Oh RER B...How do I hate you...? Let me count the ways....
May 5, 2019, 5:49 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: NYC, CDG, NCE
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 2,633
Oh RER B...How do I hate you...? Let me count the ways....
1/
"This train will serve Roissy-Aeroport Charles de Gaulle"
"This train will terminate here. To continue to Roissy-Aeroport Charles de Gaulle, please descend one flight of stairs and ascend another flight of stairs to track 4.
"The train on track 4 is leaving in 2 minutes.
"The next train to Roissy-Aeroport Charles de Gaulle will depart from this track in.... 22....minutes.
Do the managers of the RATP own stock in UBER?
"This train will serve Roissy-Aeroport Charles de Gaulle"
"This train will terminate here. To continue to Roissy-Aeroport Charles de Gaulle, please descend one flight of stairs and ascend another flight of stairs to track 4.
"The train on track 4 is leaving in 2 minutes.
"The next train to Roissy-Aeroport Charles de Gaulle will depart from this track in.... 22....minutes.
Do the managers of the RATP own stock in UBER?
May 6, 2019, 9:35 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 16,901
1/
"This train will serve Roissy-Aeroport Charles de Gaulle"
"This train will terminate here. To continue to Roissy-Aeroport Charles de Gaulle, please descend one flight of stairs and ascend another flight of stairs to track 4.
"The train on track 4 is leaving in 2 minutes.
"The next train to Roissy-Aeroport Charles de Gaulle will depart from this track in.... 22....minutes.
Do the managers of the RATP own stock in UBER?
"This train will serve Roissy-Aeroport Charles de Gaulle"
"This train will terminate here. To continue to Roissy-Aeroport Charles de Gaulle, please descend one flight of stairs and ascend another flight of stairs to track 4.
"The train on track 4 is leaving in 2 minutes.
"The next train to Roissy-Aeroport Charles de Gaulle will depart from this track in.... 22....minutes.
Do the managers of the RATP own stock in UBER?
Last edited by milepig; May 7, 2019 at 6:05 am
May 7, 2019, 1:29 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: NYC, CDG, NCE
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 2,633
yep.
If it were just overcrowded and slow, at least you could factor in extra time and deal with it, but the track changes with the poor communications is the worst - just shows complete disregard for airport travelers
I speak french and travel light and it's becoming a pain. Can't imagine doing it with a family and real bags.
(And I'm from NY! - These guys make the LIRR look good, which is not an easy feat.)
If it were just overcrowded and slow, at least you could factor in extra time and deal with it, but the track changes with the poor communications is the worst - just shows complete disregard for airport travelers
I speak french and travel light and it's becoming a pain. Can't imagine doing it with a family and real bags.
(And I'm from NY! - These guys make the LIRR look good, which is not an easy feat.)
May 7, 2019, 7:10 am
#4
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Location: London & Sonoma CA
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Posts: 10,222
Delighted to read this thread. I used to love it, but then hadn't taken it for a number of years. I thought it was completely ghetto last month. Disgusting train, absolutely filthy and it smelled. Very poor signage and completely unclear which train to take. A horrible experience.
May 7, 2019, 4:43 pm
#5
Moderator: UK and Ireland & Europe
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Biggleswade
Programs: SK*G, Lots of Blue Elsewhere
Posts: 13,611
RER B is rather like Roissy itself. It all seemed so exciting and innovative in the 80s, but has rather faded since then.
Apart from the GdN concourse. That's never been right.
They don't even change drivers at GdN these days. Is it the voltage change on ageing stock that causes the problems, or just the latter?
Apart from the GdN concourse. That's never been right.
They don't even change drivers at GdN these days. Is it the voltage change on ageing stock that causes the problems, or just the latter?
May 9, 2019, 3:47 am
#6
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Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: NYC, CDG, NCE
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 2,633
To be fair, I think that CDG itself has improved quite a bit in the last few years (from the low point when the roof collapsed at 2E), but the RER seems to just continue it's decline.
Curious about this voltage change thing you've mentioned though. Did a quick search and couldn't find anything.
I have noticed a short pause at GdN, but never gave it much thought.
Got any more info about it?
Curious about this voltage change thing you've mentioned though. Did a quick search and couldn't find anything.
I have noticed a short pause at GdN, but never gave it much thought.
Got any more info about it?
RER B is rather like Roissy itself. It all seemed so exciting and innovative in the 80s, but has rather faded since then.
Apart from the GdN concourse. That's never been right.
They don't even change drivers at GdN these days. Is it the voltage change on ageing stock that causes the problems, or just the latter?
Apart from the GdN concourse. That's never been right.
They don't even change drivers at GdN these days. Is it the voltage change on ageing stock that causes the problems, or just the latter?
May 9, 2019, 3:55 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: London, UK and Southern France
Posts: 18,364
To be fair, I think that CDG itself has improved quite a bit in the last few years (from the low point when the roof collapsed at 2E), but the RER seems to just continue it's decline.
Curious about this voltage change thing you've mentioned though. Did a quick search and couldn't find anything.
I have noticed a short pause at GdN, but never gave it much thought.
Got any more info about it?
Curious about this voltage change thing you've mentioned though. Did a quick search and couldn't find anything.
I have noticed a short pause at GdN, but never gave it much thought.
Got any more info about it?
May 9, 2019, 4:31 am
#8
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Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: London, UK and Southern France
Posts: 18,364
May 9, 2019, 4:51 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: NYC, CDG, NCE
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 2,633
)
May 10, 2019, 12:30 pm
#10
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Location: ORD
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Posts: 16,901
I guess you can't blame RER B for this one, but there was the smelly woman the last time we were going into town. Packed train and we were so wedged into our seats there was no real chance to wiggle, much less move, the person who was in the window seat next to us managed to wiggle out at her stop and before we could even try to adjust to make the now empty seat available the smelly woman mentioned above entered the car and literally launched herself into the air to get to the seat. She was airborne. Mrs. Milepig was seriously bruised. The women then spent the rest of the trip into town alternatively talking to herself and screaming at no one in particular.
May 11, 2019, 1:00 pm
#12
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Northern California
Programs: UA-Plat, UA-MM, Hertz PC, HH, APEC ABTC
Posts: 235
No other major world airport has such a decrepit, poorly maintained, dreadfully designed rail transit into the city. I will use RER B only when it is truly the last choice. I much prefer the LeBus Direct service.
May 16, 2019, 11:45 am
#13
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 3,461
Come to Atlanta. We always try to overachieve with a poorly run system.