Transferring trains (different stations) in Paris
 

Hello. I asked this question several months ago, and Robespierre had a suggestion. Now that the time is drawing closer, I'd appreciate any more advice you all can give.

Here's the deal: my brother and his wife are traveling from Brussels to Bayeux. The train arrives at the Gare du Nord and the connecting train departs one hour later from the Gare St Lazare.

Robes suggested taking the RER, line E, from one to the other. I did a search and can see where that is on the maps provided.

He is new to Paris (and I've never done the RER), so can you tell me - is the RER station above ground? Is allowing 1 hour for this transfer adequate (keeping in mind that he's not a French speaker and unfamiliar w/Paris?). Or is this just a piece of cake and he should go ahead and book the ticket.

I would suggest a cab, but that might be a problem if he has to wait for one.

Many many thanks!

Piece of cake IMO

RER E is deep in the bowels of the Earth - huge escalators down and up

can't see any problems though is quite a hike thru passageways to the magenta RER E station at Nord if i remember correctly

If i remember correctly the Air Buses CDG to Opera, steps from St Lazare have been mentioned as well?

Yeah it is very simple. Get off the train at Gare Du Nord. Follow the signs to the RER line E. It is a fair walk as the RER station Magenta isn't exactly at Gare Du Nord. When he gets to St. Lazare he follow the signs to the grand lines. It is fairly simple.

I forgot to add that St. Lazare is the next station down the line from Magenta so the train ride itself is only about 4-5 minutes. They should have plenty of time.

Thanks very much! I will forward this thread to him. Is it hard to buy the tickets - just use the cash machines?

Just trying to paint a picture.

Gare du Nord (Magenta) is just one stop from Saint Lazare (Haussmann) -- less than 5 minutes.

Getting off a train at Gare du Nord, going to the RER E station, taking the train, exiting at Saint Lazare and going up to the main line train platform should take a maximum of 20 minutes.

The cost is just 1 metro ticket -- 1.30 euros.

yes just use the new cash machines that i found very user friendly and quick, quite unlike the much bigger former machines

Thank you all SO much. I will forward this to him. Just wanted to make sure it wasn't cutting it too close.

I sure appreciate all of your seasoned advice.

I'd say it's too close not because of the actual transfer which is a piece of cake

but trains can be late - not unusual for even Thalys trains to be 15 mins or so late IME and then not being familiar with the route - having to buy a ticket (tip - i think they may sell metro tickets in the cafe car on Thalys trains - used to at least) and then walk the fairly long way to RER E and then at the other end also a bit of a walk

As trains leave from St Lazare to Caen-Bayeux about hourly why did they schedule just one hour between trains? Why not two?