Help with train from CDG to Tours

Its too early for all of the trains to be listed for late May. But getting to Montparnasse Station from CDG couldn't be easier. Take a taxi. By official taxi, from the taxi queue at the airport, it's a fixed rate of €65 for up to 4 passengers. Buy your train ticket online once you clear Passport Control, or in person at the station.

Have you already booked your tickets?

Air France combined plane & train trips

There is a 14:10 train (2:10pm) from Paris Montparnasse getting to St-Pierre-des-Corps at 15:13.
A taxi that time of day should take 50-60 minutes. So, that’s the only train I see on Trainline that MIGHT work for you—other than the 16:12 direct train from CDG to St-Pierre-des-Corps.

After a long day flying into France and making a train connection to St-Pierre-des-Corps, you might want to pick up your rental car the next day. The last thing I’d want to do after a transatlantic flight is approach a rental car counter and sign contracts— much less attempt to drive while jet lagged. There are rental car agencies in the town of Amboise.

Generally speaking, the advice I have seen is to allow four hours between your ETA and your train's departure time if you are taking a train from central Paris. With an ETA of 11:15 that means that the Paris train that you should be looking at would leave at around 3 PM. There is a train at approximately 2 PM. If you make that one then, great, you will be at Saint Pierre des Corps at around 3:15. If you do not, you are looking at taking the train that leaves at just about the same time as the one from CDG and arrives at Saint Pierre Des Corps at around 5:45. If you do decide to take the 4:12 train from CDG, check the rental car hours at Saint Pierre Des Corps -- I think that one of the companies closes at 6 PM. For me personally with four adults, I would go to Montparnasse and try for the mid-afternoon train or take the train directly to Amboise on Day 1 and pick up the car on Day 2.

If I were going to Amboise, I would consider a taxi to Gare Austerlitz (or RER B to St Michel, connect métro 10 to Austerlitz), and take the TER directly to Amboise. Rent a car the next morning. No need to prebook TER trains.

Thanks everyone for all of your advice. It was very helpful and informative. I hadn't considered a taxi to Montparnasse, but that seems like a good way to go for 4 people as long as there is no terrible traffic. I also hadn't considered the TER to Amboise...that is another interesting thought.

One other question I have is about buying the TGV tickets. I thought I had read that your best prices for those trains are bought early (like now for late May). But that removes the possibility of taking the TER to Amboise. For the TER, the only train I see right now for May28 is after 5pm, so that is even later than the 4:12 train direct from CDG. Is there a chance they may add more TER trains from Austerlitz to Amboise? And to make things even more confusing, the TGV ticket at 2pm is much more expensive than the other times (74EU vs. 30EU at 12:20). Is there a chance that price might come down?

Thanks again for your advice. I had no idea this would be so confusing. :)

Train prices only rise, since they no longer offer Prems. I would book TGVs as soon as possible. TERs need not be prebooked.

https://www.sncf-connect.com/
https://www.thetrainline.com/en-us

Re traffic...taxis are the only auto option that can use the bus lanes, so they are faster than Uber, etc. and can get around the bad traffic (mostly). IMO they are the best option to get to the train station especially with four people. I confess that facing the metro after an overnight flight sounds too tiring for me, but then, I am 82 an no longer want to deal with any luggage on the RER or metro.
If you decide on an option that gives you some time to wait, have a coffee or snack while you wait and recover a bit from the flight.
Have a great trip!

Thank you again for your help! It all makes a lot more sense now.

Lisa