Greetings. Can you confirm that the RER trip to Versailles Château Rive Gauche from Val d'Europe train station is only 6 Euros one-way during the Paris Olympics. I apologize if this seems like a stupid question but can I buy the one-way or return tickets @ the station from a ticket machine or ticket window the day before my journey? I don't want to be rushing and queueing to buy tickets and possibly missing specific train departures because I have the earliest timed entry at Palace of Versailles on Aug 8th I must make. Thanks.
1 answer
Sorry for the slow reply here.
Yes you're correct the RER train ticket would cost 6 euro between Val d'Europe and Versailles Chateau Rive Gauche stations. Since the price ceiling was introduced at the tail end of the pandemic, RER tickets cannot go beyond a preset limit (5 euro normally, but 6 euro during Paris Olympics, excluding airport trains though, which have special higher prices).
Not at all a silly question: you can buy the RER tickets in advance of your travel day and use them at any time in the future. Paris RER & Metro tickets are validated when inserted into a ticket reading machine of a turnstile/gate/platform or aboard trams/buses. Until the Metro or RER ticket is validated, they are good forever without expiration.
You can buy two (or more) RER tickets for your intended itinerary and use the 2nd ticket as a return ticket later on. These "origin-destination" tickets specifying which stations they are valid for travel between, are symmetric, and can be used in either direction.
It's a good idea to plan ahead like you are and the acquire your tickets early to avoid potentially lengthy queues for ticket machines or ticket windows just before your travel.
Have a great Olympics visit.