rer b line. Transport in Paris. Suburban and intercity trains SNCF in Paris

They are very convenient because with their help you can easily get to attractions that are not located within the city of Paris. On the RER you can get to Disneyland, visit the Palace of Versailles, have time to Orly and Charles de Gaulle airports. The only problem is that the RER stations are quite difficult to navigate. Of course, the locals are used to everything and it is not difficult for them to get to their destination, but tourists, especially those who came to Paris for the first time, will have to work hard to get to their destination.

Landmarks at the RER station:

• Within Paris, RER and regular metro intersect, have closely spaced stations, but it should be remembered that often RER and metro stations differ from each other in name, they may have different entrances and exits and platforms. This can seriously confuse the unprepared tourist. Very often there are transitions between the RER and the metro within Paris, which is very convenient, since you can travel on one ticket
• The RER platform is identified by a pointer, an abbreviation written in blue in a circle. This is the official designation of the RER and can be seen everywhere, including on train cars running along the route. A letter = line number is usually indicated next to it. Total 5 lines
• Before the trip, it is recommended to stock up on the RER card, with which it will be much easier to move around. The card can be obtained from the RATP cashier for free or downloaded from the official website at this link. The map shows the routes of each line. The fact is that one and the same line can have several routes, in order to leave in the right direction, you need to remember the end station of your route and build on this data
• Before entering the platform, it is necessary to clarify the correct side - the direction of the train. Some RER stations do not have transitions between platforms, so to get to the right one, you have to exit and enter again by purchasing a new ticket
• There are two train options on the routes: full or long trains that stop at all stations and express trains that stop at a certain limited number of stations. Each RER platform has screens that display all the necessary information: the name of the train; the final station of the next train; a list of stations where he will stop; Arrival time. Usually 6 trains are placed on the screen, which go one after the other, the train that arrives first is displayed in the first place. If you are not sure about the train, it is better to wait for the next one, as they run quite often
• If you need to get to Paris from the suburbs, then any train from the list will do, since the route forks only outside the city, and in Paris there is one direction within one line.

Do not forget from strikes. This applies to any public transport. The French are very sensitive about their rights and strikes are absolutely normal. At the same time, everything costs and the mode of operation is lost. If there is a need to get to a specific place on a specific day (for example, a flight is scheduled), you must first check the operation of the RER or other transport, and then plan everything.

Under the short abbreviation RER Paris hides a system of high-speed public transport. This is something between a light metro and commuter trains. RER trains in Paris serve over 2 million people daily.

Place of RER in the transport system

High-speed trains connect Paris with its suburbs. With the help of RER you can reach airports and main attractions in the vicinity of the French capital. For example, high-speed trains go from Paris to Disneyland, to Charles de Gaulle Airport, to Versailles.

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This transport system began to be built in 1961, and the first trains were launched in 1969. But in the center of Paris, the eastern and western sections of line A were connected only in 1977. Now the RER scheme includes 5 lines and 257 stations, 33 of which are located within the city.

Metro and RER are part of the unified transport system of Paris. The metro map also includes suburban traffic. All RER lines in Paris have several junctions where you can transfer to the subway. It is worth noting that high-speed trains run faster than underground trains. This is because the RER lines are more direct, and the stations are located at a greater distance from each other than in the subway.

The Paris RER A line runs from northeast to southwest through the Défense district, Place Charles de Gaulle and Gare le Lyone. It is marked in red on the diagram. After passing Vincennes in the east, the line splits into two branches: one goes to Boissy-Saint-Léger, and the other to Disneyland and on to Chessy.

There are 33 RER stations in Paris. Considering that there are 257 stations in total, this number cannot be underestimated. Fewer stops make getting around Paris faster. Within the city, you can change from the metro to the RER train for everything, including a one-time ticket + ticket. The transfer will be convenient, as the RER lines also run underground. A one-time ticket must be kept from the beginning of the trip until the end of it. At the exit, the ticket will need to be passed through the turnstile, which reads the information.

