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Old Mar 22, 2011 | 10:04 pm
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CDG to Lyon

I'll be flying into CDG via Air France and landing at 12:20. From CDG I'm trying to get to Lyon city center. Would anyone with experience with the trip offer advice on how to make the journey?

My understanding so far is that I have to purchase a TGV train ticket to take the TGV train from the CDG connected train station and take it down to Lyon Part Dieux, which is Lyon city center. Is that correct?

I'll be staying in Lyon for 4 days, then returning back to Paris for 6 days. So, I should buy a multi city pass from CDG-Lyon Part Dieux-Paris Gare de Lyon?

Last edited by flyerred; Mar 22, 2011 at 10:19 pm
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Old Mar 23, 2011 | 2:06 am
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That sounds right.

There seem to be a few trains per day Aroport CDG 2 TGV > Lyon Part Dieu. You can purchase tickets at voyages-sncf.com (FR) or tgv-europe.com.

Admittedly, I don't know much about rail passes, but I would think that two one-way tickets like this would be more economically purchased singly than as part of a rail pass.

Peace.
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Old Mar 23, 2011 | 2:21 am
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First of all, you can fly to Lyon instead of taking the train. However in your case it would probably be best to take the TGV directly to Part-Dieu. And yes that is in the center of Lyon. Maybe 10 or 15 minutes walk to Bellecour.

I would buy a one way to Part-Dieu, then when you know for sure when you would like to return to Paris, another one way to Gare de Lyon in Paris. Both these routes have many trains per day so no worries about buying in advance. However if you are trying for the cheapest prices, you may want to buy in advance. To me, having flexibility is worth the 40 or so difference.
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Old Mar 23, 2011 | 11:24 am
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Originally Posted by stimpy
First of all, you can fly to Lyon instead of taking the train. However in your case it would probably be best to take the TGV directly to Part-Dieu. And yes that is in the center of Lyon. Maybe 10 or 15 minutes walk to Bellecour.

I would buy a one way to Part-Dieu, then when you know for sure when you would like to return to Paris, another one way to Gare de Lyon in Paris. Both these routes have many trains per day so no worries about buying in advance. However if you are trying for the cheapest prices, you may want to buy in advance. To me, having flexibility is worth the 40 or so difference.
Would you know how long it's gonna take after I land at CDG to clear immigration, get my bag, and get to the TGV station at CDG? I've only ever departed from CDG, never arrived.
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Old Mar 23, 2011 | 11:30 am
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Originally Posted by flyerred
Would you know how long it's gonna take after I land at CDG to clear immigration, get my bag, and get to the TGV station at CDG?
Under an hour normally. But might as well leave two hours in case there are delays. There are a couple of food outlets at the train station to sit down and have a sandwich and a beer while waiting.

I travel bags in hand and I can make in there in about 15-20 minutes from the door of the plane. But with checked bags at any major airport you never know for sure.
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Old Mar 23, 2011 | 2:18 pm
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Originally Posted by stimpy
Under an hour normally. But might as well leave two hours in case there are delays. There are a couple of food outlets at the train station to sit down and have a sandwich and a beer while waiting.

I travel bags in hand and I can make in there in about 15-20 minutes from the door of the plane. But with checked bags at any major airport you never know for sure.
you probably clear customs with Acces n1 or Parafes?
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Old Mar 23, 2011 | 3:03 pm
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Originally Posted by Mynameismud
you probably clear customs with Acces n1 or Parafes?
I don't think there is an Access 1 for immigration. And I don't have Parafes. IME I rarely encounter a line at CDG immigration. The only time it has happened to me in recent years was coming in from IST at T1 on TK. Otherwise I'm usually the first off the plane to the immigration and never a line.
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Old Mar 23, 2011 | 9:22 pm
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Originally Posted by stimpy
Under an hour normally. But might as well leave two hours in case there are delays. There are a couple of food outlets at the train station to sit down and have a sandwich and a beer while waiting.

I travel bags in hand and I can make in there in about 15-20 minutes from the door of the plane. But with checked bags at any major airport you never know for sure.
Should a one way ticket from CDG to Lyon cost about $130? That seems pretty high. I'm pretty sure I saw it for $50 just yesterday. Is the Rail Europe site the cheapest place to buy it?

