RER trains - how easy is it?

[claire1976]

We are doing Disney on a tight budget and don't want to pay €100 for transfer by shuttle or VER from CDG to Disney. I've been reseaching the regular RER train which takes around 40mins. We have plenty of time to do this and at €7 each it works out much cheaper.
However, my french is not great and I'm worried I won't be able to work out where to catch the train, where to get off etc!
Has anyone used the regular train and could they give me any advice and reassurance that it's not too tricky?

Thanks

 

[sam_rogers]

i've never done it from CDG but i got the RER gare du nord. we got a bit lost in the station trying to find the right line but we went to the information desk and asked the man there. he didn't speak much english but he pointed us in the right direction. other than that the journey was very straight forward. just make sure you get on the right train at les hailles when you make your connection (i think thats the right spelling) because the line splits into 2 different directions.

 

[squizz]

I've had to use the RER in August after a slight mistake meant we missed our direct eurostar.

I went from Paris Gare Du Nord I think it was to Disney, was very easy to do, had to change at Chalet les Halles I think it might have been.

Secret to it is to follow the colour and numbers. I remember reading the route in my Brit's Guide, would type it out if only I could find the thing!

As for buying tickets, we bought ours at the Eurostar check in desk, but I'm sure there will be an English speaker at CDG, try a tourist info point or something?

 

[Torchy]

At CDG the signposts for the RER are very clearly marked - depending on which zone you arrive in, they will either say CDGVAL or simply RER. In any case, the RER and TGV station is situated between 2D and 2E.

The ticket offices are on the lower concourse on the right. The staff all speak some English, we havent had a problem.

All trains from CDG go to Paris. For travel to Disney take the RER B (blue) to Chatalet les Halles. Change here on to RER A (red) to Marne-La-Vallee Chessy. At Chatalet the change is easy but avoid rush-hour if you can. The trip from CDG to DLRP was roughly 1 hour 15 minutes, from central Paris (Etoile) to DLRP was roughly 40 minutes. 7 euros sounds a bit cheap, sure it cost us more than that.

 

[claire1976]

Thanks for the tips Torchy, the prices were off the dlprmagic website, not sure if they are upto date. Surely must be cheaper than the high speed rail and shuttle bus at €100!

 

[vatali]

A few years back I did it from Arc du Triumph. Getting the tickets was horrible (and I speak a little french) but knowing the destination was easy. Switching trains was easy. Just the inital getting the tickets was difficult.

 

[salandbri]

The RER fare from CDG to Central Paris was 8.40 euros last month. I think we paid about 6.50 euros to go from Paris to DL in March last year. So maximum fare if you add these two together will be 15 euros but probably less.
Would agree with previous comments about journey being fairly straightforward.
The change at Chatelet les Halles is easy just a few yards walk to the adjacent platform no stairs or anything. Just check that you get on the Marne la Vallee train here as the line splits outside of central Paris. The indicator boards on the platform though are fairly clear.