Whats the difference between the RER Trains and the Metro in Paris?

Question

And is there a travel pass, that covers them both?

Answer 1

The metro was designed at the beginning of the 20th century. It was intended to deserve only Paris. Metro lines have been extended later and now some of them reach parts the suburbs, a few kilometers away from Paris. All metros start at 5:30 am and stop at 1:15 am (2:15 am before saturdays, sundays and holidays). The minimal frequency is at least 1 metro every 10 minutes. Each metro line has two ends, except the lines 7 and 13 which are forking. Each metro has a dedicated track. Each metro runs from one end to the other and stops at each station. All metro lines are run by the company called RATP. A metro train is approximately 70 to 100 meters long. The distance between two metro station varies from 300 m to 1,5 km. A single trip ticket (T+ ticket) costs €1,60 and allows you to reach any two points of the metro network (connections are allowed).

The RER was designed in the middle of the 20th century. It was intended to allow suburbians to travel through Paris without changing from train/metro too often. The RER lines consist of one central part in Paris and many branches outside Paris. RERs have there own track in Paris (RER B and D share one track) but they share the railtrack with other trains (regional, international, freight) outside Paris. Some RER trains do not start/stop at the end of the line, some train so not stop at some station. That makes traveling with the RER complicated. RER train have a 4-character code called "mission" indicating where the train stops. RER are run partially by the RATP (Paris public transportation company) and partially by the SNCF (French national train company). RER run approximately from 5 am to 1:30 am, but exact times and frequency depend from the considered station. RER trains are much bigger than metro trains. The distance between RER stations is usually many kilometers. The cost of a ticket depends of the origin and destination of the trip. If the trip goes through Paris, the connection with the metro before/after the RER trip is allowed. A RER trip through Paris only costs a T+ ticket (€1,60).

The Paris area is divided into zones for travel passes. Paris itself is zone 1, the zone 2 is a ring surrounding zone 1, the zone 3 is a ring surrounding zone 2, and so on.

Travel passes include at least two zones. The pass allows you illimited travel within the zones, using metro, RER, trains, buses or tramways.

You can buy a pass for zone 1-2, that is enough for the metro (you are allowed to reach the few metro station of the zone 3 with this pass). The RER reach zone 6 so you will have to check where you want to go and then buy the relevant pass.

The following passes are available

-"carte orange": monthly or weekly card, with at least 2 zones (at your convenience)

-"Paris visite": 1, 2, 3 or 5 days, zones 1-3 or 1-6

-"Mobilis": day card, with at least 2 zones (at your convenience)

Check fares here:

http://www.ratp.info/touristes/index.php...

http://www.ratp.info/informer/tarif_tour...

http://www.ratp.info/informer/tarif_abon...

Answer 2

The Métro is the subway system; more frequent stops, less comfortable, within the city.  The RER (Réseau Express Régional - Regional Express Network) Is designed for longer travel, and is more comfortable.  It goes much further outside the city than the Métro.  It is made for commuters to come into the city from the suburbs.  The Weekly "Carte Orange" Will allow you to use the RER as well as the métro, but only within the city.  If you look on the system map, there will be a little squiggly black line on the RER lines.  Any stations outside this line require that you pay additional fare to travel to.