We're joining the Eastern France tour in early October and trying to get a handle on the train from Charles DeGaulle to Reims. The SNCF Connect site shows what appears to be more than one option - looking for the most direct / fewest transfers as possible. Also have heard we should buy tickets ahead of time as the trains can fill up. I've looked at this several times, it seems the options change and routing isn't clear. Any advice would be much appreciated!
Posted by
Florida (previously California)
3984 posts
The schedule and trains should be available now. They are typically available (and final) 90 days before the date of travel. If the website shows multiple options, I would just look at the options and pick the the one with the fewest transfers, which is usually one transfer. The thing is that the train from CDG to Reims is a TGV and that means that to get to Reims, you will have to go to the nearby TGV stop, Champagne-Ardenne TGV and then take a local train/shuttle for the 10 kilometer trip to Reims. You could also go into Paris to Gare de L'Est and take a train that will stop in Reims but I think that is no easier than catching a train from CDG and connecting to a train from Champagne-Ardenne TGV to Reims. I'd probably make the decision based on timing, allowing three hours between ETA of a flight to CDG and a train leaving CDG and four hours for Paris. If you are landing at CDG on the day that the you leaving by train, there is a debate as to whether you wait and buy the ticket after you arrive or you buy ahead of time and risk losing your money if your flight is late. I doubt the trains from Paris or CDG to Reims will be completely sold out although I guess they could be depending on how many people make up "we." If you find the SNCF Connect site hard to use, try Trainline.com.
Posted by
Rhode Island, USA
235 posts
Though it’s been more than a few years since we did this tour, I’m finding the same route on Rail Europe available now that we did. We took the TGV from CDG Terminal 2 to Champagne-Ardenne and changed to a local train that took use into the train station in the center of Reims, which was only a few minutes walk to the hotel that was being used at the time. I saw in a post within the last year or so that the same hotel was being used. The Champagne-Ardennes stop was only a platform which we stepped off the TGV onto and turned around to catch the local train on the other side. We bought our tickets ahead of time and printed them at home.
Posted by
OP
WA
3 posts
Thank you both for your replies! I appreciate the info and feel confident now to buy the tickets.
Posted by
Paris
7300 posts
At Champagne-Ardennes TGV, besides the local train to Reims station, there is also a tram to the center running every 20 min or so. It is an easy connection.
Posted by
OP
WA
3 posts
Much obliged, Balso!
Posted by
Wengen
2494 posts
Have a look at the tram too. Depending on where your hotel is the Tram may be a better option than the train shuttle for the last part.
Regarding TGV services: There are roughly three types of service that server Reims.
- Paris Gare de L'Est - Reims TGV - Reims Ville (these usually continue to Charlesville)
- Paris Gare de L-Est - Reims TGV - Strasbourg. (only a few, as most Paris - Strasbourg TGV are non stop...)
- (somewhere not Paris) - Paris CDG - Reims TGV - Strasbourg
So yes, there will always be a transfer.