No, I do understand the RER for T-1 is not connected to the Terminal building, you have to use a shuttle in-between.

That was a very good description, Indytravel, just what I was looking for.

Is it better to go over to the RER at T-2 to buy the tickets, or are there lines at both stations?

I know this will not be the last explanation but here goes:

There are and has been for many years two RER stations at CDG.

There is a station that serves Terminal 1 but it is not inside the T1 terminal building. It is a short 5 minute shuttle bus ride from the RER T1 station to the T1 terminal building. As someone else stated the T1 station is situated in a cluster of buildings. There is a Novotel, a Sofitel hotel next to it. When you get off the RER train (B3 train that is) you will walk out the doors to a semi-circular roadway where the green shuttle bus will take you to T1 terminal building. Beware: there will also be a red shuttle bus there that will take you to T2 terminal building and then on to T1 terminal building. Both buses make the loop to T1 and T2 but the green bus will take you directly to T1 terminal without first stopping at T2 and the TGV station that is inside the T2 terminal building.

There is also a station at T2 terminal building and it is located inside the T2 terminal building. No shuttle bus is necessary to get to the T2 terminal building as you are already there although you can take the shuttle if your T2 concourse is farther away than you care to walk.

Coming from Paris on the RER B3 train you should get off at the T1 station if your flight leaves from T1. (US Airways, Lufthansa and others) If your flight leaves from T2 (Air France, American) you should get off the train at T2. If you mess up and get off at the wrong station, don't worry you can take the shuttle bus to the proper terminal building.

If your flight arrives at T1 and you want to take the RER into Paris; you will notice that the T1 building is circular so just walk to hall 34, take the elevator behind the information kiosk, get off elevator at ground level (inside elevator the little placard will tell you what level for buses)go left out the door and get on the green shuttle bus which will take you directly to the T1 RER train station. Don't get on the red shuttle as it first goes to the various T2 concourses and the TGV station.

I have flown in and out of countless US and European airports and without a doubt CDG is the most confusing of them all but just stay calm and focused and you will be fine. It's not that difficult but it's just not a traveler friendly layout either.

As information, I always stay at a hotel in the 7th arr. and using the Metro and RER B3 train I can get from hotel to the US Airways check-in counter at T1 in about an hour to an hour and 15 minutes.

Larry J

That's great information, Larry. Thank you.

Ginny

I just returned yesterday from a weekend in Paris, flying United in and out of Terminal 1. The RER DOES NOT have a stop at Terminal 1. Upon arrival at Terminal one,take elevator down from baggage claim to departure level and go to Porte 22 where you will take the navette (shuttle bus) to the RER station at Roissy (which, by the way, serves all terminals at CDG). Upon returning on the RER to CDG, you must get off at what is shown as the RER Terminal 1 Station. Take the navette (shuttle bus) marked for Terminal 1 which will again take you to Porte (Door) 22 and the check-in areas for Terminal 1 departures. Incidentally, if you are going to Gare du Nord or Chatelet, take the trains marked KROL which are express to Gare to Nord and then to Chatelet. Saves time and much less hassle with luggage as the regular trains are commuter trains with many stops.

"The RER DOES NOT have a stop at Terminal 1.... Upon returning on the RER to CDG, you must get off at what is shown as the RER Terminal 1 Station."

Weekender - we know there is no RER stop <b>inside</b> Terminal 1, but you just contradicted yourself as to whether there is a stop at all for T-1.

There is <i>absolute proof</i> of a stop for both T-1 and T-2 - just look at the RER map. Secondly, they are both listed on the timetables for RER-B on ratp.fr.

The stop for T-1 is <i>separated</i> from the Terminal building-a shuttle ride is required to link them. This is what you experienced on your return to CDG.

The stop for T-2 is <i>inside</i> the Terminal building. You can walk to it from any hall, or you can ride a shuttle along the outside of the Terminal to get nearer to it, but it's still inside the Terminal.

Wow, this thread has gotten insanely complicated. Travelnut you are spot on in your explanation of T-1 and T-2 stations. I have been in BOTH RER stations. I dont understand why people are so confused about this.

Just to add, the T-1 RER station serves both T-1 and T-3. From T-3 you can actually walk to the T-1 RER station.

Thanks, Morgan... I think it is &quot;complicated&quot; because a lot of people don't realize there are two stations...I started thinking about it, wondering why 'we' seem to continue to direct everyone to the RER/TGV station, when it might be simpler to go to the T-1 station...It's much clearer for me now, thanks to everyone posting their experiences and descriptions.

Travelnut:

When you take the navette from Terminal 1 at Porte 22 you will go the Roissy RER station which on the RER B schedule is shown as CDG Terminal 1.

Right. So what were you saying before? Were you just clarifying that there is no RER station IN the terminal?

Travelnut:

Yes. Be advised, however, that Terminal One is circular and very confusing to navigate. Just remember to take the elevator down to the departure level, find Porte 22, go outside and you will see the sign for the navettes to the RER station. I found that returning to CDG is actually easier and would highly recommend taking the express trains back and forth. These are far less crowded and you will have better control of your luggage, etc.

Agreed. We took an express from Denfert Rochereau to CDG, and that was crowded with commuters, most of whom got off at the convention center (which was nearly all the way to CDG). We stood up a lot.

I've been through both terminals - which partially explains why we prefer to fly in thru Amsterdam's Schiphol as much as possible!