I am very quick as a walker with one carry on sized luggage, but is getting from the TGV arrival area in CDG, to the RER B (to S. Michel Metro stop), transferring to the RER C (to D'Austerlitz) feasible in ~ 1 hr 15 min?
I checked the RER Schedules, and they work out, but my main concerns are:
It's possible maybe even feasible but it probably will not work out for you if you have to buy the tickets and are not familiar ahead of time with the route.
I'll already have the tickets.
Did you see my updates to the original post?
It will take you about 22 to 25 minutes. You have plenty of time, unless there are delays. The RER C is close to the RER D at Austerlitz, the TGV platforms are clearly marked and it's not a huge station.
You should be there about 20 mins ahead of time at the platform.
Chexbres, I'm concerned about St. Michel station (getting from RER B to RER C), as well. How long do you think this walk will take?
The transfer at Saint Michel is easy. There are escalators to take you from the RER B, which is the lower of the two lines, to the RER C, which is just beneath street level. Not to be too picky but you are not going to the Saint Michel metro station which is a stop on Metro Line 4, you are going to the Saint-Michel-Notre-Dame station on the RER B line. It's not a big deal. I just mention it to make sure that you are looking for the correct station sign.
And I note that Chexbres says the trip will take less than 30 minutes. I disagree. There is no way you will get from CDG to Gare d'Austerlitz in less than 50 minutes.
Here's what you need to know:
SERVICES ACCESSIBILITÉ
PLAN DE LA GARE
www.parisbytrain.com has photo guides to some stations which can help a stranger feel more comfortable.
The more important question may be - how long will it take you to get off your plane (I guess that's why you're at CDG), through all the formalities and to the RER? And what will you do if your plane is late?
Or if you are coming off a TGV at CDG (ok, but unusual if your destination is a station in Paris) what will you do if the train is late?
A couple other points, assuming you are indeed arriving on a TGV at the CDG airport station.
The fastest time to Gare d'Austerlitz I see on the RATP site is 57 minutes.
The RER B goes every 7 1/2 minutes, so you have to add that since you might arrive at the platform to see the train departing and have to wait for the next one.
The RER B trains alternate express and local, the local take 4 minutes longer than the express, You can't guarantee which train you will board when you arrive on the platform.
Same deal with the change at Saint-Michel/Notre Dame. You may arrive to wave good-bye to the departing RER C and have to wait another 7 or 8 minutes for the next one.
When JHK talked about the time to buy tickets, I think he/she was referring to the time to buy the RATP ticket. You will either have to buy it out of the a vending machine in the ticket hall above the track level, or wait in line at the ticket windows. Unless you have an existing Navigo Card which you can recharge on-line beforehand.
Nit picking, there are no TGV's that call at Gare d'Austerlitz. They are either InterCity or TER trains.
Thank you for all of the helpful posts.
I learned of some new resources through them (RATP planner, Gare maps), and now feel 80% sure it is doable in my situation. This finagling enabled me to purchase a 15 Euro ticket (a deal), and since later trains to my destination do leave from Austerlitz, worst case is I'm out 15 E, have to buy a new (albeit day of, no discount) ticket, and must pass 2 hours or so at a cafe in the Austerlitz station environs. It's a worthwhile 80% gamble for me.
Would you please report back so we know how it went?
And yes, Sam is correct that when I wrote purchase the tickets, I was referring to purchasing the RER tickets. That can take a bit of time. I no longer take the RER from CDG but the ticket buying process at CDG can be time consuming or at least it used to be caused by the vending machines not accepting some cards and the length of the line at the staffed windows.
P.S. my pronoun is she :-).
JHK: will do! (though it won't be until Dec)
I hope it works out well for you. RER to downtown is a good 45 minutes. So ignoring everything else, you're not giving yourself much time for transfers, finding the right platform, waiting for your train. You're hoping for no delays, I've shown up to delays on RER at least two times (of 5 RER trips to/from CDG). Neither were long delays but I've never been cutting it close enough to be bothered by a ten or fifteen minute extra wait.
Good news though. I missed a train in May because I thought it was at one station (until I showed up and printed my ticket) then realized I had planned the wrong station. Stupid on my part, I had been considering various route options and had the wrong station in my head and went there without checking my reservation carefully. I went to the other station as quickly as possible but missed my train by a couple minutes, went and talked to an official who essentially said, no problem, get on the next train. The conductor on the next train wasn't worried about me being on the wrong train either. I ended up losing an hour and a half, because the next train had more stops, but it worked out fine.
the ticket buying process at CDG can be time consuming or at least it used to be caused by the vending machines not accepting some cards and the length of the line at the staffed windows.
Don't use these.
The trick is to go to one of the TI windows at CDG. See http://en.visitparisregion.com/practical-info/tourist-information-desks-100180.html to find a map of them. There is no line (unlike the staffed transit windows), they sell RER and metro tickets, they take US credit cards.
