CDG & RER

After a brief delay at DFW for another mechanical issue, we finally arrived at CDG (Charles de Gaulle airport) in Paris, 24 hours later than scheduled. It was now Monday morning. There were no landing cards to fill out and Customs and Passport Control were a breeze. Our luggage arrived as soon as we got to Baggage Claim.

We took the RER B to Paris. Since we travel light, it was easy to hop on the train.

We arrived at Terminal 2. It was an 8-minute walk to the RER station. Just follow the signs. Once we arrived at the RER station, we took the escalator downstairs and went into the glass room to purchase our tickets. There are machines but I had read that you need a chip on your credit card and a 4-digit pin to access the machines. The line inside was quick and I asked for an "aller simple" (one-way ticket) to Paris. Cost was €10.

We followed the signs to the platform. There was an express train leaving in 3 minutes. First stop was Gare du Nord, which was what we wanted.

The ride into Paris took 25 minutes and we passed through the outskirts. I was shocked to see shanty towns and graffiti.

At Gare du Nord, we transferred to the Metro. We took M4 to Strasbourg/Saint-Denis, just 3 stops away. The ticket for the RER also covered the metro ride.

It was one of the most efficient and smooth ride from an airport to the center of town--1 1/2 hours after landing, we were at our apartment.

Here are instructions in case you arrive at a different terminal at CDG:

If you’re landing at Terminal 1, you’ll have to take a shuttle train called CDGVAL to Terminal 3/Roissypole in order to catch the RER train.  The name of this station is “Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 1“. Don’t mistake the “1″ in the name as meaning “Terminal 1." It’s simply the first of the two train stations at CDG Airport.  Just follow the signs for the CDGVAL tram within Terminal 1.

Terminal 3 is located between Terminals 1 and 2, so traveling from west to east across terminals you’ll hit Terminal 1, then 3, then 2. Keep in mind that the CDGVAL tram stops at parking stations in between Terminals 1 and 3 (Parc P-r), and Terminals 3 and 2 (Park P-x), so don’t get off CDGVAL too early. There will be voice announcements at each stop in French and English to help guide you.

At the CDG 1 station there is a large ticket window with 3 SNCF employees that will be selling individual tickets for the RER.



2015 02 02