CDG transfer to TGV train - easy?
 

We're planning a pleasure trip to France and want to catch the TGV train after we arrive in Paris. How easy is it to make the transfer - with more than carry-on luggage and not the best backs in the world?

The train station at CDG is right there, in the airport. The only problem I had last year was the escalator down to the platform (with suitcases) as I saw no elevators. Also, you can buy your tickets right at the station before boarding -- very simple.

First off, you need to find out which train station you're leaving from. TGV's depart from different stations, depending on your destination.

That said, if you're leaving from Gare de Lyon (Lyon, Geneva, many other points south), you can take the Air France bus for Montparnasse -- it leaves every half-hour and the first stop is Gare de Lyon.

For any other station, unless you feel like doing lots of schlepping, spend the US$30-40 for a taxi.

First, a belated welcome to FlyerTalk!

As the posts above point out, there is a large, modern TGV station built as part of the Terminal 2 complex (which serves mainly Air France and its partners).

You, along with your luggage loaded on a rolling cart, can reach the station via moving sidewalks and other interior walkways, so you are protected from the elements in case the weather is bad.

One important issue is, where is your destination? Not all TGV destinations are served from the CDG station (at least not directly). To give one example, I travelled Geneva to Paris some time back. I was able to go on a single TGV from Geneve to Paris without changing or transferring, but to the Gare de Lyon, NOT to CDG.

If I had wanted to go directly to CDG, I would have had to changed in Lyon (non-TGV from Geneve to Lyon, then transfer to a TGV from Lyon to the CDG station).


More information is on the French Rail (SNCF) site, this link should point to the english language version:


http://www.sncf.com/indexe.htm


Good luck and safe travels ...

NNR


[This message has been edited by Non-NonRev (edited 11-06-2000).]

Yes, TGV Station at CDG is right in the middle of the HUGE airport complex. Getting there by bus from Terminal 1 ( The old terminal that UA, TW, US, BA, LH, SK use, to name a few,) could be some trip as the CDG Terminal bus is often very crowded and the bus ride makes alot of turns..... Also the bus stop at Terminal 1 is rather indiscernible. SO watch out for it!

And a few more terminology issues:

Not all of the very fast trains are TGVs. The fast train to Brussels & Amsterdam is called Thalys; the fast train to London is called Eurostar.

In France, the rail company is called the SNCF, and SNCF operates the stations from which you would take either TGV, Thalys, or Eurostar.

[This message has been edited by wideman (edited 11-07-2000).]

It does depend on which airline you arrive. If it arrives at CDG1 (United and TWA), you must get a shuttle bus to the train station which will take you into Paris and you can connect directly on to the Metro. CDG2 is exactly as other correspondants have told you. You should have little problem, check out www.tf1.fr which should advise yous of there are any strikes which occur in France all too regulalry. By the way, Eurostar is going to be hit with strikes in the run-up to Christmas the news here warns us