Luggage On The RER

Well, it’s not even possible on the RER, as there are no luggage racks.

There is nowhere convenient to put your luggage on an RER train. You just have to keep it with you. Even better, the RER A (which is the line out to Disney), has dual-level carriages, so you have to lug your luggage either upstairs or downstairs unless you just stay standing in the boarding-level “foyer “ (and then you have to come up or down again to disembark).

This was aways an awful selfish idea that risked blocking people's luggage in preventing them from exiting at their stops. Never do this. Trains make quick stops and people have to be able to move quickly to get off -- there is no time to find the person who has blocked them in or to unlock luggage unless done well ahead. Just don't. If you are nervous about luggage on long haul trains, carry less so you can keep it on the rack above your head or else stand in the luggage area at stops to make sure your luggage stays put.

But the RER and metro don't have luggage racks; they are commuter trains and you manage your luggage as best you can trying to keep from blocking aisles with bags. If there are four of you I would consider a taxi. And FWIW the risk of your baggage being stolen if unattended would be a lot higher on a commuter suburban train than on a long haul train. Be sure you are pickpocket proof -- no wallets in pockets or backpacks or careless held purses and all high value items like computer bags or purses, attached to you at all times. Paris is not a dangerous city for muggings or violence -- but pickpockets are skilled and omnipresent.

I agree - I took a similar commuter train in Rome with a large suitcase and I basically decided to sit on my suitcase in the back of the car, like I was hatching an egg. With a family it may be impractical. I will explore other options just in case.

You won't/wouldn't be the first ones to do it, and certainly not the last. My biggest recommendations are, as Janet said, make sure you're wearing a money belt with ANYthing precious stashed in it, and secondly if at ALL possible, go after and before rush hours.

You may have to carry luggage up and down stairs to the station or during transfers. If you are traveling with kids who can’t handle their own luggage, look into a private transfer/taxi. Your hotel can probably provide suggestions. If you are traveling with more than 4 carry on size bags, you will probably need a minivan taxi, which may need to be specially requested.

Do not underestimate the skill of pickpockets. But your backpack, daybag and pockets will be a bigger target than your luggage. Always be pickpocket proof on any metro or RER. Another reason for a private transfer. I’ve been on the RER with my kids when we were squished like sardines. Thankfully no luggage to contend with, but it was stressful and uncomfortable.

I am coming around to thinking that booking a minivan ride may be the way to go. It’s more costly, but it’s probably a small price to pay for piece of mind.

Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy is an originating station, you´ll have plenty of time and options for boarding and securing luggage (as has been pointed out, never lock luggage to anything). Sit near the end of a car, just away from the doors. Some newer RER cars do have luggage storage areas near the door. I would not use them, keep your luggage next to you.

At what station in Paris are you disembarking and at what time of day? Your only real concern will be disembarking at a crowded station, such as les Halls during rush hour.

From Disney, you reach Paris in 30 minutes on the RER A. A van covering the same route can easily take over 1 hour and possibly longer depending upon your destination. Personally, I would only consider the train for traveling from Disney to Paris.

I am in the same camp as Tocard.

Tell us which stop you need in Paris, and it may sound like you are needing the Métro too, and then we can give more detailed answers.

And, NO, do not lock your luggage to anything.

Starting at the beginning of the RER-A line you will be in the best position to set yourselves up.

To me, the deciding factor between taxi and RER is the ability to carry all the stuff without too much effort up and down stairs.
If you cannot do it (e.g., if the kids are too young to help), then a taxi/transfer is the way to go, expensive as it may be.

Alternatively, to save a bit of money, the RER is actually quite good when it comes to escalators and elevators, the issue is the metro. So you could take the RER A to the station which is closest to your final destination (avoiding Chatelet Les Halles, which is confusing - so either Gare de Lyon, Auber, or Charles de Gaulle-Etoile), and take a taxi/Uber from there to avoid taking the metro with luggage.

we are a family of four who will be carrying a handful of suitcases

Based on a companion post, the kids are 8 & 10

Not sure what 'a handful of suitcases' is.

Depending on how many people are with you, taking a taxi might be an easier more cost-efficient way to get into the city center. I don't like the stress and hassle of taking the RER when I am jetlagged (plus I HATE carrying things more than anything and that long walk to the gare/rer area is exhausting and sweaty)

We have taken the RER with luggage and never had a problem. However, PICKPOCKETS are there, be careful.

Thank you for your excellent responses. The station we were looking at was Gare de Lyon. Our hotel is in the 7th arondisement. We were thinking once at the station we would get a taxi to the hotel. Rush hour I am not too concerned about, as we are doing this on a Saturday.

