With all that walking, you can certainly say that taking the RER certainly keeps you fit! Always find the 4 letter destination codes on the RER a bit offputting - fine if you are a local, a bit baffling for a tourist! I remember when I did that journey, I was asked (by a French person) whether they were on the right train for the Gare de Lyon! I said, 'J'espere'!
Hi, as I mentionned in a comment above, there is a much shorter path to the RER platforms, using stairs on the TGV platforms. Not sure about the 4 letter destination codes, all you need to know is B or D, north or south, and stops names are written on screens on the RER platforms and above the doors inside the trains. Only thing when you're in a rush, is to not confuse B and D South as they're on the same platform. Same thing with B and A in Chatelet.
If you are lucky the Olympic guides will still be in place - if so just follow the pink sticker on the floor which will take you from the entrance to the RER all the way to RER D.
@@seekingtravel I recommend you start with guides from Gare du Nord to Gare de L'Est (walking) and to Montparnasse (use RER B Sud to Denfert Rochereau then Metro 6 dir Etoile to avoid the 700m walk to the station if you use Metro 4 to avoid changing - it saves time and should take less than 45 mins!). Stena terminal at Hoek van Holland to Rotterdam would be good too.
I don't know if this is the case for the Eurostar, but for the TGVs in Gare du Nord, say from Lille, there are stairs on the platforms, located at the middle of the train, which allow very quick access to the RER B and D, maybe 100 to 200 meters and 2 stairs door to door between your TGV and your RER.
Have done it inside 35 minutes but you have to be lucky with trains on platform 44 going South, if not your travel plans could go in the same direction. Not the same these days since those pesky French decided to amend the time of the first Paris/Barça service, which was perfect for us Brits.
55 minutes to get from one mainline terminus to another.....in ONE city??? - that's appalling. You could get from Marylebone station (on the western central edge of London) to Fenchurch Street station (in the eastern central edge) within 40 minutes .... easily.....even in rush hour on a weekday morning. Imo, I think the London Underground is better planned than the Paris Metro. It's been designed and engineered so that there are many connections between different lines, in central London. I'm not sure the Paris Metro has this same well engineered approach to connections between different lines. The time it takes between Gare du Nord and Gare de Lyon highlights this, very clearly.
It does not take that long - 30 minutes is plenty of time between Gare du Nord and Gare de Lyon provided you know the way. It is the same in London - if you know the way and are familiar with the tube it will be much quicker than for a tourist. I recommend 1 hour between Paris stations to my UK friends who are not familiar with the systems and 2 hours of they need to buy a ticket! (I have a Navigo Pass and allow myself 30-45 mins).
55 min total scheduled arrival vs departure. It didn't take that long. The question was if it would be enough time for a connection. And it was plenty.
With all that walking, you can certainly say that taking the RER certainly keeps you fit! Always find the 4 letter destination codes on the RER a bit offputting - fine if you are a local, a bit baffling for a tourist! I remember when I did that journey, I was asked (by a French person) whether they were on the right train for the Gare de Lyon! I said, 'J'espere'!
haha.
Hi, as I mentionned in a comment above, there is a much shorter path to the RER platforms, using stairs on the TGV platforms. Not sure about the 4 letter destination codes, all you need to know is B or D, north or south, and stops names are written on screens on the RER platforms and above the doors inside the trains. Only thing when you're in a rush, is to not confuse B and D South as they're on the same platform. Same thing with B and A in Chatelet.
Many thanks for this! I have to make this transfer in a few months and have been wondering how it can be done as quickly as possible. 😊✌️👏
I am very glad. I'll try to do more of these in different places in the future.
If you are lucky the Olympic guides will still be in place - if so just follow the pink sticker on the floor which will take you from the entrance to the RER all the way to RER D.
@@seekingtravel I recommend you start with guides from Gare du Nord to Gare de L'Est (walking) and to Montparnasse (use RER B Sud to Denfert Rochereau then Metro 6 dir Etoile to avoid the 700m walk to the station if you use Metro 4 to avoid changing - it saves time and should take less than 45 mins!). Stena terminal at Hoek van Holland to Rotterdam would be good too.
Very helpful
Glad it helped
I don't know if this is the case for the Eurostar, but for the TGVs in Gare du Nord, say from Lille, there are stairs on the platforms, located at the middle of the train, which allow very quick access to the RER B and D, maybe 100 to 200 meters and 2 stairs door to door between your TGV and your RER.
That’s nice to know. Thanks.
If you have just a bit more time and love to get some really nice Paris vibes do thie on foot! It is only a 1:14 walk even passing the Bastille
Have done it inside 35 minutes but you have to be lucky with trains on platform 44 going South, if not your travel plans could go in the same direction. Not the same these days since those pesky French decided to amend the time of the first Paris/Barça service, which was perfect for us Brits.
And because I had 1:30h to switch stations I did it by walking - it took me 40 minutes…
55 minutes to get from one mainline terminus to another.....in ONE city??? - that's appalling. You could get from Marylebone station (on the western central edge of London) to Fenchurch Street station (in the eastern central edge) within 40 minutes .... easily.....even in rush hour on a weekday morning.
Imo, I think the London Underground is better planned than the Paris Metro. It's been designed and engineered so that there are many connections between different lines, in central London. I'm not sure the Paris Metro has this same well engineered approach to connections between different lines. The time it takes between Gare du Nord and Gare de Lyon highlights this, very clearly.
It took 27 minutes
@@pepster3864 ....what, between Gare du Nord and Gare de Lyon; or Marylebone to Fenchurch Street?
It does not take that long - 30 minutes is plenty of time between Gare du Nord and Gare de Lyon provided you know the way. It is the same in London - if you know the way and are familiar with the tube it will be much quicker than for a tourist. I recommend 1 hour between Paris stations to my UK friends who are not familiar with the systems and 2 hours of they need to buy a ticket! (I have a Navigo Pass and allow myself 30-45 mins).
It's not the métro but RER, so it can be achieved within 15 mins door to door.
55 min total scheduled arrival vs departure. It didn't take that long. The question was if it would be enough time for a connection. And it was plenty.