Paris Metro
 

Do they make announcements on the bus and/or train of what bus stop/station you're at? Thanks.

Jay

No on metro - but each station has a big name emblazoned on the walls - get a metro map free from any ticket window and then you can plot your progress. For metro details: www.ratp.fr

rethinking - at least in my zillions of metro trips i don't recall them being announced but it's one of those things you may not remember - anyway it's a non-issue as the stations are so clearly marked on the walls - and in each car there is a large map of that line posted, usually above or near the door i think. You'll have no problems.

They generally do on the bus -- and they have overhead light signs that tell you the upcoming stop and the stop itself. They are nice if you get on a bus that has them, but sometimes they aren't working or you can't see them if it is crowded.

As for the metro -- I am blanking, but I don't think they have any announcements. Some of those cars are pretty old, still. There is no need for them (unless you were blind, I agree), as there are signs on the walls of the platform/station.

YOu just can't daydream, you have to keep track of the stations and get ready to leave when you know you are at the one before the one you want.

On the Metro, generally not. But I've been on a few Metro trains that do have automated station name announcements. These are great for hearing the correct name pronounciations.

Woody

There were definitely stations announced on a couple of the Metro trains I took earlier this month. Can't remember whether there were other trains I took with no announcements.

Announcements vary by line and sometimes by trainset. Newer trainsets often have visual and audible indicators at every stop, including spoken announcements. These are universal on line 14 (the newest line, fully automated), and sporadic on some other lines, notably line 1 and line A of the RER, possibly depending on the trainset used (this is clearly a trainset-dependent feature on line A, but I'm not sure about line 1).

Overall, however, there are no spoken announcements on most trains and lines. No doubt there will be one day, as rolling stock and lines are gradually upgraded.

Thank you.

The trains are easy enough and the metro site has maps of the bus line stops so I won't get too lost.

Two more slightly silly questions?

Do you have to signal to get off the bus (we used to pull a cord when I was a kid in NY) or do they just stop at every scheduled stop?

Do they have transfers for the bus? If I had to take 2 lines to get somewhere would I pay 2 fares or get a tranfer from the driver?

Thanks again.

Jay

I just read on the metro site there are no interchanges. I assume that to be transfers.

Jay

There is a yellow bar (or something like that!) near the window that you push to request a stop.
There were no transfers but I believe someone recently posted that there is now a 'time limit' on 1 ticket, so if you can ride a bus and transfer to another within the time limit, you can go on the 1 ticket. Anyone know if this is correct?

The in-bus request-for-a-stop at the next shelter buttons are red rather than yellow, as far as I know, and not at every seat/window but distributed about the bus. Most of the time, someone else is getting off and will hit the button, in which case you'll see a red "arret demande" sign lit up at the front of the bus.

yes on the metros I was on, almost missing stops because my French is so-o- bad, St Paul sounds like Sampoo.