Hello! Thank you so much in advance for any help. On August 17 I want to travel from Gare de Lyon to versailles rive gauche, arriving at 7:45 am, on the simplest route. I am concerned about making multiple transfers and finding each departure point. What would you advise as the simplest path given the suggested transfers? Unfortunately RER C is down for part of the trip.
1 answer
Hi there,
I'm making an assumption that your final destination is Chateau de Versailles. If so and you don't mind an extra 7 minutes of walking in Versailles I'll propose this simplified route:
Metro 14 from Gare de Lyon to Saint Lazare.
Transilien L from Gare Saint Lazare to Versailles Rive Droite.
The extra simiplicity of this route is that the Transilien L train, departs from ground level (same level as Grandes Lignes/Main Line trains) and is the origin station of this train. i.e. you have plenty of time to locate & board this train as it will be parked on its ground level lane (quai) for likely 10+ minutes before departure. Electronic signs & overhead display screens around the station will list its terminus station "Versailles Rive Droite" & its departure lane, making it easy to find inside Gare Saint Lazare. Since the Transilien L will terminate at Versailles Rive Droite, you can relax aboard and not worry about missing your stop.
The drawback of this route is that instead of a 13 minute walk from Versailles Rive Gauche station, you'll have a 20 minute walk from Versailles Rive Droite station to get to Chateau de Versailles. But it's much simpler than the alternatives using Metro (requiring 3 transfers just to get to Javel station to start the RER C leg), or Bus (requires Metro + bus and takes additional 20 minutes).
If you're using a Navigo card, Transilien trains are covered/included.
If you're using a single-use ticket, ask the ticket window at Gare de Lyon Metro 14 station for "Versailles Rive-Droite / Transilien L" and they will customize a single ticket you can use for that entire trip. You can buy this ticket at any time and use it later as it doesn't expire/activate until you use it in a fare gate / turnstile.
If you have further questions, please post another question. (It's not possible to add onto this thread, unfortunately.)