Originally Posted by jacob_m
There is absolutely no risk whatsoever taking a train from CDG to Gare du Nord, with or without any intermediate stops.
The thing that it would be more dangerous taking a train with stops is absolutely rubbish!!
I've done that journey many many times and never ever had any problems or any inconvenience because of it.
I've never heard anybody else having any problems either, and I live in the city!
On that logic, there's no reason for me to fasten my seat belt on a plane, since I've flown many, many times and never been in a crash.
The fact is that even prior to the civil unrest of last fall, there were reports from time to time of youths taking luggage or agressively begging from unsuspecting, jet-lagged tourists on the RER between CDG and Paris. Another fact is that many of the stops between CDG and Gare du Nord are in poor ghettos. While Jacob_M has never encountered hostile youths on the RER, I have, although not on the CDG-Paris line because I haven't taken it for years.
There's a big difference between savvy residents who may speak some French, and neophite tourists who stick out like a neon sign. While the chances of trouble are quite small, so is the benefit of "saving a few minutes" on a journey which takes, in most cases, 10 hours or more.