Paris metro and RER trains. RER in Paris RER train timetable in Paris

Public transport in Paris is a rather ornate, but highly developed system of urban overground and underground communication, covering almost every corner of the multi-million and multi-ethnic city. It is here that the most important sights of the country are concentrated, which are “scattered” throughout the capital.

In general, public transport in Paris includes metro, trams, buses, electric trains, water and tourist-excursion transport. There is a funicular in Montmartre, also part of the network. public transport. In fact, a two-minute funicular trip will seem more like entertainment than a full-fledged trip. All b about The bicycle rental service is gaining more popularity in European cities, since this type of movement does not harm the environment, is cheaper than four-wheeled transport, improves health and helps to avoid traffic jams in the capital.

To begin with, it is worth dealing with territorial division region and current rates. Paris is part of the Île-de-France region. The whole region is divided into transport zones. Paris is zone 1 and the suburbs are the rest of the zones. The Paris Metro covers the first two zones. The RER covers all zones, but within Paris (i.e. zone 1) tickets must be purchased for regular, single trip or city passes. If you are traveling RER and go outside zone 1, then the cost of tickets will directly depend on the range of the destination zone.

Children under 4 years old are entitled to free travel. Children from 4 to 10 years old are entitled to tickets with a 50% discount on buses, metro, trams and RER.

Tickets

According to the information of the official carrier RATP, the operating hours of the metro are:

• Mon. — Thu. and Sun: from 05:30 (depending on the line) to 01:15;
• Fri. and Sat: from 05:30 (depending on the line) to 02:15.

As for the work schedule, it is permanent for the Paris metro. The fact is that the time of departure of the first and last train can be different every day, and depends on the station at which the landing takes place.

Above each platform there is an electronic scoreboard, which indicates the length of the route and the time remaining before the arrival of the next train. Metro line 14 is the newest and fastest, called Météor (Meteor), it also operates regularly, including weekends and holidays.

Tickets are common for all transport, pricing information is given above. The ticket must be kept until the end of the trip, because at a possible check it may be required by the controller. In the absence of a ticket, the controller has the right to issue a fine.

More about metro in Paris ( step-by-step instruction on purchasing tickets in the machine, orientation inside the subway and much more) you can read in our special material "Paris Metro: Romance and Pragmatics in One Car".

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RER electric trains

RER (Réseau Express Régional d "Île-de-France) electric train lines in Paris connect the outlying suburbs of the French capital with the city center. RER high-speed trains are one of the options commuter trains, however, unlike the Russian ones, they are very comfortable and have a modern look. Moreover, RER electric trains are fast, tickets are inexpensive, and most importantly, they run strictly on schedule. RER has five branches, marked with Latin letters A, B, C, D and E. Complete information about the route of the electric train (final stop, intermediate stations) appears on the electronic scoreboard located on the platform. One of the undoubted advantages of the RER system is that these trains can quickly and inexpensively get from the center of Paris to Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports.

The cost of tickets for RER electric trains does not differ from the cost of metro tickets - the same 1.90 euros, but only as long as the passenger moves within the city limits. Machines and ticket offices where you can buy RER tickets are located at electric train stations. If the itinerary of the trip goes outside the city, you need to buy another ticket that is valid for the entire region of Ile-de-France. If there is no such ticket, the passenger will not be able to pass through the turnstile, and, as a result, will be forced to pay a fine. RER train tickets, like metro tickets, cover all travel within Paris. Subway tickets can be used to travel on the RER lines.

It is worth noting that some of the lines (A and B) are serviced by RATP, and the rest by SNFC (lines, and). On the diagrams, the RER lines have a letter display in circles.

Metro and RER - what's the difference?

The metro is a classic system: mostly underground, many stops, frequent trains, short distances between lines, serves the center, not such a clear schedule.

