because <i>l'Indispensable</i> indicates the same type of walking connections between Gare du Nord station and Magenta station, and Magenta and Gare de l'Est station as between the RER Ch&acirc;telet-Les Halles station and the Ch&acirc;telet m&eacute;tro station.

kerouac

Sometimes the map show above-ground connections with dotted lines, such as Bir Hakeim to Champ de Mars-Tour Eiffel or Solf&eacute;rino to Mus&eacute;e d'Orsay.

Looking at the RATP map at www.ratp.fr you can see that Gare de l'Est and Ch&acirc;teau Landon metro stations are connected to Gare de l'Est (SNCF station) with tunnels, which also gives the impression that you could walk underground between the two metro stations whereas you absolutely cannot do so. And Gare du Nord is considerably farther away.

Robespierre

That's why I suggested that OP ride RER B to Denfert-Rochereau and <u>not</u> Gare du Nord. Sitting on Ligne 4 for a few more minutes is infinitely more desirable than schlepping any kind of burden cross-town.

Joelle

Sorry about my &quot;stupid&quot; suggestion, but... since you land in Orly, it would be more than convenient for you just to take the plane (from ORY) to Strasbourg...
This would save you a lot of time...

kerouac

That's not stupid, but I just assumed that the OP wanted to experience the TGV-Est.

Robespierre

Since s/he mentioned &quot;train&quot; or &quot;TGV&quot; three times and &quot;plane&quot; zero times, I assumed the same.

TGV rocks!

PalenQ

The walk between Gare du Nord and Gare de l'Est can be surprisingly quick if you take the right route as the stations practically touch.

However there is a fairly long flight of stairs to negotiate just before Est.

Without knowing how to go you'll walk the roundabout way via the main roads or about a half-mile i'd think

lkdrill

thanks for the info and the great &quot;stupid&quot; suggestion. I am going to look into flights. I can always take the train back. Any suggestions on airlines?

kerouac

You have a choice of one airline.

There is a discount sale on www.airfrance.fr every Wednesday for flights for the coming week.

The best time to look is midnight Paris time on Tuesday night.