Paris transport links

tiamaria

Hi, I am struggling with the french transport sites.

I would like to get from CDG airport to Torcy about 1/2 hour away. Can anyone advise me the cheapest way to get there either by bus, train, tram?

Both outward and return journeys will be in the morning.

TIA

mrs_thrifty_2

Hello - I looked on the paris RER map ( just google it!) and it looks as if you can get an RER train ( line B3) to Chatelet les Halles and then change lines to line A4( direction Marne la vallee ) and get another train to Torcy. I don't know anything about price but I have used RER before and it is quick and efficient. I don't know anything about buses. Good luck

moonrakerz

I would suggest the RER. See this site:-

http://www.ratp.info/informer/anglais/

tooting_jane

The only sensible way I can see is to take the RER B line train into Paris as far as "Chatelet Les Halles" then get off and change onto the red RER A line (Branch A4) which goes out east to Torcy.

The train map link is below. Click on the brown arrows to go north, south, east or west. The airport is to the north east of Paris and Torcy is directy east. I couldn't find details of any direct buses. Both stations are in zone 5 of "ile de France" and you can get a one day 5 zone Mobilis pass (DO NOT BUY PARIS VISITE PASS) for around 12 Euros. It takes around an hour.

http://www.ratp.info/orienter/cv/carterer.php

trinnylilac

Try this site http://www.raileurope.co.uk/index.asp

tiamaria

Thank you all so much for your replies. I have been struggling with the routefinders as even the english versions don't recognise the stations I enter.

Please correct me if I'm wrong, this is how it goes I think;)

Get off at CDG & buy a pass - do I buy these at the airport? but would we be better off with a 5/6 day pass as we are staying for a week and will be going to disney, asterix and Paris? If so how much are these and are they for concurrent days?

Is the RER station in the airport? So we Get on a RER train to Chatelet Les Halles line B, then change to Line A4 for Torcy? Is this likely to be problematic with suitcases?

Also, has anyone stayed in Torcy? I would like to know how far the station is to the Camp de la colline where we are staying

I apologise for all the questions, as I am the "group leader" as such, I want to avoid being in the doghouse by getting us all "lost in France" . I wouldn't be very popular:o

BernadetteN

If you are staying a week, a CARTE ORANGE week pass could be cheaper than buying several days of MOBILIS day passes. However, CARTE ORANGES are valid from Monday to Sunday so it depends on the day of the week you are arriving.

Charles de Gaulle airport and Disney land and Torcy are all zone 5 and you will have to pass through zones 1-5 to get there so a 1-5 zone CARTE ORANGE costs 32.10 for the week and a MOBILIS 1-5 zone costs 12.50 per day.

If you have kids with you, it's even more complicated. There's a day pass you can buy for them on weekend days for 6.40 per day but during the week, you would have to work out whether to buy single tickets or MOBILIS/CARTE ORANGE tickets.

When I have bought a CARTE ORANGE ticket in the past, I have needed to supply a photo but perhaps they get taken digitally now?

Parc Asterix is outside Paris so you'll have to pay extra to get there. There is a bus from Charles de Gaulle RER station.

IT looks like Parc de la Colline is around 1.5km from Torcy RER station.

martindow

According to https://www.bahn.de (the best site for train times for the whole of Europe including the UK - click Int Guests along the top to get the English version) you can get the TGV to Marne la Vallee and then the RER from there. 10 minutes on the TGV and then 10 minutes on the RER. Half an hour total allowing for the connection. They also suggest the Chatelet Les Halles route as an alternative.

bignred05

Be careful with a taxi, when we went to CDG (last April)
we had quite a bit of hassle trying to get a taxi :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:
in the end the Police ordered the next taxi to take us to our destination

they did not want to know us because we were only going a short distance from the airport

they obviously wanted the bigger (longer distance fares)

tiamaria

BernadetteN wrote: »

If you are staying a week, a CARTE ORANGE week pass could be cheaper than buying several days of MOBILIS day passes. However, CARTE ORANGES are valid from Monday to Sunday so it depends on the day of the week you are arriving.

Charles de Gaulle airport and Disney land and Torcy are all zone 5 and you will have to pass through zones 1-5 to get there so a 1-5 zone CARTE ORANGE costs 32.10 for the week and a MOBILIS 1-5 zone costs 12.50 per day.

If you have kids with you, it's even more complicated. There's a day pass you can buy for them on weekend days for 6.40 per day but during the week, you would have to work out whether to buy single tickets or MOBILIS/CARTE ORANGE tickets.

When I have bought a CARTE ORANGE ticket in the past, I have needed to supply a photo but perhaps they get taken digitally now?

quote]


Thank you all again for replying.

Is the best place to buy the carte orange tickets in the airport? And are your cost quotes in euros? One of our party is 15, would he be considered a child or an adult?

PeteMc

Carte Orange is being phased out in favour of Navigo passes. I'm not sure if a non-resident can possess a Navigo as it's not a simple matter of buying at any RATP outlet. Also they are gradually increasing the coverage area i.e last year Zone 1 & 2 became Navigo instead of Carte Orange. As I've had a Navigo for years, I don't really keep up to date but you'll know the reason if they won't sell you one.

You can buy all different ticket types at manned stations so yes a Carte Orange (if available) will be sold but as Bernadette N says, take passport photos with you. The costs are in €.

Taxis are legally obliged to take you to wherever you want to go, but of course they prefer the bigger fares. Marshals operate at all CDG terminals and will sort out any problems if you decide to go that way.


Personally I'd take a taxi if you are 4 or less. Alternatively, the TGV as martindow suggests, is also an option.
The RER B (and A to a lesser extent) is generally dirty, the clientele is choice if you take the stop everywhere train from CDG, Sh8!alet Les Helles is a dump and is unsafe after 10.00pm. Not really a welcome to Paris particularly if it's your first time and you've got kids and luggage to worry about.

Saying that, it's a beautiful city, the people are better than they are made out to be and I'm glad I live here! Enjoy and don't let the Spainards stress you out at DLP