We are finalizing plans to rent an apartment in the 15th arrondisement next year and it's near the Balard metro station. I have seen some instructions on using the RER B to Cite Universite and transferring to a Tram. I have to admit that now that I may use a tram, that I had seen the symbol for certain metro stations but have never seen a tram in Paris as I've always stayed nearer to the center of Paris. I know that we'll have to transfer from the RER to a tram. Would we need a different/separate ticket for the tram or does the RER ticket include that as well? Is it a hard trek to get from the RER platform to the tram stop? I've always liked trams and it would be fun to finally ride one in Paris. Side comment: in Vienna and Brussels where they have trams, it's not that common to see tram stops on a map, and I've never seen one on a Paris map. What's up with that?
Posted by
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
8293 posts
Last time I was in Paris we took a ride on Tram Line 3, just to see what it was like and because one of my companions is an Urban Planner and this was of interest to her. The line ended (in the 15th) up behind the Hopital European Georges Pompidou. We saw a part of the city I had not seen before. We walked down the hill and took Bus 42 to get back to our own arrondissement.
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
You're getting the wrong scoop somewhere:
There are no trams of which I'm aware.
The word 'Universite' is not associated with the Cite metro stop.
There is no metro line change capability at the Cite metro stop.
There is no reason to get on the metro line that runs through Cite to get to Balard unless you want to make numerous line changes down stream.
The easy way to do it is to stay on the RER B to St Michel / Notre Dame, then switch to the RER C as far as Invalides, where you catch Metro 8 to Balard. One ticket does it all.
Posted by
Texan in CA
4423 posts
Looks like an easy transfer - the trams are in front of the RER station (Cite Universitaire)! Use 'Google Street View' to see how simple this will be. I'm guessing the directions assume you're coming from CDG Airport, hence the RER/Tram directions...
No, you will need to use 2 t+ tickets for the journey; for much helpful info on tranfers and tickets go to the above-mentioned www.ratp.fr website and click on the British flag in the top-right corner. Then, 'hover' your pointer over 'Discover Paris' and choose 't+ ticket'. That page is a wealth of info concerning prices, transfers allowing/disallowing the same t+ ticket, etc.
Oh, and the Tram lines DO show up on Metro maps...not sure about any city maps.
I hope this is helpful to you.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
Adding to Mary and Norma's posts. According to the Journey Planner on the RATP site, taking the RER B to Cite Universitaire and the T3 tram from there to Balard is the fastest route. A ticket on the RER B to Cite Universitaire costs €8.70. One t+ ticket will get you from there to Balard on the T3 tram. You cannot transfer between RER and tram or metro and tram. (You can transfer between bus and tram.)
If you want to go from CDG to Balard on one ticket (€8.70), you'll need to transfer a couple of times to get to metro line 8 which goes to Balard.
Go here for a zoomable map of the metro/RER/tram system.
Posted by
Texan in CA
4423 posts
Tim - Thanks for the polite follow-up/save to my response! (I must get to Minot!) The RER portion of the trip (IF coming from CDG Airport) WILL cost more than a simple t+ ticket! DOH! (hits forehead)
Almost-correct information can be worse than no information. Sorry about that!
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
Mary,
You're welcome for the correction and you're welcome in Minot anytime. Go easy on that forehead of yours!
Posted by
Texan in CA
4423 posts
Tim,
Not a problem; I've been told I'm hard-headed...
John,
Any more questions? I hope we've helped!