Paris Metro/RER Question
 

Hello everyone - My husband and I are planning on taking the RER from the CDG airport to our hotel. We will be switching from the RER B line to the RER C line at Notre Dame stop. I am assuming the RER ticket allows you to make connections like that?

We then, have to switch over to the Metro Line 8 - so my MAIN QUESTION is - does the RER ticket include Metro Transfers? Or do we buy 2 separate tickets?

Both transfers will be included in your ticket.

In zone 1 (and maybe zone 2, not sure) the RER and metro operate on the same tickets, and you can make as many transfers as you like, as long as you don't pass by the exit turnstiles.

Your ticket from CDG will include as many transfers as needed within zone 1.

Great thanks! CDG is in Zone 5 so I wasn't sure if it automatically means it includes everything in the 1-5 zone or not. Thanks again.

I read in another post that RER-line C is closed for repairs somewhere between St Michel and Javel, don't know specifically. I'd have a "plan b" in case you can't go this route, maybe take RER-B to Chatelet, switch to Line 1 to Concorde, then line 8 to wherever...

REALLY??? Isn't Line C what you need for Versailles??

But thanks for the heads up - we will keep that in mind when we are on the metro!

ALSO - Would you advise we just book an airport shuttle? Rather than switching 3-4 times on the RER/Metro? It is just my husband and I travelling (mid-20's) with very light suitcases. We assumed that it would be easy enough to jump through the metro and then walk to our hotel which is very close to the Ecole Militare stop of Line 8 - Hotel Leveque.

For two people with light luggage it should be no problem. If Line C is closed it's probably only for some portion of it, not the whole thing. But even if it is the portion you need there are plenty of other options to get to your hotel. Just look at a metro map and have an alternate plan.

RER-C
Du 17 juilllet au 22 août 2004, la circulation des trains est totalement interrompue entre Paris Austerlitz et
Invalides.

Closed between Gare Austerlitz and Invalides until August 22, 2004.

So it shouldn't affect your plan.
(you can check it yourself at www.ratp.fr)

travelnut - yea we won't be there until september 3rd! PHEW!
we are just working out the logistics to the trip now - so we don't have any surprises (WHICH I AM SURE WE WILL ANYWAY!). Only 20 days to go!!

Another 'RER' note: over the track you will see a sign with all the possible stops that your line makes. Pay attention to the ones that have a small 'light' next to them - those are the stops that will be made on the next train. If your stop is not lit up, you need to wait for another train. The sign changes after each train departs the station. (this is a bit different than the metro, which stops at all the stops listed, every time, unless one of them is closed for repairs. In that case, it will be marked on the line-map over the door of the metro car which you can gaze up at while you are riding).

Be sure to hold onto your ticket during the entire trip. You will need to reuse it when transfering between RER B and C and then again when transfering from RER C to your metro line.

I am taking the RER from Roissy to Chatelet-Les Halles to Chatelet Metro (line 7 to Place Monge is my destination).
Question -
Is there an underground free transfer between Chatelet-Les Halles RER station and Chatelet Metro station? Or do I have to leave the station and find the metro from the street?
Thanks.

Line C has been partially closed every summer for years for major renovation. When it is closed, there is a shuttle bus replacing it. There are SNCF agents at a desk at the line C access corridor at Saint Michel to give all necessary information.

tskobo -- all connections between RER lines and the metro are underground through connecting tunnels/walkways. YOu don't have to go out and find a separate entrance, just follow the signs. It may be a distance and a lot of walking, but you do not have to exit the system.

Personally, hawaiih, I would never do that stuff with luggage with all those transfers and walking in order to save a small amount of money. I might be up for it when fully rested, but never in a million years after the marathon hassles and energy expenditures you go through just to get there with the flight, if going internationally.

This is just a personal decision as to how much you dislike spending that extra bit of money over making things easier for yourself.

I don't take shuttles myself, although some people like them fine, I just take cabs.

