I am flying to Paris on United Airlines arriving at 7:30 AM. Is there a train from Charles de Gaulle Airport to Lyon? Is it a TGV? How much connecting time is recommended?

There are definitely TGV trains from CDG to Lyon, starting around 9:45 A.M., 10:10, 1:15 and so on. Look on the SNCF website: www.voyages-sncf.com
for the schedules and booking information. On the schedule thing, put in "Aeroport CDG 2 TGV" for your departure site. You can probably get good PREM fares to Lyon, but they are non-refundable and cannot be changed if you are late getting in to CDG. To be safe I would allow about 2 hours connecting time, but it could be a little less. Another alternative is to take the Air France Bus to Gare de Lyon, as there are many trains to Lyon from there. But with a 7:30 AM arrival time at CDG, I'm sure you can go from there more easily.

Thanks so much for this information. I found it very helpful.

I cannot find any direct TGV trains from CDG to Lyon. Am I missing something?

I see that you can take the RER at CDG to Chat./Les Halles and change to get to Paris Lyon and then take the TGV to Lyon. We will have luggage (1 ea.) and computer. Will we want to do this? Perhaps just take the train to Gare Nord and get a taxi? Less expensive than taking taxi to Paris Lyon?

If it is true that the TGV leaves from Paris Lyon for Lyon, how much time should I allow to get from the airport to the Paris Lyon station?

Go to www.bahn.de, the German national rail site that has timetables for most of Europe. (It's viewable in English). Enter Aeroport Paris-Charles de Gaulle TGV as your departure station and Lyon as your arrival station. You will see that there are direct TGVs leaving CDG at 06:54, 07:31, 09:45, 10:10, 13:11, 14:04, 16:03, 18:06, 18:46, and 20:43.

I will try again but I did use the German site as well.

I was searching too far in advance - June 11. Couldn't get results for that date but I put in an earlier date and got it.

Thanks.

I am searching for the answer, but where is the TGV train station at CDG? We will be coming in on American at 8:20 a.m. How much time should I allow to get to the train station? I would like to print our tickets rather than pick them up and avoid waiting in line.

I looked at the map of the airport and see a train station between terminal 2 C/D and F. Is that the TGV station?

http://www.paris-cdg.com/maps.html

Ronda--On the SNCF site use Roissy for CDG.

German rail URL:

http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en

Ronda,

Here is a better map of CDG:

http://www.airchive.com/Timetables%2...CDGmap0204.jpg

The TGV station is connected to 2C,D,E and F so you can walk from any of those terminals to it. You can even walk from 2A, B via C,D if you like. I prefer to do that because I can just load my bags on a cart and go all the wait to the station. With the outside shuttle you have to move your bags about alot more.

If you arrive at 8:20 am I would allow 2 hours if possible to be safe and that is assuming you already have your tickets. By the way, if you are flying american, AA code shares with the SNCF! If you havent already bought your tickets you can by the train leg together with the flight on the same ticket. That way you dont have to worry about booking your train tickets and dont have to worry about being late.

The "airport code" for the lyon train station is XYD. You can put that in as your destination on the AA website and it will price it for you including the train segment.

I agree with MorganB. Since you won't have to change terminals to get to the TGV station (American uses Terminal 2A), two hours is enough. So you should be able to catch the 10:10 TGV. However, if you'd rather not worry about a possible late arrival at CDG and could use the extra time for a leisurely lunch and/or some shopping, book the 13:11 TGV.

Morgan: I DIDN'T KNOW THAT (codeshare)! DARN. We've already bought our airline tickets. I'm going to try to get PREMs anyway. I have been in that train station before but didn't realize that the TGV used the same station. My husband is voting for 10:10.

Tim, is there anyplace good to eat at the airport? I've only ever gotten coffee and juice there. Anyplace to buy sandwiches and goodies for the Train?

I've only been in Terminal 1. However, I've read that there are lots of shops in Terminal 2 and it's likely you'll find what you need close to the TGV station. For a detailed map and a list of shops, visit www.adp.fr, the Paris airports site. It's viewable in English.

I have learned some very interesting facts trying to use the SNCF site. Using the English advanced search feature, I was unable to come up with any results doing as Sue4 suggested: Put in "Aeroport CDG 2 TGV" which is French. I had to put in English Airport Charles DeGaulle. If I put in "Aeroport CDG 2 TGV" the only selection it would give me was AEROPORT CDG1 S (95). So my conclusion is that if you are using the English site, use English; French site, use French. I tried it several times to make sure I was right...honest. After putting in English Airport Charles DeGaulle it would then let me select "Aeroport CDG 2 TGV". The site has some quirks.

The SNCF site it quirky with spelling of CDG, aeroport, etc. I use "Roissy" as my departure or arrival point. SNCF comes back with the CDG Terminal 2 choices.

We are trying to decide on the cheaper PREM ticket or the more expensive regular fare. If we go with the PREM, what if they change the flight and we are late? I guess you would have to eat the ticket and buy another one at full fare. Will the fare be even more on the day of travel than it is right now?

No the fare won't be more. Full fare is just full fare with SNCF right up to the last minute.

I've "gambled" with the Prem's fares several times and always won. I've always made my train. If I miss my Prem train I'm willing to pay full fare for the next one.

Rhonda,

Bummer you didnt know about the code sharing . What I like about it the most is you dont have to worry about missing the train since it's all on one ticket. As indy said, full fare is full fare and doesnt change. Dont you hate how quirky it is with location names! Again as Indy said, Roissy works best, but certainly not friendly for the first time user.