If you are going outside of Paris, then you need to either use the Navigo pass, which is valid for all destinations without exception, or purchase a separate Ticket desination ticket. Young people can also use the reduced ticket. Very briefly and clearly, I laid out information about tickets and travel cards, I will not repeat myself.

RER is a high-speed commuter train. There are 5 lines in total.

• Line A originates from the Gare de Lyon, crossing the La Defense quarter and the Place des Stars. In the opposite direction, this line is divided into two branches: to Disneyland and to Boissy-Saint-Leger.
• Line B following a southwesterly direction, it passes through Orly Airport and the Gare du Nord, Boulevard St. Michel and Notre Dame Cathedral. Running from north to east, this line diverges into two branches: to Mitry and to Charles de Gaulle Airport.
• Line C running from north to south, it has gained fame as the most intricate RER line, from the fact that it consists of many branches and intersections. Travelers will benefit from the information that it leads to Versailles, the Austerlitz railway station and Orly airport.
• Line D also runs from north to south. Within the city limits, RER trains stop at Gare de Lyon and Gare du Nord, where there are transfer platforms on lines A and B.
• Line E It starts in the north of the capital, then goes east and south, to suburban areas. Line E continues to be completed.

When using land transport, you need to remember that the doors do not always open automatically, so you need to follow the information board and, when approaching the desired station, press a special button at the train door.

Within the boundaries of the first transport zone, that is, within Paris, the fare is ticket + = 1.90 for 90 minutes. In the suburbs of Paris, an Origin destination ticket is bought.

RER scheme in Paris

Official Information:

RER (the full official name of the French Réseau Express Régional d'Île-de-France, "Ile-de-France Express Network", pronounced after the French names of the letters er-yo-er) is a rapid public transport system serving Paris and the suburbs . It is an amalgamation of suburban surface railway lines (partly pre-existing, partly newly built and reconstructed) and new underground lines that arose in the 1960s-1990s within the boundaries of Paris. An important feature is the active use of deep underground lines within the city and the popularity of intracity routes, which brings RER closer to the metro. In addition, the RER and the Paris Metro are integrated through a transfer and payment system.

In total, the RER has more than 257 stations (including 33 within the boundaries of Paris), a length of 587 km, including 76.5 km (more than 40 stations) underground. The system is used by 657 million passengers per year, or 1.8 million per day. In 1989, the intervals between trains were reduced, and since 1998 double-deck trains have been used. Lines are marked with letters (A, B, C…) on all pocket transport maps of Paris.

Part of the lines is subordinate to the transport company, which also owns the metro (RATP), part - to the railway (SNCF). The fare for both types of lines is the same. Depending on the distance of the trip, there are 5 payment zones.

RER and the Paris Metro

Within the borders of Paris, RER has several transfers to the Paris Metro; within the city, the same tickets are valid for traveling on it as for the metro and surface transport (but when crossing city borders, you need to buy a separate ticket). Parisian RER stations are located much less frequently than in the metro, as a rule, they have a greater depth of laying, and the lines are much less curved. Many trips within the city using the RER take noticeably less time than the subway.

Useful tips, personal experience and FAQ's.

Why and in what cases do Russian tourists use RER?

RER is used by tourists from Russia extremely rarely, mainly for independent low-budget visits to some suburbs of Paris like Versailles or Sainte-Genevieve de Bois. Read more…

What are the dangerous or unpleasant moments when using RER?

