I'm trying to figure out what to do about buying train tickets from Paris to Rouen this coming spring. The prices seem to be quite low if I book early. This said, our plane is scheduled to arrive at CDG at 9:30 AM. The plan is to then take a taxi to Gare St. Lazare and catch a train to Rouen. I figure I should allow an hour from CDG to Paris plus time to get through customs, collect our bags etc. it seems like the earliest we could get to the train station would be 11:30 AM. Should I be safe booking a train departing at 12:30 or 1 PM? Or should I just wait until I arrive to purchase tickets?
Posted by
Chicago
8072 posts
If you can get a really cheap ticket early -- book at 1 and just eat the ticket if it doesn't work out.
Posted by
Washington DC
27176 posts
I'm confused. I see quite a few direct TERs (regional trains) on that route. Looking at next Wednesday, the 10:11 AM departure is 24 euros, as are several afternoon trains beginning at 4:11 PM. The TERs at 12:12 and 2:12 PM are only 9 euros. Is there that large a difference between rush hour and regular fares, and is 10:11 AM rush hour?? I'd expect those TER fares not to vary with date of purchase, and of course there are no assigned seats or sell outs, so there'd be no reason to worry about buying a TER ticket ahead of time, whereas the Train Nomad fares are likely to escalate as the travel date approaches, and those trains have assigned seats and can sell out--correct?
Posted by
Washington DC
27176 posts
I just checked the schedule for next week, to see what mix of trains (TER vs. other) was available.
Posted by
OP
Berkeley, California, US
612 posts
Yikes! I just now realized that although I wrote a reply I neglected to post it! So, my apologies to one and all. Janet: I was thinking much long those same lines. Acraven: I did not realize that the TER fares did not include assigned seats. Or that they did not sell out. When I checked it seemed that TER fares were pretty much the only option. This is for spring so I don't think the schedules are posted yet. Thanks very much for your input.
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
7327 posts
Some countries let you buy tickets with their phone app. But you don't want to get caught in a long line to buy a walk-up ticket from a human. Maybe there'll be a machine in the station to buy a ticket, but that can have a line of confused tourists, too.
Posted by
Naples FL
14 posts
We bought tickets in advance. We thought from CDG to Paris would not take three hours so we thought we'd be safe to take a train from Gare du Nord three hours after we arrived at the airport. It took almost two hours to get through customs. We took the train to Gare du Nord but our train tickets were booked from Gare du Lyon. It took another train ride and taxi to the Gare du Lyon. We missed the train that would take us to our destination, Lyon. We talked with the "train people" and they said our tickets were not reimbursable and the next train to Lyon was in three hours and cost over $100.00. So, next time I will book the train at the station! We travelled in early October so maybe we were travelling in off season and didn't have a problem getting seats on the next train. Yes, our original tickets were cheap but since we couldn't use them, not so cheap!