Confusion arises in the city center, where the RER has several stations far apart, somewhat reminiscent of the express metro system, with longer trains and faster travel. The RER stations in the center of Paris are combined with metro stations, forming key transport hubs, of which there are only six. The use of the metro ticket, Ticket t+, is allowed on the RER, but only within zone 1, or the center of Paris, bounded by the ring road called Boulevard Periphérique.

Topic tip:

Transillien

Along with the RER, Paris has a well-developed network suburban trains(Transilien) serviced by SNCF. These trains, as a type of urban public transport, are less popular due to the worst connection with the metro system, and therefore it is not always possible to use the same ticket for both the train and the metro, but Transillen is often used for trips to the suburbs. On the diagrams, the Transilien lines have a letter display in squares. Route maps and timetables for each line are available on the SNCF and Navigo websites.

Trams of Paris

The Île-de-France tramway network consists of ten lines, only two of which (T3a and T3b) lie within Paris. All tram lines (except T4 and T11) are operated by RATP. T4 is operated by SNCF, while T11 or Tramexpress is operated by Transkeo, of which SNFC is also a shareholder. On the detailed map you can see the directions of all tram lines in the region:

It is necessary to consider in more detail the two tram lines passing within the city. runs from Pont du Garigliano to Porte de Vincennes and is in the first fare zone. stretches from Porte de Vincennes to Porte d'Asnières Marguerite Long and is also in the first fare zone. We can say that one line smoothly passes into another and these tram lines enclose the city in a ring. A project to expand the lines is currently under consideration.

Buses

Dozens of bus routes run in Paris, several thousand buses move along them. The only drawback of buses is the possibility of getting into traffic jams during rush hours. Bus traffic occurs from 6 am to half past eight in the evening, from Monday to Saturday. Some buses run exclusively on weekdays.

Route numbers are written on bus stops. There are also traffic patterns of a particular route, timetables, possible transfers, and fares. In order for a passing bus to stop, you need to give a sign to the driver. The entrance to the bus is through the front door, the door to the bus is opened by pressing the red button inside or outside. Another nuance: pay attention to the scoreboard on the windshield of the bus - sometimes the name of the last stop is crossed out, which means that the bus will not reach the final station. Seats for the elderly, disabled, passengers with children and pregnant women are located in front of the cabin. Needless to say, they should be conceded.

To travel around Paris by bus, you need to purchase the same tickets as for a trip to the metro - at a cost of 1.90 euros. Such tickets are suitable for bus routes, both within the city and in the suburban area. The exceptions are the directions Balabus, Noctilien and bus routes, having numbers 221, 297, 299, 350 and 351, since the fare on these routes will depend on the distance to the destination (according to the zonal system). If you have several trips ahead, it will be more profitable to buy a set of Carnet tickets or a pass, which was mentioned above. The suburbs of Paris are also served by Optile.

More detailed bus maps of Paris (by districts) can be found on the official RATP website.

Bus number 40 is especially popular, running from Le Peletier to Mairie du 18 Eme. Previously, the route was called Montmartrobus, and this name bus line speaks for itself - the mini-bus deftly rolls residents and guests of the city through the narrow streets of Montmartre. Along the route of the bus, you can observe the funicular and the Sacré-Coeur Basilica.

Night bus

Naturally, in such a huge city as Paris, bus traffic does not stop even at night. To do this, the French put on the route the night bus Noctilien and Noctambus from 00:30 to 05:30. Night buses travel on dozens of routes in and around Paris. You can recognize the night bus stop by the presence of a sign with an owl against the background of the moon at the stop. Night buses also need to show a stop sign. The terminal stations of his route are Châtelet, Avenue Victoria, Rue Saint-Martin. On night buses, fares are paid with Navigo, Mobilis or Paris Visite tickets. t+ tickets can also be used here or bought from the bus driver.

The number of required tickets t+ is calculated according to the following principle: 1 ticket for travel between zones 1 and 2, then for each zone crossed by a ticket. Example: zones 1-2 = 1 ticket; zones 1-3 = 2 tickets. Every time you transfer to another bus, you need to purchase a new ticket.

