I am arriving at CDG on the 18th, and I hear there will be a strike. I need to get to the 4th, and I will be traveling alone to Europe for the very first time. How do I get to the 4th with no Metro?

If the RER and the Roissybus are not operating (or completely mobbed due to reduced service), normally the Air France bus is the most viable option for getting into Paris. Even though it will be trapped in the traffic jams just like the other vehicles, at least the meter will not be running.

Then you would have to find a taxi in the city, but the Air France bus stop will be one of the most logical places to find one, due to other people arriving and wanting to take the bus.

off-topic, but i gotta say -
kerouac, it is GREAT having a man of our own in Paris to answer topical questions! Sure, lots of people can tell us which metro stop for which museum. You know whether the sidwalk above is under repair!
B)

Now, that is a relief to know, and thanks!

The RER is the best option into the city if it is running at all. Since CDG is a terminus, at least it will not pull into the CDG station jammed with people already. It can also be noted that it is free on strike days.

One word of warning, however. When the RER is on any kind of major or minor strike, if it is running at all it will only go as far as Gare du Nord from CDG and you have to take a second train (good luck) if you want to continue south from there.

That's because the SNCF operates the section of the RER B between the northern suburbs and Gare du Nord, and the RATP operates the section from Gare du Nord through Paris and out to the southern suburbs. In normal service, the connection is seamless but when there is a strike <i><b>&quot;l'interconnexion n'est pas assur&eacute;e&quot;</b></i> as they say.

OK, this is truly detailed &quot;local&quot;information, so. Would you say there is a bus from that connection or is it risky to take that train. Should I just stick with the Air France bus from the start? What time frame am I looking at. I have a friend meeting me in the 4th to let me into an apartment.

If we look at the worst case scenario, you should calculate the possibility of having to walk from either Gare du Nord (RER) or Gare de Lyon (Air France bus) to get to your location in the 4th. Probably Gare de Lyon would be an easier walk, with less chance of getting lost (just follow the river...). However, if it is a truly nightmarish day, it could take the Air France bus two hours to get to Gare de Lyon, while the RER would arrive at Gare du Nord in about 30 minutes. Errrr... how much baggage did you say you have?

sounds like Velib' bike scheme could set daily records on the 18th

HAA ! The more I consider it, I believe One bag will do it.

The unions are indeed hinting about a possible multi-day strike now. It will depend on how successful the strike on the 18th is, so there is no way of predicting what comes next.

xxx

On October 18 would the RER train B run from Gare du nord to de Gaulle

Also, this trip to de gaulle would be about 5:00a.m.

The www.transilien.com site might have information on suburban trains expected to run on Thursday if you check the site on Wednesday. Click on &quot;&eacute;tat du trafic&quot; if they have not posted a special strike page on Wednesday.

Normally there is an RER B that leaves the Gare du Nord suburban surface station (as opposed to the RER station) at 4:56 a.m. If service is not completely interrupted, I would think there's a good chance that that one will be running -- it is full of airport workers.

kerouac-You are great, thank you so much for your help...it's hard for moms that are continents away.

I'd tell son to go out to CDG the night before and stay in one of the many airport hotels.

www.accorhotels.com has some especially reasonable but good hotels on airport periphery.

or even sleep in terminal

I do think they will have to out to the airport on the 17th. I have checked all the hotels at the airport and in the area that I can find online...they are all booked except I found one for 400 euros, so they might well be sleeping in the airport!!!

Would taxi cabs be available at the hotels in Goussainville at 5:30 a.m. to transport to CDG airport? Many thanks.

Nobody has ever gone to Goussainville and returned to tell the tale!

Not good news....what about any of the formula 1 hotels up in that area?