Simple directions changing at Gare du Nord to train to Dijon to Train to Dijon

[Ittakeslonger]

Hi can anyone help me. My son is going to Dijon and is getting Eurostar from St Pancreas international on his own. He has ADHD and dyslexia so locating signs and following directions can be very difficult. He has to change trains at Paris Gare du Nord and some written or photographic directions of how to do this would help so much. Can anyone help ?

Thank you

I know this is revolutionary, but he could...ask someone? Station staff will speak good enough English to give directions, or he could learn the simple French he needs to ask.

I remember showing my mum a tiktok video of something similar. Might that help?

Try asking on the Trip Advisor Paris forum. Someone there is bound to be able to give detailed information.

It is not that large a station, you arrive on the main foyer and there are information desks if he cannot see the departure board for the platform for Dijon.

He could get a taxi.
Simpler.
Go find taxi rank follow signs saying taxi or ask
Tell driver name. Of the station he is going to
Take taxi

Trains to Dijon usually depart from
Paris Gare De Lyon station. He should take a taxi there.

If same station for the dijon train then ask at information desk and follow signs to the platform

That does seem obvious. Apologies if I didn't make it clear that he has dyslexia and ADHD. Individuals with ADHD often struggle with following verbal directions due to difficulties with attention, focus, and working memory. These challenges can make it hard to hear and process instructions, especially when they are multi-step or complex. Also dyslexia can pose challenges when learning new languages, as it can affect areas like decoding words, connecting sounds to letters, and memory for vocabulary.

Trains to Dijon go from another Parisian station, in this case Paris Gare de Lyon.

Hi It definitely would 😀

Thank you. That's really good to know

Google" Man in Seat 61"- masses of train info including how to change train stations in Paris. Fabulous Web site. Used it to plan a 6 week train trip round france and Holland with 3 kids.

This website may help:

www.seat61.com/changing-stations-in-paris.htm

Thank you so much 👍

Snap @Oldrunner 😁

There are YouTube videos that show how you get from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon.

https://showmethejourney.com/travel-info-and-tips/gare-du-nord-to-gare-de-lyon-by-rer/

Thinking outside the box could he change at Lille I know that is possible for some routes

I hadn't thought of that. He has his ticket already. I'm not sure if it's possible

As others have said, trains to Dijon seem to go from Gare de Lyon.

He needs to walk along the platform once he gets off the Eurostar until he's in the actual Gare du Nord ( the platform is slightly segregated due to the train being an international one). Follow signs for the metro, which should take him diagonally left. He should go downstairs as soon as he can. He will need a ticket for the metro which costs €2.50. If he's coming back at a later date, he could buy two to save time on the return journey. The ticketing system has recently changed, but I think you can still buy paper tickets. There are manned ticket booths or ticket machines that you can change into English.

You can get a direct RER to Gare de Lyon, but I prefer to get the metro - take line 4 towards Bagneux-Lucie Aubrac then change at Chatelet to line 14 towards Aeroport d'Orly and get off at Gare de Lyon.

There is an app called Bonjour RATP which contains a journey planner, and you can also buy single tickets on it to use with the NFC on your phone, but I would stick to paper tickets while you still can.

At Gare de Lyon he will need to go upstairs to get to the main station. There are then two halls - one has numbered platforms, the other has lettered platforms. He needs to check which hall he needs when he gets there and go to the right one straight away! There is information on all trains in both halls, but it's much easier to be in the correct hall when your train is announced.

Thank you x

CityMapper has a Paris section if that helps. I use CityMapper for all my European city adventures.

If navigating the metro for the first time is going to be stressful for him, I would recommend getting a taxi or Uber. It will cost about €20.

Also make sure that whichever way he chooses, DS has good situational awareness. The Gare du Nord is not a good place for anyone who looks like a tourist to stand still for very long.