Train to CDG from Normandy
 

I am having trouble understanding RailEurope. Is there a train that goes to CDG from Le Havre or Caen or someplace relatively close to Honfleur? I could drive my friends to CDG but Michelin says it is a 2.5 hr trip from Honfleur. Since they have to be there by 9am (+/-) on a Thursday, I am thinking perhaps it would be better to take them to a train that goes directly to CDG.

Or is it better to get a train back to Paris, say Lisieux to St Lazare, and then some way to CDG? To get them there by 9am, do I have to ship them out the night before? Ideas? Thanks for your help.

Joe

Don't use RailEurope for many good reasons.

Use

https://www.capitainetrain.com/

And, phone the credit card company ahead of proceeding with the transaction so it will not be automatically blocked by the fraud department.

For an early flight out of CDG, it is always better to be there the night before.

And it is not possible to go directly by train from Normandy to CDG. You have to go through Paris.
If you do not consider driving (at more or less rush hour around Paris), your friends should really consider staying around the airport the previous evening

To get them there by 9am, do I have to ship them out the night before?>

definitely - not reliably possible by train.

From CDG take the RER into Gare du Nord and change to an RER line that goes to Saint-Lazare station from which trains constantly roll to Normandy - Le Havre, Caen, Liseux, etc.

As these are fairly flat fare trains no reason to buy in advance though you could save a bit but then they would be locked into a specific train from Saint-Lazare and when landing, etc you never really know when you will be able to reach Saint-Lazare - just buy at the CDG RER station a thru ticket CDG-Paris-Saint-Lazare, includes RER tickets - then just hop on any train as trains on these lines do not require reservations so with a ticket you can just hop any train anytime.

For lots of great info on French trains check www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com. Try www.voyages-sncf.com and www.capitainetrain.com - should be same prices and they say the latter is easier for Americans to use.

Pal - The OP is going from Normandy to CDG.

Well then just reverse the details! Train to Saint-Lazare the ReR to RER to airport.

That might be possible if the OP takes a 5:27 train from Le Havre or a 5:09 train from Caen or a 5:36 train from Lisieux (all three on weekdays only). The OP said their friends need to be at the airport by 9AM but didn't mention what date, what time the flight departs or what is the destination of the flight. I think it makes the most sense to be in Paris the night before an early morning flight.

The OP said the plane left on a Thursday.

But, if it's a long flight with expensive replacement tickets to buy if they miss it, I'd agree. Stay in Paris the night before.

But if the Thursday fell on a holiday that could affect train schedules.