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Changing Trains in Paris

Posted by (Montgomery) on

I'll be traveling from Rennes France to Amsterdam in May and have to change trains in Paris. I'll arrive at the Montparnasse station and depart from the Nord station. It appears I'll have right over an hour to get from one station to the other; will be this be sufficient time and what would be the best way to get from one station to the other? Also, I was reading another person's question about check in time and passport check; is the train stations in France like going through an airport with security/passport checks? I don't remember this being an issue when I was last in Europe in 2013.

Thank you

Posted by
3989 posts

Take Metro Line 4 toward Porte Clignancourt and get of the train at Gare du Nord. It's a pretty long walk (10 minutes) from the SNCF trains to the Metro but if you follow the signs, you should be okay. Unless things have changed since the summer, train station security in France is nothing like airport security. Ideally, you would arrive around 20 minutes before departure time. The trip between the stations is about 20 minutes.

Posted by
21153 posts

Part of the way to the Metro entrance is a moving walkway, which helps a little if it is working.
No security for the Thalys train. Off duty American servicemen and expat professors provide security, with the help Englishmen who know how to tie knots.
Edit- RATP shows 6 minute walking time from Montparnasse station to Metro entrance, trains running every 4 minutes mid day, 17 minute on the Metro. 3 minutes walking time to Gare du Nord station. Maximum 30 minutes, so add 10 minutes on each end for orientation and you should have it.

Posted by
23626 posts

My guess is that anything prior to last month maybe old information. I am sure the whole security issue in France is under review and subject to a lot of change especially the trains. It may be difficult to get good last minute information so you may want to be prepared for a little more security. Perhaps on the order of the Eurostar or the Spanish trains. Should be no checkin time or passport check. The other post you referenced may refer to the Eurostar.

Posted by
10199 posts

The check-in time you're talking about is only for the Eurostar going to London. Otherwise there isn't check-in for trains in France.

Yet.

Well put Sam!!

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