Not anymore; since the spring of 2007 there's an automated people mover instead.

planecrashlaw & tomsundstrom:

Thanks for your advise. Next time I go though CDG, I'll check it out.
BTW, regarding the tickets, I had to stay in line to buy them. The automatic ticket machines have been "out of order" and/or did not take my US credit card.

FWIW, I never had any luck with using my US CC's in the ticket vending machines back 3 yrs ago, always had to stand in line.

A US issued credit/debit card will not work in the kiosks. Save 8.40 euro coins per person and a few Metro tickets when you go home--the kiosks will take euro coins but not bills. In fact, the RER tickets lines while in Paris en route to CDG can be just as bad as outbound CDG, so save coins for both going home to the US this trip and coming back next time and you will be set.

Home tomorrow. :(

Or just buy some extra tickets and hang onto them for future use. The prices go up every July, but you can still use your old tickets. In fact, if you go through there often or with other people you might consider buying a carnet of 10 tickets, currently €67.20 instead of the €84 you'd pay for 10 tickets separately.

Thanks for the link.
I too have safety concern about travel on RER. Is there security staff on these trains?
Need to go from Montparnasse area to CDG (Aerogare 2 Term A), around mid morning. Definitely look like tourist with luggage and backpack. Besides RER-B from Denfert-Rochereau and taxi, what other transportation options available?

One more question, is safety more or less of an issue from Orly to center Paris during day time, compared to that to/from CDG?

At that time of the day, neither CDG nor ORY is a safety issue :). Another option from Montparnasse would be AF coaches.

I have never seen security staff on RER trains. There may be one somewhere but to be honest, you won't know where they are and any person giving you trouble will.

Even ignoring security, I would never advise someone to mess with the RER from Montparnasse to CDG. Air France runs a clean, safe bus (Line #4) every 30 minutes from 6:30 am to 9:30 pm. They even have a person to stow your baggage under the bus and another to retrieve it when you arrive. No need to be flying on AF (or at all)-it's just a bus service. Here's a link with info, including a map of the pick-up spot at Montparnasse (hit the link, then click at bottom on "Lines" then go to Line 4):

http://www.airfrance.us/US/en/local/...rameHeight=600

AF bus in Paris, pay where?
 

pardon a naive question, but do riders on the AF buses in Paris pay aboard, or do they need to be holding a prepurchased ticket? are reservations required?

thanks in advance,
benzguy80

Usually you just buy the ticket on the bus. No reservations required.

I have quite often seen both army and CRS (elite police) patrolling the RER. I wouldn't consider it as read that they are on every train though!

I've seen a lot of security-including soldiers with drawn machine guns-in stations, especially St. Michel. I've never seen any actually on the trains, but they might be there from time to time.

I was very nearly mugged on a late night train between CDG and Gare du Nord in 2004. I had my trusty Panasonic camera bag with me - which I use as hand luggage and not as a camera bag - and two young would-be muggers sat themselves right opposite me and grabbed my bag. Unfortunately for them the only valuable items I had inside were my passport and airline paper tickets (my wallet was on my person). Thank god they didn't take my passport and tickets. And the audacity of it was that there were several other passengers in the same carriage and they didn't blink an eyelid.

This has taught me to be especially weary of travelling late at night but it has not put me off at all. I still do travel late at night on the metro and RER but only for short journeys within Paris and inner suburbs. I have yet to be successfully mugged in Paris.

You can pay aboard and there is also a ticket office at CDG in the lower concourse that connects (I believe) 2E and 2F. I've used these buses several times and def. recommend them.

Thanks for the posts about the Air France "les cars" coach. This worked out very nicely, depositing me with luggage near Charles de Gaulle Etoile. Round trip of 22e was well spent in my viewpoint. Nicer than hassling with RER B and very comfortable/secure.