There are basically three situations here:

• When you purposefully drive out of town. Read…
• When you purposefully drive within the boundaries of Paris Read…
• When you accidentally went (changed) to RER instead of the metro Read

Travel payment.
Payment for trips exists in special ticket offices, which are becoming less and less, as well as in a number of terminals. The terminals have an English version, which is more convenient for tourists from Russia. Coins and small bills are accepted. With a bill even in 50 Ev (and not only in 500 Ev) the device will not accept and at the cash desk they can send it politely or not very much (there is no such thing as small money, go to the bar to change it). Cards are usually also accepted, but some devices have restrictions on the type of cards. A Sberbank Mastercard card works well and was not accepted in only one out of 10 devices.
Where can you get on the RER
- Airport Charles de Gaulle-Roissy (although you still have to walk around the terminal buildings)
– Orly Airport (with a transfer) and you will also have to walk a little inside the complex
— Disneyland
– Russian cemetery of Sainte-Genevieve-des-Bois near Paris, then by taxi or bus
– Forest of Fontainebleau, to the castle and the museum you need to continue moving by taxi or bus

Station Charles de Gaulle Airport RER SNCF

To enlarge the RER scheme, click on the image below:

RER (fr. Réseau Express Régional) is a system of high-speed suburban trains with a length of 587 km, to some extent an analogue of Russian electric trains. It is with the help of RER that you can get from the airport to Paris and back, as well as quickly and easily get to Disneyland and Versailles.

A to E: RER directions

The RER system consists of five main areas. Each line is named with a letter of the alphabet (A, B, C, D, E) and has its own color:

• Line A
  It starts from the Gare de Lyon station, then crosses the La Défense quarter and the Place des Stars. In the opposite direction, it is divided into two branches: to Disneyland and to Boissy-Saint-Léger (Boissy-Saint-Léger).
• Line B
  In the southwest direction it connects with one of the two airports, Orly, and also passes through the North Station (Gare du Nord), St. Michel Boulevard (Saint Michel) and the famous Notre Dame (Notre Dame). In the direction from north to east, it is divided into two branches: to Mitry and to CDG (Charles de Gaulle) airport.
• Line C
  It runs in the direction from north to south and is rightfully considered the most confusing RER line, as it has many branches and intersections. It is important for a tourist to know that it leads to Austerlitz station, Versailles (Parc et château de Versailles) and Orly airport.
• Line D
  It also runs in a north-south direction. Within Paris, the RER stops at Gare de Lyon and Gare du Nord. There are transfers on lines A and B.
• Line E
  It starts in the north of the capital, then goes east and south, to the suburbs. The line continues to build.

Basic RER rates

The main thing you need to know about RER tickets: their cost depends on the zones, of which there are five in Paris. Zone 1 is the city itself, zones 2 and 3 are the surroundings, zone 4 is Versailles and Orly airport, and zone 5 is CDG airport and Disneyland. The sixth zone borders on other regions of France.

So, let's deal with the main tariffs for RER.

First, you can buy regular ticket which is valid for all modes of transport. It costs 1.70 euros and is valid in zones 1-3. Tickets to the suburbs are more expensive and are bought specifically for the RER.

Secondly, this carnet(fr. carnet) - a "book" of 10 tickets. Such a set is much cheaper than tickets separately, and will cost more than 12 euros for an adult fare and 6 euros for a child.

Thirdly, if you are planning a lot of trips, it makes sense to purchase a Paris Pass or Paris Visite, which includes not only the cost of metro and RER trips, but also entrance tickets to more than 50 museums in Paris. Here is the price plan of the Paris Visite Card:

• 1 day: €9.30 in zones 1-3 or €19.60 in zones 1-6;
• 2 days: €15.20 in zones 1-3 or €29.90 in zones 1-6;
• 3 days: €20.70 in zones 1-3 or €41.90 in zones 1-6.

RER and metro: what's the difference

The route of these trains runs both outside the city and in it, which is why some people confuse the RER with the metro. In fact, they are completely different things.

First of all, the RER electric train system covers a larger area than the metro: not only almost all of Paris, but also its surroundings, for example, Ile-de-France, as well as two main airports. RER has more than 250 stations, of which only 33 are located within the city.

In addition, metro stations are more frequent and shorter, while RER is still just trains. You can only get confused in the center, where the metro network overlaps the RER network, and some stations are combined.

RER is a very convenient mode of transport, as it will take you not only to any area of ​​the capital, but also to the airport, Disneyland and the suburbs. In addition, using the RER is no more difficult than using the regular metro.

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