Scheduled to land at CDG at 16:45 on a Saturday. Need to get to RER C to Dourdan. If the RER B is not available due to construction, was thinking of taking a taxi to Gare d'Austerlitz and am wondering what to expect for traffic at that time. Also, if anyone has any other alternate ideas, I'd love to hear them! (Taking the bus that would be covering the non-op RER B doesn't interest me.)
Posted by
Paris
7301 posts
Traffic really shouldn't be bad, weekdays are worse.
Price is fixed, 58€
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10623 posts
Late Saturday afternoon traffic can be heavy because you have those returning from shopping and errands mixed with those leaving for an evening out, dropping the kids at the grandparents, and even those leaving for an overnight somewhere. It's not all that free-flowing.
Posted by
Paris
10199 posts
What month ?
It could make a difference if it's in July or August.
Posted by
OP
Dana Point
1214 posts
Kim, this would be in March/April. Yes, I plan obsessively and well in advance :-)
Posted by
OP
Dana Point
1214 posts
If traffic is going to be bad, perhaps I could taxi to Bobigny-Pablo Picasso and take the 5 from there.
Posted by
Paris
7301 posts
No, I would not do that. You would lose the benefit of the fixed rate to Paris, and the 5 takes a good 30-40 minutes from Bobigny to Gare d'Austerlitz, which is the time it takes to drive from CDG to Austerlitz when there is no traffic.
Right now, to give you an idea: it is Sunday, 7 PM (a bad time because of weekenders going back to town), there have been several pile-ups, and the drive would still take "only" 1 hour. And still 58 euros.
In any case, the RER C runs late, so, does it matter if you get delayed by 30-45 minutes?
Posted by
OP
Dana Point
1214 posts
Appreciate the insight, and thanks to all who took the time to respond.
Posted by
Paris
10199 posts
As Balso underlines, the implementation of fixed rates between the airports and Paris proper has really changed the calculus. No longer do you risk watching the meter whirring up up up as you sit stuck in traffic on the A1 or the Périphérique.
Posted by
OP
Dana Point
1214 posts
Yes, the last time I took a cab after arriving in Paris was about 10 years ago. It was a Monday morning about 9AM, going to Gare St. Lazare. It was memorable for taking so long being stuck in traffic, and costing so much.