SNCF: CDG->Metz

[rf_ioliver]

I've been looking at tickets Paris CDG to Metz in October, but it seems that the only things the SNCF booking site will give is CDG to Lorraine TGV, then either no connection onwards, or sometimes a bus (eg: AUTOCARn° 68151 for one service). Is there engineering work or am I just hitting some quirks of SNCF?

thanks

 

[rvdborgt]

I don't think there are any direct trains between CDG and Metz.

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

I've been looking at tickets Paris CDG to Metz in October, but it seems that the only things the SNCF booking site will give is CDG to Lorraine TGV, then either no connection onwards, or sometimes a bus (eg: AUTOCARn° 68151 for one service). Is there engineering work or am I just hitting some quirks of SNCF?

thanks

Lorraine TGV is not served by any conventional rail lines - it is a bus to either Metz or Nancy. It is a pretty hopeless gare des betteraves!

You'll have to go into Paris and catch a Metz / Luxembourg service from Est, or catch a Lille - Strasbourg service from CDG and backtrack from the latter.

 

[Farigiraf]

I've been looking at tickets Paris CDG to Metz in October, but it seems that the only things the SNCF booking site will give is CDG to Lorraine TGV, then either no connection onwards, or sometimes a bus (eg: AUTOCARn° 68151 for one service). Is there engineering work or am I just hitting some quirks of SNCF?

Services from CDG towards the LGV Est typically go between Brussels/Lille and Strasbourg/Basel, therefore avoiding both Metz and Nancy. Normally 2-3 token services a day as SNCF don't really care that much about the services avoiding Paris - i.e. those via CDG or Disneyland - since there's less profit to be made.

The intermediate parkway stations on the line are mostly useless if you don't drive so you're lucky to have that bus connection between Lorraine TGV and Metz at least. While that's likely to be the easiest and cheapest option, it's also fairly risky as frequency to the beetroot stations is low and I wouldn't trust SNCF to hold the bus if the train was delayed. The next best alternative is to take RER B down to Gare de l'Est and take one of the 7-8 trains a day that run direct to Metz - typically expensive but it might not be so extortionate in October.

 

[rf_ioliver]

I don't think there are any direct trains between CDG and Metz.

I've travelled in France before, changing trains is not a problem, but just that there appear to be no trains to Metz, other than via bus at TGV Lorraine.

Lorraine TGV is not served by any conventional rail lines - it is a bus to either Metz or Nancy. It is a pretty hopeless gare des betterave!

You'll have to go into Paris and catch a Metz / Luxembourg service from Est, or catch a Lille - Strasbourg service from CDG and backtrack from the latter.

Via Gare d'Est it might be ... a couple of hours in Paris isn't too bad - there's a nice cafe opposite Gare du Nord, Est is a short walk from there.
Still surprising that a connection can't be made though, not even via Meuse or Champagne-Ardenne - got love SNCF on times

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Aug 2026 ==

The next best alternative is to take RER B down to Gare de l'Est and take one of the 7-8 trains a day that run direct to Metz - typically expensive but it might not be so extortionate in October.

I think this is what it'll do. Price isn't an issue - I can charge that to my employer

Edit: looks like Est->Metz is cheaper, and more or less hourly. Might even take the service via Nancy and onto a local train to Metz.

 

[The exile]

I've travelled in France before, changing trains is not a problem, but just that there appear to be no trains to Metz, other than via bus at TGV Lorraine.

Sounds like.another case of itinerary programme planning “Nanny knows best”. Is there an option (like on DB) to deselect bus journeys?

 

[signed]

Sounds like.another case of itinerary programme planning “Nanny knows best”. Is there an option (like on DB) to deselect bus journeys?

Yes, you can, in the filters under the search box you can click Type of Train and tick everything bar AUTOCAR

 

[The exile]

Sounds like.another case of itinerary programme playing “Nanny knows best”. Is there an option (like on DB) to deselect bus journeys?

 

[Prima]

Hello.

Timetables for the bus shuttle between "Lorraine TGV" station (located in Louvigny village) and Metz can be downloaded on the carrier's website (Keolis Trois Frontières)

https://www.keolis3frontieres.com/lignes-regulieres/

Search for line 57.

It's a subsided service run under contract for the "Grand Est" French region.

€4 single.

As far as I remember, it's cheaper to buy directly a ticket onboard (the bus) than buying a shuttle transfer linked to a train booking on "SNCF connect" travel agency.



"Cross-country" services (named as "intersecteurs" by railway staff and enthusiasts but not really by common passengers) usually run through to Strasbourg from CDG.

Therefore they do not exit from the Est-européenne HSL to call at Metz.

Calling at Lorraine TGV instead is less time-consuming on their route to Strasbourg.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Sunday at 13:24 ==

The only option for an entire rail travel avoiding Paris would be a connection at Champagne Ardenne TGV.

Unfortunately only one or two services a day from Gare de l'est to Metz call at this station.

It's quite unlikely to have there a good connection with an "intersecteur" service.