Intercity buses

Paris also has a huge number of companies dealing with regional and international bus transportation. For example, Eurolines buses connect French capital with all Europe and the provinces of France. They depart from the Paris International Bus Station Gallieni, located at 28, av. Du General de Gaulle 93541 Bagnolet, Gallieni metro station. More information about bus routes and fares can be found on the Eurolines website.

Tour transport in Paris

For tourists, the most acceptable way to get to know Paris is a trip to sightseeing bus. These buses are impossible to miss: they usually have two floors, painted red or yellow.

Open Tour Paris buses

These open-top double-decker buses run on three excursion routes with an interval of 10 - 20 minutes from April to November. In the winter months, buses begin to run a little less often, every half an hour, due to the low season.

Tourists have the opportunity to enter or exit at any of the fifty stops, marked with an "Open Tour" sign on a red and yellow background. All buses are equipped with audio guides in English, French, Russian, German, Italian and other languages.

The cost of tickets for the Open Tour bus directly depends on the number of days:

• Adult ticket for 1 day 35 euro;
• Adult ticket for 2 days (consecutive) - 39 euro;
• Adult ticket for 3 days (consecutive) - 43 euro;
• Child ticket (4 - 15 years) for 1, 2 or 3 days - 18 euro;
• Children under 4 years old - free of charge.

Tickets can be purchased at the Open Tour central office (address: 13 rue Auber 75009 Paris, telephone: 01 42 66 56 56), directly from the bus driver, from the agencies of the Paris Tourism Bureau, online on the Open Tour website, through the Open Tour Paris mobile application, available for iOS and Android.

City Sightseeing Paris bus

The bright red bus with typically characteristic stickers on board has only two routes, red and blue. The red route covers several times more attractions and its duration is 90 minutes. Buses depart every 15 minutes from 09:30 to 18:00 from the main stations located near the Sacré-Coeur Basilica, Moulin Rouge, Arc de Triomphe, etc.

The Blue Line can be bypassed in just an hour. Buses on this route depart every 20 minutes from 10:00 to 17:30.

Ticket prices for 2020 will be:

• 1 day ticket to the red line - 30 euro;
• 35 euro when ordering online and 40 euro when buying on the bus;
• 2-day ticket to the red line - 35 euro;
• 1 day ticket for the red and blue line - 40 euro when ordering online and 45 euro when buying on the bus;
• Child ticket (4 - 11 years old) for 1 or 2 days on the red and blue line - 15 euros.

You can buy tickets on the buses or on the official website.

By the way, in Paris there are many such carriers that provide tourist and excursion services, such as Foxity and many others.

Bustronome bus

The company organizes excursions to the sights of Paris with lunch on a double-decker restaurant bus with a glass roof. On board the Bustronome, food is served by waiters. The menu is constantly changing depending on the season. Here you get acquainted not only with the city, but also with French cuisine, as well as local wines.

Funicular in Paris

The Montmartre funicular can be attributed more to pleasure transport than to the usual public, although metro tickets are valid for paying for travel. The idea of ​​​​creating a funicular was born at the end of the 19th century and at the very beginning of the 20th it was brought to life.

The funicular consists of only two cabins, taking passengers up to the Sacré-Cœur Basilica. The length of the line is 108 meters and this distance is very easy to overcome on foot, but being in Montmartre and not riding the famous funicular is a kind of “crime”. The funicular itself is a landmark and has featured in many literary works and films.

Bateaux Parisiens

Bateaux Parisiens, founded in 1956, is the most popular organizer in Paris river cruises along the Seine. Guests are offered a wide variety of programs: cruises on the Seine from eiffel tower and from Notre Dame Cathedral, Seine cruises with lunch in a cafe on the waterfront with a view of the Eiffel Tower, Seine cruises with lunch or dinner, aperitif walks. All excursions are accompanied by an audio guide in 13 languages, including Russian. Ticket prices - from 15 euro depending on the program.

