Paris RER/Metro tickets

Randy, you're getting the RER and Metro mixed up to some extent. The RER regional commuter rail system is what you would travel in from CDG, but the fare is about 8.50 Euro one-way. You can transfer to the metro at whatever RER station you get off. The Metro tickets are good on any of the metro lines right out to their last stops, and on RER lines within Paris. Go to http://www.ratp.info/informer/anglais/index.php to find maps of the RER and Metro. On the Metro map, which also displays the RER Paris section, you'll note a break in the printed RER routes; that's as far as a Metro ticket will take you. In some cases, you can get farther on the Metro for the same ticket, eg. on line 1 to La Defense, you can't use it on the RER to the La Defense stop, but you can take the Metro out that far. Go figure. You can transfer on one ticket between metro and RER OR between buses and tram lines (except the new T4 line across the south of Paris), but not between the metro or RER and buses.

I see - I don't find that RER price (or any RER price) on the website anywhere. Color me confused.

SO - when we take the RER back to Gare du Nord to leave via train, THAT will be a 1,50 ticket. Correct?

I assume you mean leaving for CDG again? If so, the fare from any RER station in Paris to CDG is the same...around 8.50 Euros. If you take a Metro to the RER station, then you will need a Metro ticket, plus the 8.50 Euro RER ticket. If you mean take an RER train to a particular station to leave on a longer train journey, then yes, a Metro ticket will do the job.

No, leaving by train at Nord, so it looks like I'll probably get a Carnet, plus pay the 8,50 trip from CDG when we arrive.

Thanks for the help.

A single ticket from anywhere in central Paris to CDG costs 8.20€ and includes unlimited transfers on the Metro and/or RER until you exit the system.

The day before we left Paris I checked with someone at the Denfert-Rochereau station about times and cost to CDG. He had told me around 8 euros, but the next day when we bought tickets from the machine, it was only 1,50 each, so I thought I'd misunderstood. The tickets got us into the RER and metro systems. But then when it was time to exit the system at CDG, the tickets wouldn't let us out! We had to hoist our luggage over, and climb under or over the turnstiles. No easy task for a few of us!

I'm not advocating this low cost method, but no one stopped us.

Not really just low cost, but illegal. But you gotta do what you gotta do. Can't say I'd do any different in the same situation.

Any trouble fitting on the RER train with some luggage? I thought I read that it's a pain.

There was plenty of room on our RER train for luggage, but it was 5:17 am. Everyone on the train was headed to CDG. At the airport there's an escalator up from the platform.

Regarding Karen's post -

It looks like what you purchased at the machine was a Zone 1-2 Metro ticket (Station and RATP/RER is irrelevant) the reason you couldn't get out at CDG is because you actually did not pay the correct fare (8.20 per person) - Note CDG is zone 6.

Randy - From CDG - purchase will get you to the 5th - everyone will need to hold onto your tickets for your change from RER to Metro train. the RATP website can give you the route. While in Paris - most stops you will be going to are in Zone 1-2 which are the 1.50 euro tickets.

I would suggest for your return to CDG to purchase for CDG and not the 1.50 as Karen did. Should you be stopped by security the fine for not having the correct ticket runs 75 Euros.

Yikes, that's a big fine. Good thing we didn't look around for help!

I just came back from a trip to Paris. My friend and I purchased the wrong ticket on the RER.

I had planned the use of Euros well and didn't have enough left to cover the 25 euro fine.

The controller who spoke to my friend had her pay the difference in ticket price, but my controller wrote me out a ticket.

Does anyone know what I'm supposed to do with it?

Are you joking? You put it in your scrapbook :-)

We found so many Metro stations let you in and out without a ticket I was wondering I bothered at all to buy the carnet (wink)