Paris Train Stations

[Khakijetskie]

I want to book Eurostar tickets online. It says that I will need to change at Paris Nord and then go from Paris Gare De Lyon. Possibly a really thick question but are these 2 different stations?

I changed at Lille the last time and it was just a platform change?

Thanks

[Buenchico]

Just to add to The Prophet's information:

On arrival on the concourse at Gare du Nord (i.e. with the platforms behind you), turn left and look for the 'RER' signs towards the far end of the concourse. When you get further along, instead of just showing 'RER', the signs start indicating specific lines. Look for 'RER 'D'. (The 'D' will be in a circle).

Once you find Line D, you need to make sure that you're heading in the right direction. Look for 'D' signs which have the destination shown as 'Malesherbes / Melun'.

Once you've found the right platform, you might see that some RER trains have route destinations on them, indicated by 4-letter names, such as 'Vick' and 'Vera'. You don't need to worry about these because, once you're on the correct platform, any train will take you to Gare du Lyon. The journey is only two stops, so it should be around 10 minutes maximum.

Unless your Eurostar tickets come with 'gate passes' for the journey across Paris, you'll need to purchase a ticket for the RER journey. There are often long queues at the ticket desks at Gare du Nord. Even the automatic ticket machines often have lengthy queues and, unless your French is good, they're not always easy to understand. (You might queue for ages, only to find that you're at the wrong machine).

Although it will cost you slightly more, it might be easiest to buy a day ticket (which gives unlimited travel within central Paris) at Waterloo International. This ticket, called 'Paris Visit�' costs �6. It can be purchased from the information desk at the end of the departure lounge which is furthest from the security checks. It's also sold at the Eurostar souvenir stall, which is under the escalator in the departure lounge.

Chris

[mushroom25]

if the queue for RER tickets is very big (buenchico is right, you can wait ages), you can buy a "section urbaine" ticket from the metro station under the concourse, and these are valid on the RER as well as on the metro.

[munchie63]

I'm sure when I went ti Metz, we walked from Gare De Nord round to Gare De Lyon, and it didn't take long.

Could be worth checking on a Paris street map.

[Buenchico]

Muchie63 seems to be confusing stations. You can certainly walk from Gare du Nord to Gare de l'Est (I've done it many times) but Gare du Lyon is miles away!

Chris