Embarkation and disembarkation of passengers on boats takes place near the Eiffel Tower, in the harbor of Port de la Bourdonnais on the right bank of the Seine, or at cathedral Notre Dame. Additional Information about excursions of the company - on its official website.

Cruises from Bateaux Parisiens:

here . Having bought a ticket once, passengers have the opportunity to freely enter and exit at stops.

Ticket price:

• 1 day - 17 euro(adult), 8 euro(children);
• 2 days - 19 euro(adult), 10 euro(children).

You can buy tickets at the box office at any Batobus pier, at airports, at tourist offices in Paris. Detailed information can be found on the Batobus website.

Company Vedettes de Paris also organizes tourist cruises on the Seine.

Bicycle rental in Paris

Cycling is becoming more and more popular in Europe. Moving around the metropolis on a bicycle is faster and more convenient, this nimble vehicle traffic jams and large fines are not terrible, besides, the bicycle is environmentally absolutely safe. The municipality of Paris has created a whole network of Velib stations in the capital, where everyone can rent a bike. Tourists can also be recommended to admire the sights and beauties of the city, moving on a two-wheeled friend.

To rent a bike, you need to register at the information desk of the nearest bike station. Subscriptions are of three types: lasting for a year, for a day and for a week. The subscription price will depend on the type of subscription and bike (more expensive for electric bikes).

If you choose to rent a bike without a subscription, then you start paying for the rental from the first minute. If you pay for a subscription for a day, then the first half hour you ride for free, the main thing is to have time to change the bike at the station closest to you in order to spend only on the cost of the subscription and not pay for rental hours.

We would recommend tourists to get a subscription for 1 day or for a week. The registration process is as follows: accept the agreement, insert a credit card, 150 euros are blocked on the card. The cost of the bike pass is also deducted from the card. After that, choose any combination of four digits - this will be your pin code for the Velib card, which will need to be entered into all the machines of the system when renting another bike.

Next, choose at the station any bike with a burning green light next to it. A green light indicates that this bike is free. Enter the number of the bike, your account number in the system and the selected pin code into a special machine at each bike station and automatically get access to the vehicle. The first half hour of using a bicycle is free, then euros per hour, after that it is even more expensive. The amount of 150 euros that has been blocked on your credit card, will become free after the bike returns to one of the stations.

Bicycle rental rates at Velib system stations without a subscription:

Bicycle rental rates at Velib system stations with a subscription:

All package offers and conditions can be found on the official Velib website.

Since the first half hour at any chosen rate is free, you can ride a bike around Paris for almost nothing, moving from station to station and changing bikes there, paying only the cost of the subscription. Every subsequent 30 minutes + 1 euro. Of course, this is only possible if there are free bikes at each next station.

In general, you can find many private car rental companies in Paris, such as AlloVelo, Paris à Vélo c’est Sympa! and many others.

• Interactive map of bike stations and bike parks in Paris

By registering on the official Bikesurf website, whose users lend personal bikes for free / for a symbolic donation at your discretion / for any possible help, you can ride around Paris, saving a lot. The organization is charitable.

How to get from the airport to Paris

To summarize the above, it is worth putting together the main ways to get from Paris airports to the city center by public transport. The cheapest way to buy tickets is from cash machines at stations, as sometimes sales sites make small markups. You just have to compare prices and choose the most optimal way.

From Charles de Gaulle Airport to Paris:

Roissybus

Runs between the airport and the Opéra (11, rue Scribe) every 15 to 20 minutes. Travel time is 60 - 75 minutes. Departure times towards the airport: 05:15 - 00:30, towards the Opera: 06:00 - 00:30. Tickets can be purchased from vending machines at stations or from the bus driver. Ticket price - 12 euro.

Bus number 350

Runs between the airport and Gare de l'Est (76, boulevard de Strasbourg) every 15 - 30 minutes. Travel time is 60 - 80 minutes. Departure times towards the airport: 05:33 - 21:30, towards the city: 06:05 - 22:30. Tickets can be purchased at vending machines at stations, in the metro, at RER stations. Ticket price - 6 euro.

