Safety concerns on RER trains, Paris

That is very far away from the city. I've never ridden that line after rush hour, but I have taken the local train back to Burgundy around 7 pm, at the end of rush hour several times. Nothing has ever happened, but I've often been the only person in the car or with only one other person.
You should either know how to protect yourself or return just around rush hour but not too late. Things do happen. Tourists are usually not aware of them but women have been raped and just two months ago a gang of teens with masks on robbed all the passengers in a RER car at night. They got the kids but can't do much with them as they are juveniles. You can google RER D Robbery to read about it. Dina lives not too far from where you are going and can give better details if she has time to come on line.

Thanks for the heads-up. I always wear my money & cards beneath my clothes and clutch my purse which is always over my head around my shoulder, so I've not had any real problems with pickpockets. But the possibility of gang violence takes my concerns to a whole different level. I'll try to time my rides to miss the worst of rush hour but not be out too late. And will probably leave the ipad behind, sticking to tourist books maps and documents instead. Any additional information and advice will be greatly appreciated.

What I'm saying is to try to take the RER back while there are still people around. There's really no reason to be concerned about pickpockets on this RER going out to Ponthierry. You'll get much better on-the-ground info once you are there and ask the neighbors or homeowner. They'll be able to tell you how populated the trains are into the evening and night. The suburbs where the robbery hapened and where the woman was raped were in different areas.

Thanks. I will take your advice.

Brenda, if possible try to make sure some other person knows your whereabouts and when to expect you back in the evening. Carry that person's phone number and other emergency numbers with you if you can, only as a precaution if something goes wrong, which it probably won't. Be safe and happy travels.

Thanks for the concern.. During the first part of the trip I will be traveling with another woman, which will at least give me a chance to assess the situation and adjust my later solo travels accordingly. Maybe I'll cash in some points and stay in a hotel one night in order to experience the ambience of Paris after dark. And I don't want to overreact, but it is wise to recognize reality. I live in a Florida retirement community (I know...) and don't walk the streets alone at night here; riding a night train in the suburbs of Paris doesn't rank really high on my list of things that seem smart to do. I was already concerned that a full day of sight-seeing would have me ready yo crash early. I think I'll just plan to start and end my days early and enjoy some long evenings around the homeowners pool with a nice glass of French wine.

Ah! Another home exchanger! Don't see too many of those on here... :) We swapped homes with a family in a suburb just northwest of where you will be, in Gif-Sur-Yvette, several years ago. We had the use of their car but decided when we first arrived to use the RER so we wouldn't have to pay for parking in Paris. During the day it was completely fine but the one time we did stay in town late we weren't entirely confident in the safety of the experience. The farther out we got from Paris-proper, the emptier the carriage became and it just didn't feel right. We had our young son with us so, after that one time, we decided to drive into Paris and park in the 16th. At the time it was actually cheaper for us to garage the car in town than it was for the three of us to ride the RER. My recommendation, especially if you are going to be by yourself, is to ride the RER into town during the day or drive in and park if you will be there late and have access to a car. Everyone says that driving in Paris is terrible but if you just stick to the outer arrondissements near the ring road it really isn't that bad once you learn your way around and find a garage that's easy to get to.
Good luck and ENJOY that glass of wine by the pool!

Brenda, you know, I'm really exhausted after a long day of stomping around a crowded European city, on sensory overload from wanting to take everything in on so many levels - visually and intellectually, burning the memories into my brain. Most of us probably don't push ourselves that hard in our regular daily lives, yet we think we can do while on holiday. I'm on a huge adrenalin high much of the time in the big cities and invariably crash for a week or longer when I get home, and not only from the jet lag. I think filling your days with the sights and sounds of Paris as much as possible, then relaxing by the pool with a glass of red while you process the day's input, review the day's photos, read up on something for the next day, etc., sounds like a balanced way to really enjoy your stay without knocking yourself out or putting yourself unduly at risk on a potentially dicey late-night commuter train.

Bets is right - I'm not too far from Pontheirry. I certainly wouldn't consider that "outside of Paris" as it's quite a bit outside of Paris. I think you've gotten a lot of good advice already, and unfortunately I don't have anything to add with regards to the RER safety as I've never taken the RER that late at night as my area is serviced by a train. I have taken the train close to midnight, never alone, and never felt like it wasn't safe. But with a train only making two stops, there tend to be more people going to the same destination. Do be really careful with regards to when the RER is running and make sure that you do not get stranded. Keep your eyes out for any signs that might indicate construction or temporary closings of the line (and ask everyone around and you'll probably get someone who speaks English enough to tell you what the sign means.) And do be careful. My experience - and that of the locals - is that there's always a "summer crime wave" in the area. There's more tourists, there's more unoccupied homes because people are on vacation, and there's a larger influx of the "gens de voyage" all at the same time. Last summer we had muggings, house break ins, purse snatching and even armed robbery of a jewelry store. I'm not saying this to scare you, but just to raise your awareness so you can take measures to protect yourself (money belt, etc.) If you're walking home from the RER station late at night, be aware of your surroundings.

I rode 3 round-trips on RER trains (to Avon Fontainebleu, Versailles and to Poissy), including returning in the late evening. I was surprised by how dirty some trains were, but apart from that, I had no problems at all. Avon-Fontainebleu was on the Transilien R, which is SNCF-operated. I also rode Paris Metro extensively up to 11 PM at night, and again, 0 problems (apart from it getting hot in some cars).

Charles, no offense, but you're a man. The experience, and the concerns, are much different for women traveling alone at night. Most men don't understand at all, unless they know someone personally who can explain it to them.

Thank you, everyone. I've received good advice, the main message being stay as informed as possible, don't travel at lonely hours and take reasonable precautions. I will, I won't, and I will. I spent many years working and traveling solo into the warehouse districts of most large US cities which are never located in the nicest parts of town, and developed along with a keen sense of self preservation, an attitude that I will take abundant precautions but not let fear keep me from living an adventuresome full life. People who question my enjoyment of solo travel are often convinced something awful is going to happen to me because at some time they heard from so-and-so that someone said something bad happened to somebody somewhere, and that just goes to show it's just too dangerous to go to those foreign countries, so they're just going to stay home! Usually it's a matter of someone's purse or pocket having been picked because they were foolish. And truth be told, those people probably SHOULD stay home; they'd be terrible travelers. I will tread cautiously at all times during my 6-week adventure across Europe, and hopefully return intact to report that nothing of consequence happened. Bonjour!

Brenda, I couldn't agree more with your last post. I had a close friend say to me once, "But aren't you afraid to go to those foreign places alone?"(emphasis deliberate because I knew what was implied). That person will be the same person later in life who will perhaps say ruefully "What a shame I never had the opportunity to travel." Carpe diem!