Trains - Dijon to Paris or CDG
 

We would appreciate information about trains from Dijon. We are staying in Dijon for our last night in France, and will need to get to CDG for a 3:00pm BA flight on a Thursday in October. We understand there is a fast train that goes direct to CDG but it leaves at around 6:30am only. We wonder if its better to catch a train to Paris (do they run more frequently?), store our bags at the train station and stroll around for a few hours before heading to CDG (by train or taxi?). Any suggestions are much appreciated.

depends IMO when you flight check in is - is it two hours before your flight

if so and you take a later train at a more sane hour you would not have much time in Paris - and putting bags in locker, retrieving, etc. would take time and then 45 mins or so getting by RER to CDG and then getting to your gate?

Is a brief jaunt around Paris worth the increased hassles?

and a taxi to CDG from Gare de Lyon could take longer potentially than the RER due to traffic IME

Seems your choices are either the early train [arriving at 8:20 AM], or spending the last night in Paris.

You need to be at CDG at least three hours ahead of your departure time (yes, it's that bad), so your only choice is to take that early morning train.

Personally, I'd go to Paris the night before. I cannot stomach being so far away from the airport the day of my departure that a last-minute taxi couldn't ensure my arrival at the airport on time.

Hi R,

Ditto St. Cirq

((I))

You can leave Dijon at 06:52 and arrive at Gare de Lyon at 08:57. Store your bags there, stroll around, then take the RER D to Gare du Nord, change to the RER B, and take it to the CDG 2 TGV RER station. Be aware that the RER B line divides northeast of Paris so be sure to get on a train that is going there. Allow one hour to get from Gare de Lyon to CDG.

However, just because you CAN do this doesn't mean that you SHOULD. As others have said, it is a good idea to not have to travel very far on the day you will be flying home.

Thank for the input everyone. We won't be as foolish to think we can kill a few hours in Paris - too much stress.

I'd go straight to CDG. yes, you'll be there VERY early for your flight, but we found out the hard way that they set out to overbook the flights by 15%. If they are successful, that means that the last 15% of folks to check in will be placed on stand-by, regardless of how early the first 100% arrive, or how early you purchased your tickets. I'd go to CDG, check in and then figure out what to do with the remaining time. Be sure to factor in that it will take you quite a while to get through the first security gates.
Enjoy your trip!

mkdiebold - we are fortunate enough to be flying on BA points and going club class, so we probably will not get bumped. We can also kill time in the BA lounge, which isn't so bad, but we will be at the airport for 6 hours, which is what I had hoped to avoid. But I am a "nervous" traveller anyway, so being at the airport well in advance of my flight is quite comforting in to me. Thanks again all. I can't wait to see France!

ronandpenny,
If you take the early direct train to CDG, you would have time for a quick visit to the medieval walled town of Senlis which is a 20-minute bus ride north of the airport.