Paris: Difference between RER and Metro
May 30th, 2001, 01:24 PM
#3
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The RER (Réseau Express Régional) does extend to the outer regions of Paris; don't confuse it with the banlieue (suburban) trains. The RER, for tourists, goes to important places like Versailles, EuroDisney, and the two big airports (CDG and Orly). <BR> <BR>Within the city limits of Paris, you can ride the RER with the same ticket as for riding the Metro(politain), as they are all part of the RATP (busses are also included, which also take the same tickets). An example: from St Michel, you could take the Metro to the Musee d'Orsay, and go way out of the way, and change trains a couple of times, OR take the RER C train for a direct shot.
May 30th, 2001, 02:17 PM
#4
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Meg has stated the difference very well, as I understand it. I think, Allie, if you take a look at a map of Paris that shows the Metro and the RER routes, you will see the stations served by each of the two separate systems. This web location has a very good map of the RER system: <BR>www.paris.org/Metro/gifs/rer.map.jpg <BR> <BR>I see little reason to become confused by the two systems because they are quite different. Techically the RATP is the administrative body for the RER (Rèseau Express Regional), Metro and the Paris bus system. The Metro serves Paris itself, mainly within the belt highway, but some lines reach well beyond. The RER has stops in Paris, some of which are co-located with Metro stations, but by design the RER reaches well out into the suburbs on entirely different rail lines. <BR> <BR>Outside of Paris, the RER requires a separate ticket. Within Paris, the same ticket is valid on bus, RER, and Metro. But, if you are headed for the suburbs, you must purchase a separate ticket. <BR> <BR>Because the RER and the Metro serve stations within Paris, it is possible to intermix the two. If your destination is all the way across Paris, the RER is often a better choice because the trains make fewer stops. If your destination is a place like Versailles, RER Line C5 will take you to the station known as Versailles Rive Gauche, which is near the palace itself. Line D2 reaches all the way to Melun, which is about 3 miles from Vaux le Vicomte (my favorite of all the chateaux around Paris) <BR>My own preference for short trips is to take the bus because I can see where I am going. On one or two occasions, I found it more expedient to take the Metro because using the bus required more than one change and the route was convoluted.
May 30th, 2001, 06:38 PM
#5
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Within Paris they're almost the same except that the RER has less stations and therefore is faster to go longer distances, like an express versus a local. Also while you have to keep the ticket (they use the same ticket within the city) for both in case an inspector checks, you have to keep the RER ticket also in order to exit the station. The big difference is that the RER trains continue out into the suburbs of Paris but for that you need a different ticket than you use within Paris. For more Paris information e-mail me - [email protected]
Jun 5th, 2001, 11:54 AM
#9
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One other difference -- although you can use the same type of ticket for the metro and the RER in Paris, in the metro you only need your ticket for entering the system (and hold onto it in the unlikely but potential event that you are asked to present it), while on the RER you have to reinsert your ticket at the end of your journey to exit the system as well as when entering (on the metro you only insert your ticket when entering).