Bus number 351

Connects the airport and Place de la Nation (2, avenue du Trône) and runs every 15 to 30 minutes. Travel time is 70 - 90 minutes. Departure times towards the airport: 05:35 - 20:20, towards the city: 07:00 - 09:37. Tickets can be purchased at vending machines at stations, in the metro, at RER stations. Ticket price - 6 euro.

RER (Line B)

Runs between the airport and the RER B station every 10 - 20 minutes. Travel time is 25 - 30 minutes. Departure times: 04:53 - 12:15 (Gare du Nord), 05:26 - 12:11 (Chatêlet les Halles), 05:18 - 12:03 (Denfert-Rochereau). In the direction to the city: 04:50 - 23:50. Tickets can be purchased at vending machines at stations, in the metro, at RER stations. Ticket price - 10.30 euro.

Le Bus Direct

A special shuttle connects CDG Airport with Paris on three routes. You can drive from the airport to the Eiffel Tower in 18 euro(children's ticket - 10 euro). Tickets are purchased on the bus or on the official website. For the same price, the bus will take you to Montparnasse. A trip on the third route from Charles de Gaulle airport to Orly will be a little more expensive. An adult ticket costs 22 euro, and children's 13 euro. The bus makes several stops along the way. As you can see from the ticket price, this bus cannot be called the cheapest bus transfer from the airport to the city and its main advantages are the presence of free Wi-Fi.

If you arrived at night, then you can get from Charles de Gaulle Airport to Gare de l'Est by night bus number 140. The ticket can be bought from the driver. Buses depart from the airport to the station from 01:00 to 04:00, and from the station to the airport from 01:00 to 03:40. Approximate travel time is 80 minutes.

Also, bus number 143 departs from this airport along the same route. The main difference lies in fewer stops (travel time is about 55 minutes). The work schedule also varies: buses depart from the airport to the station from 00:32 to 04:32, and from the station to the airport from 00:50 to 05:08.

From Orly airport to Paris:

Orlybus

Runs between the airport and Place Denfert-Rochereau every 8 - 15 minutes. Travel time is 25 - 30 minutes. Departure times towards the airport: 05:35 - 00:00, towards the city: 06:00 - 00:30. The ticket can be purchased at vending machines at stations, in the subway, at ticket offices, at RER stations or in the bus driver's cabin. Ticket price - 8.30 euro.

Bus number 183

Runs between the airport and Porte de Choisy (metro line 7) every 15 to 40 minutes. Travel time is 40 minutes. Departure times towards the airport: 05:35 - 23:54, towards the city: 06:00 - 00:20. Tickets can be purchased from vending machines at the stations. Ticket price - 2 euro.

Bus Navette GO C Paris

We can also see detailed

Official Information:

RER (the full official name of the French Réseau Express Régional d'Île-de-France, "Ile-de-France Express Network", pronounced after the French names of the letters er-yo-er) is a rapid public transport system serving Paris and the suburbs . It is an amalgamation of suburban surface railway lines (partly pre-existing, partly newly built and reconstructed) and new underground lines that arose in the 1960s-1990s within the boundaries of Paris. An important feature is the active use of deep underground lines within the city and the popularity of intracity routes, which brings RER closer to the metro. In addition, the RER and the Paris Metro are integrated through a transfer and payment system.

In total, the RER has more than 257 stations (including 33 within the boundaries of Paris), a length of 587 km, including 76.5 km (more than 40 stations) underground. The system is used by 657 million passengers per year, or 1.8 million per day. In 1989, the intervals between trains were reduced, and since 1998 double-deck trains have been used. Lines are marked with letters (A, B, C…) on all pocket transport maps of Paris.

Part of the lines is subordinate to the transport company, which also owns the metro (RATP), part - railway(SNCF). The fare for both types of lines is the same. Depending on the distance of the trip, there are 5 payment zones.

