Paris RER:what do the yellow boxes mean?
 

here is a photo dipicting a board with yellow square lights besides station names on on the platform of a a RER station. how do i interpret it? (In my trip I will need to ride RER from Antony to gare du nord)

thanks,
Sam

http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/p/m/167c2b/

Not all RER trains stop at all stations. The boxes that are lit show the stations where that train will stop.

Once the train pulls away the lights will re-configure for the next train coming into the station.

Hi Sam,

Look at the last 2 items in the right column. Train court (short train). I don't know if that means there are fewer cars on the short train than the long train. But, it doesn't matter.

Hi,

upper left, gares desservés: 'stations served'
so if the light is on, the train stops at that station.

you can see it *will* stop at anthony/orly airport.

however you may need to transfer to another rer line @ st michel, since it looks like this line doesn't go directly to gare du nord
or
there may be another sign alongside, not shown, for the northern blue line stations (the blue line always stops at gare du nord, it's a huge station)

also notice lower right: train court : 'short train'

so you want to be standing with everyone else on the platform; sometimes the short trains stop in the middle, or at the end of the platform. if you're at the wrong end, you'll miss the train, even if you run (i've done this a couple of times) ; )

check ratp.fr for more info
HTH!

Obviously, a short train has fewer cars than a long train. It is more important to be standing on the quai in the right place if it's a short train, or you might find yourself running to catch up as it passes by you. I don't think I've mastered how to know where to stand, but I think it's painted on the concrete you stand on next to the tracks.

This photo was taken in Chatelet-Les Halles. It's the RER-B (blue line). The next stop lit is St Michel then on to other stops including Antony.

This is the same RER B that goes to Gare du Nord, but it's the one in the other direction. To go the other way you'll need to be on this platform's twin that serves the trains going to Roissy/CDG.

Antony with its connection to Orly airport and Gare du Nord with it's connection to EuroStar trains are almost always going to be stops for any RER B. (I use "almost" 'cause there's always that long shot of unusual circumstances.)

many thanks to you all,

Sam