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TGV from CDG

For all of you who have experience at CDG, tell me the chances that I can arrive at Terminal 1 at 9:30 and catch a TGV at 11:19? We won't have checked luggage so we save a little time there. Thanks for your help.

Posted by
8889 posts

Where are you flying from?
1) Immigration and other delays getting through the airport: 30-60 minutes, typically 45 minutes. Less if flying intra-Schengen as there would be no immigration in that case.
2) Getting from T1 to the station: Not sure, others can advice, say 30 minutes+.
So far close, but a bit of a gamble.

But, the real problem is:
3) Flight, could be 1 hour late landing (or even early).

CONCLUSION: Too much risk.

Posted by
4761 posts

To add to the above, where are you training to?

Posted by
7731 posts

try it; but don't book the train leaving at 11:19 in advance; you can probably book it on your mobile device with the ap if you see that you are going to make it in time.

Posted by
922 posts

We just returned from France today. We arrived at CDG on a Saturday morning. Our flight was scheduled to arrive at 7:50 but we arrived at 7:30. We went through immigration, grabbed our checked luggage and went to the train station at CDG. We purchased tickets (walk up rate) on the 8:37 train to Avignon. We made it with 5 minutes to spare. I was very surprised that we moved through so quickly. I think being on Saturday at 7:30 may have helped. The day of week as well as how many other flights will be arriving when you land will have a big impact on how quickly you can get through immigration.

Posted by
5687 posts

Keep in mind that with questions like this, you are really asking people's personal tolerance for risk, which may be different than yours. I have done the connection from an international flight to the TGV station before with only about the same amount of time and made it just fine, but I knew I was taking a risk. And I tend to have a higher tolerance for this kind of risk than average.

If your plane is on time, chances are good you'd make the train, if you can move fast. Assume an hour to get from the gate through immigration and past baggage claim (last time I did this, some years ago, I did it in SEVEN MINUTES, but don't count on that!). If you did it in an hour, then you'd have plenty of time to get to the TGV station at CDG, assuming, as I said, that you move pretty fast. I do move fast with my carry-ons and made it from the international terminal to the station in about 15 minutes I think, not including a stop at the ATM (because I had plenty of time).

But what if your plane is an hour late? Then...if your immigration wait is quick, you STILL might make it, if you hustle. Obviously, the later your plane is, the greater your chances of not making the train.

(If possible, install the SNCF app on your smart phone as well. If you are late and about to hustle, check your phone - could be the train is late and you can find out on the app, without killing yourself to get there. My train was late, but of course you can't count on that.)

If you miss the train, then what? You need a backup plan. What time is the next train and how much would it cost you to get on it, assuming it has free seats at the last minute? These are the questions you need to ask yourself ahead of time when taking these kinds of risks - and be prepared to accept the consequence if your risk does not pay off and you miss the train. If you can accept the consequences, go for it! But if missing that train means you're stuck in Paris the rest of the day and can't leave til the next day? Maybe too big of a risk.

Posted by
542 posts

Ok, let me provide more details: Aer Lingus from US to Dublin, then another Aer Lingus flight to CDG. We arrive on a Thursday. Where would we deal with passports? CDG, I assume? No checked luggage. TGV to Bordeaux. There are TGV tickets which seem to be exchangeable without penalty. Unfortunately, the next train is hours later.

I'm usually very careful about planning travel connections but I didn't work out these details as well as I should have. Any advice is welcome!

Posted by
19654 posts

Part of that risk calculation is how much money are you saving by purchasing a nonrefundable ticket? Saving a lot? Take more risk. Not so much? Just buy when you get there.

I am looking in May there seems to be TGV Leisure fares for 77 EUR on the 11:19, The Flexible price is 98 EUR, so you are only saving 21 EUR per ticket. The Leisure ticket is not changeable after train departure. If you did get the app, and find you could not make it and changed it before departure, it would still cost you 15 EUR plus the price difference of 21 EUR. Given this, I would not go through the trouble and worry to save 21 EUR. After all, if you are late, you can take the Les Cars bus to Montparnasse and get a train from there. There are 6 direct trains between noon and and the time of the next departure from CDG. 2 of those are Ouigo trains for about 30 EUR each. Ouigo trains are bare bones, no services, but they get you to Bordeaux as fast as mainline TGV's.

Posted by
5687 posts

Yeah, how much are you saving? Sounds like you'd want to get the earlier train no matter what if you can vs. buying cheap tickets on the later train and reducing the risk. So I'd probably buy last minute. Still install the SNCF app on on your phone - you might be able to buy tickets on your phone as soon as you land on time, without needing to wait in a line once you get to the train station.

Ireland isn't in the Schengen area, so you'll have to go through immigration (passport control) at CDG.

Posted by
129 posts

Hope it’s okay to ask a related question on this feed. In September I will be arriving at CDG terminal 3 @ 0930 from Canada. No checked bags and should get off the plane pretty quick as in a club seat. I plan to taxi to Gare St. Lazare to take train to Bayeux. Too early to reserve train ticket but thought I’d book a flex ticket for the (approx) 2pm train in hopes of changing it at the station to noon if I arrive in time for that train. Having the 2pm ticket ensures I do get to Bayeux that day. Does this plan make sense? (thanks in general for all the great tips on this sight...sure enhances ones trip and minimizes glitches).