RER (Suburban Express Railway)
RER (Suburban Express Railway)
RER (Suburban Express Railway) — The RER is a huge rail network covering most of the Ile-de-France region. It consists of 5 lines referred to by the letters A, B, C, D and E. Within Paris, the RER operates in more or less the same way as the metro, except that you need to put your ticket through the automatic barriers a second time on the way out. If your RER station has a connection with the metro, you can use the same ticket for the whole journey.
Using the RER, faster than the metro because stops are less frequent, you can cross Paris in 15 minutes. It operates every day, including public holidays, from around 6:00 am to 12:30 am. The regularity of the trains is similar to the metro, although you may have to wait longer for trains to certain suburban destinations. Screens on the platforms display the departure times of the next trains, and notice boards indicate the full timetable.
When travelling outwards to the suburbs, once on the platform, make sure to check that the stop you want is indicated on the electronic destination boards. Maps of the network and details of the line can be consulted on the platforms and inside the trains.
NOTE: Visitors are encouraged to purchase the “Paris Visite” travel card – which allows unlimited travel on the bus, Metro, and RER networks in Paris and its suburbs. There are various rates according the number of days (from 1 to 5) and the geographic areas desired. Check the following website for details: www.ratp.fr/en/ratp/r_61634/paris-visite/
Map for RER train system: www.ratp.fr/plan-interactif/carteidf.php