For a city as internationally important as Paris, getting from Charles de Gaulle Airport into the city center has never been particularly fast, smooth, or enjoyable.
That may finally be about to change.
Paris Is Finally Getting Its Own Airport Express Train
For years, Paris has lagged behind other major international cities when it came to fast airport transportation. Cities like London, Hong Kong and Stockholm have long had dedicated airport express trains that quickly shuttle travelers between the airport and the city center.
Paris? Not so much.
But that’s finally about to change.
The city is preparing to launch the long-awaited CDG Express, a direct train between Charles de Gaulle Airport and central Paris that’s designed to compete with airport rail systems like London’s Heathrow Express.
And honestly, it’s about time.
A Much Faster Ride Into Paris
The CDG Express will connect Charles de Gaulle Airport directly to Gare de l’Est in Paris’ 10th arrondissement.
Right now, travelers typically rely on the RER B train, which takes roughly 30 to 35 minutes to reach Gare du Nord — assuming there aren’t delays, maintenance work, signal problems, strikes, or whatever else the RER B decides to throw at you that day.
The new express train is expected to cut that trip down to about 20 minutes.
Trains are planned to run every 15 minutes from 5 a.m. until midnight, seven days a week.
Officials haven’t finalized ticket pricing yet, although reports say children under 16 will ride free. Discounts are also expected for local residents who use Navigo transit passes.
Paris’ Two Major Train Stations Will Finally Connect Better
The launch of the CDG Express is happening alongside another huge transportation project in Paris: a new underground pedestrian tunnel linking Gare du Nord and Gare de l’Est.
Even though the two stations are only about 500 meters apart, transferring between them currently means either walking outside with luggage or taking a short Metro ride.
Once completed, the climate-controlled underground passageway will make transfers much easier for the roughly 800,000 passengers who move through the area every day — especially those connecting to Eurostar and other international rail services.
According to Euronews, the tunnel is expected to open by Spring 2027.
More Airport Rail Is Still Coming
And the CDG Express isn’t the only airport rail project Paris has underway.
The city is also continuing work on Metro Line 17, which will eventually connect Saint-Denis to Charles de Gaulle Airport.
Current timelines call for:
- Mid-2027: opening of the first section between Saint-Denis and Le Bourget Airport
- 2030: completion of the full line to CDG
Unlike the premium-priced CDG Express, Metro Line 17 is expected to function more as a standard local transit option for both residents and travelers.
At long last, Paris finally seems ready to give travelers the kind of airport rail connection most other major world cities figured out years ago.
Now if only Paris could somehow invent an express train for passport control lines, too. 😏
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