Hello, we are getting into paris nord at 12:25 and are taking a train out of Gare Lyon to Bern Switzerland. Is 30 mins enough time (taking the 1:10 out of Lyon) or should we take the 2:10 to play it safe. What is the best way to get from nord to lyon, and how long does it take?
Thanks
Phil,
I did a brief check and it appears that RER "D" is the most direct option from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon (no transfers required). Travel time was listed as 14 min. but of course that's only an estimate.
Hopefully Tim or Norm will have a more definite answer.
Cheers!
I agree with Ken about taking the RER D directly from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon (one stop at Chatelet-Les Halles). Trains run every 15 minutes and the actual ride takes 8 minutes. (The 14-minute estimate includes the time it takes to walk from the surface to the RER station and back to the surface again.) The fare is €1.60.
IF you arrive on time at Gare du Nord and IF you already have your tickets for Paris-Bern so you won't have to stand in line to either buy them or retrieve them at a ticket window and IF you don't barely miss one train and have to wait 15 minutes for the next one, then you'll make it. IMO, that's too many "ifs"--and you have no control over your arrival time at Gare du Nord. Take the later train.
