Difference between Parisian metro and train

Could someone pls tell me the difference between the Parisian metro and RER train.

Is a train pass (whether zones 1-3 or 1-6 valid for all trains i.e metro and RER

Thanks in advance

GF

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Yes, you can use the same ticket for both metro and RER - just make sure you stay within the zones you paid for.

You can see the main difference if you look at the maps of the metro and RER network. The metro has about 380 stops, which are nearly all in Paris proper (meaning the area within the périphérique ring road). The RER has about 246 stops, but only 33 of them are in Paris proper, the rest are in the suburbs.

Some practical differences: metro lines are numbered, the 5 RER lines are indicated by the letters A, B, C, D and E. The metro always drives on the right, RER on the left. In the RER you will need your ticket also to exit the station.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RER

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Métro

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Gery -

try taking a look at this post and see if it helps:

http://tinyurl.com/pz2re

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We loved the metro--clean, not too crowded except at rush hour, easy to change stations. The RER was crowded, hot, dirty, and we wouldn%26#39;t use it again unless there was no other way.

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Any transportaion pass (CARTE ORANGE, PARIS VISITÉ, MOBILIS) will be good for ALL Metro,RER, Bus, Tram Funicular, Noctalien Bus, travel within it%26#39;s zones of validity. The one ***EXCEPTION*** to this will be the MOBILIS pass---which may NOTbe used for the RER RIOSSYRAIL or ROISSYBUS to/from CDG or ORLYVAL or ORLYBUS to/from ORLY.

Perhaps it%26#39;s easiest to think of the Metro as the %26#39;..local..%26#39; Paris trains and the RER as the surburban / regional %26#39;..express..%26#39; trains. There are several RER stations across Paris, but these will be far fewer and much farther between and whether you use the Metro or RER will depend largely on your destination and your immediate proximity to a station. In practical terms, the usually nearer Metro stations will get you where you want to go within Paris at least as quickly as the RER. There will also be longer %26#39;..wait-times..%26#39; between RER trains. Where the average %26#39;wait-time%26#39; between Metro trains will be anywhere from 2-to-8 mins from early-morning to late-night (avg -3-5 during most of the day %26amp; evening) The average %26#39;wait-time%26#39; between RER trains may be 15-to-30 mins (avg 10-15 during most of the day or evening).

Certainly some RER lignes, at some times of the day (usually at %26#39;rush hours%26#39;), will be hot and crowded....but so too will many Metro lignes at the same times. Otherwise, there really isn%26#39;t much or any difference between the two trains. The one thing that is different is that you will always need to insert your coupon/ticket into an RER Exit turnstile/gate to exit the RER portion of a station. The other difference is that most RER stations within Paris have escalators (which usually work) from platform level to street level. Few Metro stations do...and even when the do, odds are they%26#39;ll be Out-of-Service (or so it seems).

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