Thanks Christina. I will be travelling light with only one bag (with wheels), but given the amount of walking you described, I'm inclined to take the RER to Chatelet-Les Halles, then catch a taxi from there to my destination. I imagine that I would still save a lot doing it this way.

Hi there are of course the options of the Roissy Bus, pretty handy connecting CDG and L'Opera, (rue Scribe) also the Air France BUs connecting CDG with L'etoile.
Good Luck

At Chatelet, there's indeed a transfer between the metro and the RER, but you'll probably have to put your ticket in turnstiles a couple times on your way (the station is really huge and not easy to navigate. And the line 7 and the RER are on the opposite extremities.It's a long walk, in case you'd have a lot of luggages). I'm mentionning it so that you don't use a new ticket at each turnstiles during your transfer

There are a million ways to do this, but let me suggest one other which I would consider pretty easy.

Take the Air France bus to Gare Montparnasse. Take the public transit bus #82 to your hotel (according to ratp.fr, this takes about 5 minutes). The cost would be 11.50 Euros x2 for the Air France bus, and 1 x 2 Euros for bus #82.

I can visualize where to catch the buses from where you would be dropped off, but I find it sort of hard to explain. But about a block away from the dropoff point, there is a sort of bus loop where you can catch numerous public buses.

Actually, if interested in the Air France + bus combo, I'd suggest looking this up at ratp.fr. I see now that you can take either #82 or #92, and that you have a few minutes walk once you get off the bus (so I understand it).

I find this all somewhat amusing. Every time I use the RATP itinerary helper, it gives me a different result, all of which seem to do the job. As my hotel is actually situated between Place Monge and Cardinal-Lemoine to the north, it seems that I could also transfer from the RER line at StMichel then transfer to the 10 train at Cluny Sorbonne to Cardinal Lemoine..perhaps this is a better transfer station?

Will Travel - Thanks for the bus advice. I looked into it but the air france bus info. website is currently down. I'm more inclined however to use train service as I will likely be arriving during morning rush hour on a weekday. Regardless, I will bookmark this page and look into your advice once the website is back up. Thanks!

Graziella,
Where do you pay for the Air France bus? On the bus or at a counter? Do you know if they take credit cards or must one have Euros to pay for the ticket?

Best,
Sandy

I have taken the RER/metro from CDG to Ecole Miltaire many times and have found the easiest way is the RER to Gare du Nord.The #4 heading toward Porte d'Orleans transfer to the #8 at Strasbourg-Saint-Denis heading towards Balard to Ecole Militaire.

We found that the Roissy bus was very easy to Opera, and then took the #8 metro line a couple of stops to E.M. I think that's easier than the RER route, but if the Air France bus goes right to E.M. then that might be best of all.

The Air France bus goes to CDG L"Etoile and from there you cantake either the 92 or 82, or the Metro or a taxi.
, I haven't taken the Air France bus in years, but this year I am being careful and I shall not take the taxi as in the recent past.
Apparently you can buy a combo at CDGAirport that is the bus plus a ticket for a regular street bus or metro.
Because we are planing to use a Carte Orange I shal try to get it at
CDG Airport before getting in the AF bus , I only need the C.O. ticket because I have the carnet with the picture from two years ago. And then I shall buy only the Air France ticket and catch the bus 92 because I am also going to Av Bosquet near Ecole Militaire.
Ok, I think I read some place that the carte Orange can be bought at the airport, hope so. But I am not sure.
This way I shall avoid the extra hussel of buying it at CDG Le Etoile.
Do I make sense? If anyone knows I am wrong please let me know.

Keep in mind there are two Air France buses from CDG: one to Etoile, and one to Gare Montparnasse. I've lost track of who is trying to get where, but what I mentioned earlier involving the Air France bus and public buses #82 or #92 was in respect to going to Gare Montparnasse.

HI Willtravel, I am sure about the 82 but the 92 goes from L'Etoile-CDG to Gare Montparnasse so it is good for both Air Frrance buses, how about that?
:-)

I mean I am NOT sure regarding the
82...
by the way does anyone know if a carte orange ticket can be bought at the Airport CDG ROIssy.?