Bus might be good on that route, but note that the buses are full of people whose disabilities don't allow them the metro and so you may get seats at origination but need to stand pretty quickly for very elderly or disabled people as they fill up the bus. I am OLD -- nearly 80 and I often need to give up my seat on buses to people who need it more than I do (I have learned to chose the awkward elevated seats or head to the very back to increase the odds that I can keep my seat)

The RER is a great way to get from your destination to Paris and the pickpocket thing is just true for any crowded place like the Eiffel Tower, Disneyland, the Louvre etc as well as public transport. So there is no great danger particularly on the RER. They are not after luggage -- they want your wallet - credit cards and money -- and your fancy phone. And if they get the credit card there can be 10K in charges on it before you notice it is missing. Just be pickpocket proof and in transit that means a money belt under the clothes or a neck wallet or perhaps a cross body purse under the coat or very much under control. After you get to the hotel, stow most of it in the room safe, and go out with one card and a little cash, securely stowed. I use a bandolier phone case worn cross body (that is a brand, but there are other versions of course) and it has a little leather envelop attached for money and cards and a spare mask. There are also lots of travel clothes with hidden inside pockets that can make travel easier and more secure.

K2. I am a decent person so I feel compelled to give my seat to an elderly person with a cane or someone in a cast and on crutches or a very pregnant woman or anyone who otherwise obviously needs a seat regardless of whether I am sitting in the disabled seats. The buses in my experience are sometimes filled with elderly people and people with canes, crutches etc etc. Anyone seated who CAN stand needs to give their seat up when there is a need (which is why Old me tries to pick a seat way in the back or one of those elevated seats where I am less likely to be confronted with this. When I say 'compelled'. I don't mean by the police or whatever but by the code of not being a jerk.

I agree that with two small kids....book a legal taxi or private car.
You will be tired, and your kids will either be hyper or exhausted, and you won't be able to watch all the bags safely.
Money belt!
Put ALL your cards, passports, cash etc in your money belt, under your clothing, before you leave the airport.
Just keep out enough to pay for your transport fare to your hotel.
Could you maybe travel lighter, and have less suitcases?

If you do opt for the RER, sit or stand well away from the doors, and be in the middle of the compartment.
Some thieves have been known to grab a bag from someone beside a door, then jump off before the door closes.

The bus 63 from Gare de Lyon to the 7th arrondissement can take a long time (30-45 min), it is not a very good call. The nearest RER stop is Auber, which is not too hectic.

And actually, there are escalators for the transfer to Line 8 at Auber/Opera, and again from platform to street to exit at both La Tour Maubourg and École Militaire. So in this case, metro all the way isn't too bad!

@Kerouac2, the OP mentioned a hotel in the 7th arrondissement, so most probably somewhere along line 8 given that most hotels are clustered around there. No idea why they referred to Gare de Lyon in the first place!
But we can only assume!

Thanks for all the great responses. Yes, my money belt will be on my person for sure.

A thought. It would also depend on the time you were on the train. First thing in the morning , less of a problem than during rush hour. ....twopffenig

I don't see why there are concerns about the family being exhausted and unable to be alert - they are travelling from Disneyland into Paris.

In a companion post I see that the OP was arriving in Munich last Friday.

K2 --- I hate the buses and so take them rarely and my impression is from 5 or 6 bus rides a trip --- last trip I had 3 in a row where the buses were crammed standing room only almost entirely with elderly people, many with shopping carts, and very many needing seats more than I did. Maybe it isn't common, but it is just common in my experience. These were buses in the Latin quarter and in the 19th.

53 for a taxi. Less hassle.

There is no indication that the OP is going from an airport into Paris, which would bring the fixed-rate airport taxis into play.

The OP, according to their posts, is going from Disney Paris into Paris.

With same age kids we decided the hassle of lugging things on that train into the 6th for hotel either a transfer or a bus ride and then a walk to hotel from Disney was just enough that we asked for a taxi at hotel, and it was lovely to be dropped at the hotel door instead. Saved us approx 30min as well.

Yes you can do it, yes you’ll be fine. But sometimes ease of transfer is worth a few extra dollars.

we asked for a taxi at hotel, and it was lovely to be dropped at the hotel door instead. Saved us approx 30min as well.

Mary 57, you saved 30 minutes by taking a taxi from Marne la Vallee to the 6th arrondissement?

The RER A from Marne la Vallee, with a change at les Halls for metro 4 to the 6th arrondissement, takes no longer than 45 minutes, maybe less. Are we to understand that you took a taxi from Marne la Vallee to an address in the 6th in under 15 minutes (30 minutes earlier than the RER required 45 minutes)?

That is certainly a new world record.

@tocard the estimated time on Google to walk from hotel to station and take the 2 trains and several blocks to walk to our specific hotel was 1:15, our cab took about 40-45min. We departed Disney very early AM before traffic was bad. Based on the estimated time it would take yes I did save time.