PalenQ

Last Christmas Day i landed at CDG and went to the RER station in Terminal 2 - there was the stopping train to Paris waiting but i looked and saw that there would be a direct train to Gare du Nord a few minutes after the stopping train left and would get to Gare du Nord quicker and not have to deal with crowds that do often swarm (not using perjoratively) aboard at Aulnay-Underwood - and in the doorway of that stoping train was a young obviously Arab guy who was yelling to everone - Hey Train to Paris - Here - Come Here - at me and other tourists savvy enough to know to wait for the non-stop train to Gare du Nord

He kept on acting very strangely - cohorting us to get on that 'Paris Train', which was already rather full for some reason.

Now i do not think that jerk was going to rob me or us of our luggage but i was not sure - those things do happen on these RER trains, which is one reason the U.S. State Department not long ago issued a warning to that affect about baggage theft on these exact trains.

So Kerouac appearances make a difference to tourists and i would rather error on the side of caution than not. And to be on a very crowded train at Aulnay-sour-Bois where it is often hectic with folks coming and going - folks who we hear anyway can be thieves as the State Department warning says - can make naive tourists uncomfortable and IMO even increase the chance of being victimized on these trains where at least some folks are preying on naive tourists - again the State Department warnings point at that - these warnings were a few years back and not sure if they are still out.

Again my purpose with my comments was that a typical tourist may become unnerved and want to avoid what in any case promises could be a very overcrowded train.

kerouac

Fair enough, PalenQ.

floridapugmom

OK kerouac and PalenQ; Would we be safe in taking the RER B from CDG Terminal 1 to Chatelet Les Halles stop on Friday October 9th? Will be traveling with 2 backpacks (no suitcases). You two had a very lively conversation if I do say so. Thanks for the help.

kerouac

No problem at all.

PalenQ

I say you will be perfectly safe IF you realize that on any airport train in general in Europe there are opportunists looking to snatch luggage from passengers who may be jet-lagged an naive to warnings such as the State Department in recent years issued about the RER from CDG.

That you have to take a bus to Aulnay-sous-Bois, which when i have been there has often been quite crowded on the quais and on the stopping trains IMO makes the pickings a little easier for the few - yes very few out of many of locals - looking to do no good - the crowds on the platform - crowded train always leads to more chances for crooks - ditto pickpockets in crowded metro stations, entries, etc

But my opinion is that once you know of the possible problem - and yes a not likely problem (though one could say the most naive tourist who dozes off after a sleepless flight on the train, etc would be most likely to be vicrtimized) but if you are vigilant about anyone coming up to you for any reason - selling flowers, asking directions - especially if more than one person so doing, etc - if you are vigilant you will absolutely have no problem and be totally safe IME of taking even the stopping train many times.

Knowledge of a possible problem pretty much in this case negates it - Madrid and Barcelona lke muggings just do not seem to happen much in Paris - at least i have not heard of it much so just be vigilant - keep your luggage next to you, etc and i would feel totally comfy taking the RER.

Again tourists IMO who are victimized almost ask to be victimized.

floridapugmom

Thanks! Also, I ment to say we would arrive on the 8th. We definitely watch our bags and wallets whenever we are in a large and/or unfamiliar crowd.

Richard_Franck

Is there an RER update for November 13 and 20? These are our arrival and departure dates for cdg.

Thanks

nukesafe

Any idea how long this diversion will last? I assumed it would be over by the time of our next visit in mid May, 2011. We get in on a Sunday. However, I saw a note on another thread that the track work on RER B might not be completed until June, 2011.

Ouch! Really don't want to struggle with transfers between buses and RER platforms, with luggage, while jet lagged.

Alan_CT

We were there in September and the signage said completion was scheduled for June 2011. We found the experience lengthy and difficult because after exiting the bus you have to drag your bags down stairs, under the tracks and up the other side.

I'd choose another way.

kerouac

Although the work is continuing, there are no more closures planned according to the site.

kerouac

I will qualify the above with the following amendment, which does not concern most of you: service stops at 23:00 Monday through Friday and is replaced by a bus from CDG to Aulnay until 00:45.

nukesafe

Thanks for the update, but which site, Kerouac? I looked on the RATP site, but either my French is too poor, or that sort of information is well hidden. At least I could not find it.

kerouac

The RER B at CDG is operated by the SNCF.

http://www.transilien.com/web/site/a...ic/trafic-jour

nukesafe

No wonder I could not find it. Those nasty French hiding stuff from us innocent Americans, again.

Thanks, Kerouac. My face is red.

Amit_SanJose

Kerouac,

I am flying into CDG on the 26th (around 10 AM). How does it look there? I know departures are severely impacted by overall weather nastiness and glycol issues, but is the same true for arrivals as well?

kerouac

Don't worry. Worst you can do is skid into a beet field.

December 26th is supposed to be sunny and cold (about -6°).