RER and the Paris Metro

Within the boundaries of Paris, RER has several transfers to the Paris Metro; within the city, the same tickets are valid for travel on it as on the metro and ground transport(but when crossing the borders of the city you need to buy a separate ticket). Parisian RER stations are located much less frequently than in the metro, as a rule, they have a greater depth of laying, and the lines are much less curved. Many trips within the city using the RER take noticeably less time than the subway.

Helpful Tips, personal experience and FAQ's.

Why and in what cases do Russian tourists use RER?

RER is used by tourists from Russia extremely rarely, mainly for independent low-budget visits to some suburbs of Paris like Versailles or Sainte-Genevieve de Bois. Read more…

What are the dangerous or unpleasant moments when using RER?

There are basically three situations here:

• When you purposefully drive out of town. Read…
• When you purposefully drive within the boundaries of Paris Read…
• When you accidentally went (changed) to RER instead of the metro Read

Travel payment.
Payment for trips exists in special ticket offices, which are becoming less and less, as well as in a number of terminals. The terminals have an English version, which is more convenient for tourists from Russia. Coins and small bills are accepted. With a bill even in 50 Ev (and not only in 500 Ev) and the device will not accept and at the box office they can send politely or not very much (such as small money no, go to the bar to change). Cards are usually also accepted, but some devices have restrictions on the type of cards. A Sberbank Mastercard card works well and was not accepted in only one out of 10 devices.
Where can you get on the RER
- Airport Charles de Gaulle-Roissy (although you still have to walk around the terminal buildings)
– Orly Airport (with a transfer) and you will also have to walk a little inside the complex
— Disneyland
– Russian cemetery of Sainte-Genevieve-des-Bois near Paris, then by taxi or bus
– Forest of Fontainebleau, to the castle and the museum you need to continue moving by taxi or bus

Station Charles de Gaulle Airport RER SNCF

RER lines (Reseau Express Regional - Regional High-Speed ​​Network) run through the entire city and connect Paris with the surrounding region of Ile-de-France. Within the city limits, the stations of the RER lines are almost always combined with the stations of the Paris metro.

1. RER tickets are presented not only at the entrance, but also at the exit, so you should not rush to throw away the ticket until the end of the trip.

2. Navigation is clear and accessible.

3. In addition to conventional escalators, there is a special escalator for wheelchair users on the right.

4. This diagram shows how to get to the city using the RER from Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports. Moreover, from Orly, you first need to get to the RER station itself, either by the Orlybus bus or the Orlyval trains (controlled automatically, without a driver)

5. The fare within Paris is the same as the metro fare, but for other areas the cost will be different. Moreover, the farther the destination, the more expensive the ticket will cost.

7. Just like on the streets of Paris, some stations have high-tech automated toilets. Entrance to it is free if you have a ticket for the metro, which you traveled no more than 1 hour ago. These automatic booths themselves clean, disinfect and wash everything that is needed. Due to automation, the process is greatly slowed down.

8. The toilet has 3 states: the green light is on - free, red - busy, yellow - cleaning is in progress. If the green light is on, press the button and enter. Then close the door by pressing the special button. Now there's no way to open the door from the outside! Already in the cabin itself there are special buttons for choosing: the level of water pressure during cleaning (save water!). The water faucet is also equipped with environmental reminders. To exit, press the button to open the door - otherwise it will not open. There is also a button for alarmists emergency exit. Cleaning will begin AFTER you leave the toilet. The status light will turn yellow.
Attention! Never enter the toilet as soon as someone has left and the door has not had time to close! The light will turn off in the toilet and washing will begin. You will come out wet. Wait for the person to leave, the door will close, the cleaning will be completed, the green light will turn on - now you can enter.

9. At the stations there are vending machines with food and drinks.

10. Trains of this network run according to the schedule, which hangs on the platforms. As in the metro, the lines tend to "fork" and end on different branches of the same direction. Therefore, you should carefully monitor that the approaching train follows in the direction you need.

11. Within the city limits, the stations of the RER lines are almost always combined with the stations of the Paris metro.

