Paris RER

ABOVE: An RER Line B train enters a station.

• For 2025: The Paris transportation network has introduced a new fare schedule in 2025. The basic Métro and RER train fares have risen to €2,50, but you'll no longer pay a premium for visits to the suburbs. (Except for airports, where the fare is €13.)

By Durant Imboden

Most visitors to Paris are aware of the Métro, a rapid-transit system that opened in 1900. Fewer know that the RER, a commuter rail network more formally known as the the Réseau Express Régional, also offers rapid transit within Paris--along with frequent service to Charles de Gaulle Airport, Versailles, Disneyland Paris, and other suburban destinations.

Since its beginnings in 1961, the RER has grown into a network of five major lines that radiate in all directions from the city center. RER trains stop at SNCF railway stations and have connections or correspondances with important Métro transfer points.

For example, you can take RER Line B in from Charles de Gaulle Airport and change to the Métro at Chatelet-Les Halles (Right Bank) or Saint-Michel (Left Bank) to reach your hotel.

The RER can also be handy for tourist travel within the city: RER Line C follows the Left Bank of the Seine for most of its length, with stops at Saint-Michel (Latin Quarter and Notre Dame), the Musée d'Orsay, Invalides, and Pont de l'Alma (Eiffel Tower) that are just a few minutes apart.

RER tickets and trains

ABOVE: A passenger on the upper deck on an RER Line C train.

The Métro/Train/RER Ticket (new in 2025) costs €2,50 and is valid on all rail transit within the Île-de-France region, excluding airports. (The fare to CDG or Orly from central Paris is €13,--.) You can load it onto an RATP card such as Navigo Easy, or onto a smartphone or smart watch using the Bonjour RATP app.

You can also use the RATP's old T+ cardboard tickets (which are no longer being sold) through December, 2025.

Note that, under the RATP's new fare system, you can't transfer between the Métro/RER and buses or trams (or vice versa). Instead, you'll need to buy a Bus-Tram ticket for €2,--.

Riding RER trains

AAfter you've bought your ticket, go to the entrance gates or turnstiles. Swipe your plastic card (such as Navigo Easy) or smartphone against the purple scanner.

If you're using an old T+ cardboard ticket, insert it into the yellow slot on the front of the turnstile and retrieve it from the slot on top of the divider. Keep the cardboard ticket with you. You may need it to exit through the turnstiles at your destination, and it's your proof of payment if you're stopped by an inspector./p>

Once you've gone through the turnstile or entrance gate,  you can proceed to the platforms. Look for up-to-date train information on video monitors or electronic signboards.

Important:

• If you're going to the end of the line, be sure that you're on the right train, since many RER lines split into forks or secondary lines outside of the city center. To avoid confusion, check the RER map in the station before departure.

Paris RER Web links and related articles

ABOVE: A bicyclist and pedestrians board a train of RER Line C.

RATP
RATP, the public-transportation network of Paris, has a route finder, maps, and other information in half a dozen languages (including English).

Wikipedia: RER
This article from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, gives a short history of the Réseau Express Régional and briefly describes the five RER lines.

Paris Métro parisforvisitors.com
The Paris underground system has 14 lines, 380 stations, and 130 miles or 211 km of track. Our article describes how to buy tickets and ride the trains.

Charles de Gaulle Airport Ground Transportation parisforvisitors.com
RER Line B connects CDG with central Paris. Our illustrated article tells how to take the train, or--if you prefer--how to reach the city by bus, shuttle, or taxi.

Orly Airport Ground Transportation parisforvisitors.com
Our Orly article tells how to reach Paris via links to the RER and other transport modes.