Originally Posted by
c141heaven
My wife and I are taking a trip to France in June...for a cruise down the Rhone .... Being "train-knowledge-deficient" Americans, we know nothing about how any of this works...
We arrive in Paris at 9:15am on a Saturday and need to make our way to Gare de Lyon... to catch a train to Chalon-Sur-Saone... (frankly, I'm as excited about the high-speed train as the cruise!)
As I understand it, we need reservations for the high-speed train ... so my question is whether anyone can give me an idea how much time we need to plan for retrieving our luggage, making our way through immigration, finding the train station at CDG, doing whatever paper work/ticket buying is needed and making our way to Gare de Lyon for a connection to Chalon?
We plan to get some France Saver Passes (seems the best net price for a few days of train travel). We will be taking the train back to CDG a week or so later from Avignon.
Thanks in advance for any responses.
Which airline are you arriving on? One terminal is much more convenient to rhe RER station.
CDG can be quite slow with the checked bags, if you have any.
From the arrival of the plane to RER station may take 30-90 minutes, depending on many factors: first or last off your plane, immigrations wait, checked bag wait, possible customs check, ATM line, searching for a toilet, buying the dreaded RER tickets, spat with spouse, waiting for the RER, etc.
The RER from CDG to Chatelet Les Halles is the RER line B. At Chatelet Les Halles you would transfer to the RER line A to go 1 stop to Gare de Lyon. I recall the transfer to have MANY stairs (fun with bags). It takes skill to get on the train going the correct direction, too (know the correct endpoints).
The actual RER rides and transfer will probably take about 45 minutes with the transfer. The wait for the first train can take 25 minutes sometimes!
The RER trains are like commuter trains. There is space near doors for standees and bags. Pickpockets and pursesnatchers and beggers love the RER trains. Use your street smarts: hide the goods and stay quiet and alert! Refuse to engage with he peddlers and beggers.
RER map:
http://www.travelsignposts.com/Paris/rer_paris.pdf