Last edited by flyerred; Mar 23, 2011 at 10:03 pm
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Old Mar 23, 2011 | 11:45 pm
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Originally Posted by flyerred
Should a one way ticket from CDG to Lyon cost about $130? That seems pretty high. I'm pretty sure I saw it for $50 just yesterday. Is the Rail Europe site the cheapest place to buy it?
Rail Europe is rarely the cheapest for anything. You can try to book the trip on the internet at the sncf tgv site: http://www.voyages-sncf.com/.
Lyon Part Dieu is not in the center of Lyon, Lyon Perrache is--museums, monuments, department stores etc. [There is a large shopping mall at PD.]
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Old Mar 24, 2011 | 2:01 am
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nrr is correct about the website. I see it for 36 on a random day in April. But nrr is wrong to say that Part-Dieu is not in the center. Both Part-Dieu and Perrache are in the center of Lyon. But neither are in the true heart of the old city or Bellecour. They are both a short walk or taxi ride away. And the airport train only goes to Part-Dieu so you would have to transfer to another train to get to Perrache anyways. Plus they have been closing the tracks to Perrache recently for renovation of the line.

Where exactly are you going in Lyon?
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Old Mar 24, 2011 | 4:49 am
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Originally Posted by stimpy
nrr is correct about the website. I see it for €36 on a random day in April. But nrr is wrong to say that Part-Dieu is not in the center. Both Part-Dieu and Perrache are in the center of Lyon. But neither are in the true heart of the old city or Bellecour. They are both a short walk or taxi ride away. And the airport train only goes to Part-Dieu so you would have to transfer to another train to get to Perrache anyways. Plus they have been closing the tracks to Perrache recently for renovation of the line.

Where exactly are you going in Lyon?
When they first opened the TGV line from Paris to Lyon, all trains terminated at Lyon P, which led me to my first "acquaintance" with Lyon--it was only a short walk to the several walking streets, near to the department stores and museums, so I've always felt that that that area is "central" Lyon.
Lyon has a subway which links Lyon P and Lyon P-D.
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Old Mar 24, 2011 | 5:27 am
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Originally Posted by stimpy
I don't think there is an Access 1 for immigration. And I don't have Parafes. IME I rarely encounter a line at CDG immigration. The only time it has happened to me in recent years was coming in from IST at T1 on TK. Otherwise I'm usually the first off the plane to the immigration and never a line.
There is an Accs n1 priority lane for immigration when entering France at CDG2, at least 2E and 2F2, probably in 2C, too. Not sure about 2A & 2B.
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Old Mar 24, 2011 | 8:47 am
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Originally Posted by JOUY31
There is an Accs n1 priority lane for immigration when entering France at CDG2, at least 2E and 2F2, probably in 2C, too. Not sure about 2A & 2B.
OK, I guess I never noticed it since there is never, IME, a line of people waiting there. I'm quite sure I have never seen one at T1 though.
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Old Mar 24, 2011 | 5:53 pm
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Originally Posted by stimpy
nrr is correct about the website. I see it for €36 on a random day in April. But nrr is wrong to say that Part-Dieu is not in the center. Both Part-Dieu and Perrache are in the center of Lyon. But neither are in the true heart of the old city or Bellecour. They are both a short walk or taxi ride away. And the airport train only goes to Part-Dieu so you would have to transfer to another train to get to Perrache anyways. Plus they have been closing the tracks to Perrache recently for renovation of the line.

Where exactly are you going in Lyon?
I'm actually headed for a hotel close to Part Dieu.

So, I bought a 1st class ticket last night from the french Voyages-SNCF site for what I thought was a good sale price of 85 euros (compared to the Rail Europe site) for the 2pm train, and today, the price for a 2nd class ticket for the 6 pm travel time is only 42 euros (travel April 2).

Last edited by flyerred; Mar 24, 2011 at 11:06 pm
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Old Mar 27, 2011 | 10:30 am
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Originally Posted by JOUY31
There is an Accs n1 priority lane for immigration when entering France at CDG2, at least 2E and 2F2, probably in 2C, too. Not sure about 2A & 2B.
There are indeed but not always staffed.
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