I suppose Apparating is out of the question?
March 1, 2012 12:25 PM Subscribe
Connection-filter: Is an 80-minute window enough for me to get from Paris CDG to Gare du Nord?
So I'm debating booking a flight that arrives at Paris at 9.25 pm. The last train to where I live leaves at 10.52 pm from Gare du Nord. How likely is it that I will manage to make my train, assuming I take the RER? My other option is eighteen hours on a bus, which I'm really keen to avoid. The fares for both options shake out around the same, so it's really a question of whether the train is possible.
(FWIW, I'm a French resident/non-EU citizen flying in from Liverpool, so I'm not sure if customs et al will apply. I didn't have to go through it on the bus, but I don't know if the same option holds true for flights.)
Thanks!
So I'm debating booking a flight that arrives at Paris at 9.25 pm. The last train to where I live leaves at 10.52 pm from Gare du Nord. How likely is it that I will manage to make my train, assuming I take the RER? My other option is eighteen hours on a bus, which I'm really keen to avoid. The fares for both options shake out around the same, so it's really a question of whether the train is possible.
(FWIW, I'm a French resident/non-EU citizen flying in from Liverpool, so I'm not sure if customs et al will apply. I didn't have to go through it on the bus, but I don't know if the same option holds true for flights.)
Thanks!
You'll have to clear customs/passport control because you're entering the Schengen area.
easyJet uses Terminal 2B, which puts you one terminal away from Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2 RER, and the train takes around half an hour, with departures every 7-8 minutes in your arrival window. It might make sense to buy your onward ticket from Gare du Nord at the desks in CDG if you haven't already got it booked.
It's really tight, even if you've only got hand luggage and have your walking route planned out from the moment you step off the plane -- and you also have to make a judgement call on the reliability of that route.
posted by holgate at 1:15 PM on March 1, 2012
easyJet uses Terminal 2B, which puts you one terminal away from Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2 RER, and the train takes around half an hour, with departures every 7-8 minutes in your arrival window. It might make sense to buy your onward ticket from Gare du Nord at the desks in CDG if you haven't already got it booked.
It's really tight, even if you've only got hand luggage and have your walking route planned out from the moment you step off the plane -- and you also have to make a judgement call on the reliability of that route.
posted by holgate at 1:15 PM on March 1, 2012
If you're flying in from outside the Schengen zone, which the UK is, you will go through passport control, pick up your bags, and go through customs. You will then get to wherever the RER leaves from in your terminal, wait in a queue for the ticket unless you've got one already, get the ticket, and ride into Gare du Nord - after which you'll have to get a ticket to your next destination, find the platform, and get on board in the right carriage...it all sounds a bit close and CDG is not the most user-friendly airport out there.
I looked at weekday times on the schedule. RATP says the RER B at 21:48 and 21:55 from CDG2 (they leave two minutes later from CDG1) would get you to Gare du Nord around 22:25; there are two later ones where you'd get in around 22:40; having never been to Gare du Nord but assuming it's not too much of a maze, you might just make it if you only had a backpack or something and could run, and already had purchased your ticket. That's the last chance, really.
The 22:18 gets in at 22:52, so that's out.
What about a pre-booked cab? Or flying closer to your destination?
posted by mdonley at 1:15 PM on March 1, 2012
I looked at weekday times on the schedule. RATP says the RER B at 21:48 and 21:55 from CDG2 (they leave two minutes later from CDG1) would get you to Gare du Nord around 22:25; there are two later ones where you'd get in around 22:40; having never been to Gare du Nord but assuming it's not too much of a maze, you might just make it if you only had a backpack or something and could run, and already had purchased your ticket. That's the last chance, really.
The 22:18 gets in at 22:52, so that's out.
What about a pre-booked cab? Or flying closer to your destination?
posted by mdonley at 1:15 PM on March 1, 2012
The RATP planner says 41 minutes, but that doesn't include the time to get out of your terminal and over to Terminal 2, buy a ticket, etc. I think in theory you can make in but it's a bad idea.
That time of night, a cab is better. Make arrangements in advance.
posted by wnissen at 1:16 PM on March 1, 2012
That time of night, a cab is better. Make arrangements in advance.
posted by wnissen at 1:16 PM on March 1, 2012
Oh, non-EU citizen. No, that could well take a while in that case.
posted by ambrosen at 3:09 PM on March 1, 2012
posted by ambrosen at 3:09 PM on March 1, 2012
Gare du Nord is the other end of the chunnel. Have you looked at traveling to London instead of Paris? Check the Eurostar schedules.
You might also fly to Brussels and catch a Thalys train that goes to Gard Du Nord.
I try to avoid CDG at all costs.
posted by three blind mice at 7:14 PM on March 1, 2012
You might also fly to Brussels and catch a Thalys train that goes to Gard Du Nord.
I try to avoid CDG at all costs.
posted by three blind mice at 7:14 PM on March 1, 2012
Looking at mdonley's answer, I'd guess I might be able to do it if everything went right, but I know my way around CDG and Gare du Nord pretty well. If you can catch the RER B that arrives at GDN at 22:25, that should be plenty of time to get from where the RER B arrives to the mainline train platforms. The RER arriving at 22:40 would be close, especially if you get on the wrong end of the RER and don't know your way around the Gare. Also, if you don't already have your tickets, those SNCF ticket-printing kiosks can seem unbearably slow. And don't forget to compost the tickets!
For me, the much bigger question is whether a flight landing at 21:25 would allow you to make the 21:55 RER. CDG is big.
I would only be tempted to do this if it was a work trip and the emergency hotel room would be reimbursed.
posted by indecision at 3:42 AM on March 2, 2012
For me, the much bigger question is whether a flight landing at 21:25 would allow you to make the 21:55 RER. CDG is big.
I would only be tempted to do this if it was a work trip and the emergency hotel room would be reimbursed.
posted by indecision at 3:42 AM on March 2, 2012
Response by poster: I should explain that I know my way around both CDG and Gare du Nord, I speak fluent French, and I'll have all my tickets at the ready.
Even given all of that, it's starting to look like flying in is not a viable option. Thanks, everyone!
posted by Tamanna at 4:21 PM on March 2, 2012
Even given all of that, it's starting to look like flying in is not a viable option. Thanks, everyone!
posted by Tamanna at 4:21 PM on March 2, 2012
« Older Seeking Info on a Simple But Complicated Process | If you have to ask, you probably can't afford it. Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by dripdripdrop at 1:13 PM on March 1, 2012