12. Trade is developed at interchange stations.

13. Information is enough not to get lost, but because of advertising it is lost.

INFORMATION:
From 22/3 starting 11.30pm: flights operated from Paris-CDG Terminal 3 & 2G are reassigned to others terminal / flights operated from Paris-Orly 1 & 2 are reassigned to other terminals.
Find more

Due to the current situation regarding the epidemic of the Coronavirus Covid-19, traffic is reduced on the RER B.
Find more

Special travel certificate: the French government has taken measures to restrict mobility. Each person wishing to travel will have to hold a document certifying the reason for his or her displacement.
Find more on the French government

Warning: access to the terminals of Paris airports is restricted to employees and passengers (with a reservation) who travel only in the context of the exceptions provided for. Taxis and transport are always available for these journeys.

Fare:

€11.40 (forfait Navigo, zones 1-5 accepted)

Journey time*:

Approx. 25 minutes from Gare du Nord
Approx. 28 minutes from Châtelet-Les-Halles
Approx. 35 minutes form Denfert-Rochereau.

Frequency:

Every 10-15 minutes on weekdays

Stops:

Terminals 1 and 3: Airport Charles de Gaulle 1 station
Terminal 1 is available by free CDGVAL shuttle (journey time: 6 minutes).
Terminal 3 is available by pedestrian walkway.

Terminal 2: Airport Charles de Gaulle 2 TGV station
Terminals 2C, 2D, 2E et 2F are availables by foot and by moving walkway.
Terminal 2A is available by foot or by free N1 shuttle from RER station, level 5.
Terminal 2G is available by free N2 shuttle, from Terminal 2F, exit 2.10.

* The prices, time schedules and travelling times are given for reference only. Paris Airport may not be held liable for any deviation.

They are very convenient because with their help you can easily get to attractions that are not located within the city of Paris. On the RER you can get to Disneyland, visit the Palace of Versailles, have time to Orly and Charles de Gaulle airports. The only problem is that the RER stations are quite difficult to navigate. Certainly, locals they are used to everything and it is not difficult for them to get to their destination, but tourists, especially those who come to Paris for the first time, will have to work hard to get to their destination.

Landmarks at the RER station:

• Within Paris, RER and regular metro intersect, have closely spaced stations, but it should be remembered that often RER and metro stations differ from each other in name, they may have different entrances and exits and platforms. This can seriously confuse the unprepared tourist. Very often there are transitions between the RER and the metro within Paris, which is very convenient, since you can travel on one ticket
• The RER platform is identified by a pointer, an abbreviation written in blue in a circle. This is the official designation of the RER and can be seen everywhere, including on train cars running along the route. A letter = line number is usually indicated next to it. Total 5 lines
• Before the trip, it is recommended to stock up on the RER card, with which it will be much easier to move around. The card can be obtained from the RATP cashier for free or downloaded from the official website at this link. The map shows the routes of each line. The fact is that one and the same line can have several routes, in order to leave in the right direction, you need to remember the end station of your route and build on this data
• Before entering the platform, it is necessary to clarify the correct side - the direction of the train. Some RER stations do not have transitions between platforms, so to get to the right one, you have to exit and enter again by purchasing a new ticket
• There are two train options on the routes: full or long trains that stop at all stations and express trains that stop at a certain limited number of stations. Each RER platform has screens that display all the necessary information: the name of the train; the final station of the next train; a list of stations where he will stop; Arrival time. Usually 6 trains are placed on the screen, which go one after the other, the train that arrives first is displayed in the first place. If you are not sure about the train, it is better to wait for the next one, as they run quite often
• If you need to get to Paris from the suburbs, then any train from the list will do, since the route forks only outside the city, and in Paris there is one direction within one line.

Do not forget from strikes. This applies to any public transport. The French are very sensitive about their rights and strikes are absolutely normal. At the same time, everything costs and the mode of operation is lost. If there is a need to get to a specific place on a specific day (for example, a flight is scheduled), you must first check the operation of the RER or other transport, and then plan everything.