Paris RER B and D closures: September 12-13 travel plan
Central Paris loses two useful north-south rail links on Saturday, September 12 and Sunday, September 13, 2026. RER B will not run between Gare du Nord and Denfert-Rochereau. RER D will not run between Gare du Nord and Gare de Lyon. The closures last all day in both directions.
Photo: Chabe01 via Wikimedia Commons_-_2022-07-05_-_1.jpg), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. The photograph shows Gare du Nord in July 2022, not the 2026 closure. It was cropped and compressed.
The short answer: RER B trains still run between Gare du Nord's surface platforms and Charles de Gaulle Airport during the day. They stop after 10:45 p.m. on September 11, 12 and 13. To cross central Paris in daytime, use Metro 4 between Gare du Nord and Denfert-Rochereau. For Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon, use Metro 5 to Bastille and change to Metro 1.
This guide was checked on September 8 against current RATP, Transilien, City of Paris and Ile-de-France Mobilites notices. Recheck the live journey on the day. An unplanned incident can change a route that is otherwise scheduled to run.
Which Paris RER sections close on September 12 and 13?
| Line and time | Closed section | What still runs |
|---|---|---|
| RER B, all day Sep 12-13 | Gare du Nord to Denfert-Rochereau | Northern trains start at Gare du Nord; southern trains start at Denfert-Rochereau |
| RER B, from 10:45 p.m. Sep 11-13 | Denfert-Rochereau to CDG 2 TGV and Mitry-Claye | The late-night closure expands across the northern branches; use the live replacement plan |
| RER D, all day Sep 12-13 | Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon | Northern and southern sections operate separately with reduced service |
| RER D, all day Sep 12-13 | Stade de France Saint-Denis station | The RER D station is not served in either direction |
The two RER lines normally share the central tunnel between Gare du Nord and Chatelet-Les Halles. That is why one weekend of engineering work affects several common airport, station and stadium journeys at once.
Do not read "RER B closed" as "no airport train all weekend." The daytime airport branch and the central section have different boundaries. The later 10:45 p.m. restriction is wider.
Can you take RER B between CDG Airport and Paris?
Yes, during the day. RER B trains for Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2 TGV and Mitry-Claye are scheduled to start and finish at Gare du Nord's surface platforms 31 to 33. They do not continue through Chatelet-Les Halles, Saint-Michel Notre-Dame or Luxembourg.
For a daytime trip from CDG to central or southern Paris:
- Take RER B to Gare du Nord.
- Follow signs from the surface arrival area to the Metro.
- Use Metro 4 for Chatelet, Saint-Michel and Denfert-Rochereau.
- Recalculate the final walk or connection in the live planner.
Reverse those steps when traveling to CDG. Do not enter the usual underground RER B area at Gare du Nord and assume the airport train will be there. Check the departure board for platforms 31 to 33.
The situation changes at 10:45 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. RATP lists no RER B service between Denfert-Rochereau and CDG 2 TGV or Mitry-Claye from that time, with replacement transport provided. A late arrival should be planned separately from a daytime trip. Check the airport terminal, last usable train and replacement stop before landing, and compare an official taxi or prebooked transfer when the remaining margin is too tight.
How to travel between Gare du Nord and Denfert-Rochereau
Metro 4 is the direct rail alternative and is scheduled to receive extra service. It serves Gare du Nord, Chatelet, Saint-Michel and Denfert-Rochereau, covering the central stations skipped by RER B.
Bus 38 is also reinforced and follows a useful north-south corridor. It can suit a shorter surface journey or a traveler avoiding a long station transfer. It is not an express airport bus, and road traffic can make its arrival less predictable.
| Journey | Practical daytime route | Main complication |
|---|---|---|
| Gare du Nord to Chatelet | Metro 4 | Longer walk between mainline and Metro areas at Gare du Nord |
| Gare du Nord to Saint-Michel | Metro 4 | Saint-Michel Metro is not the same platform as the closed RER B station |
| Gare du Nord to Denfert-Rochereau | Metro 4 | Crowding on the main replacement corridor |
| CDG to Denfert-Rochereau | RER B to Gare du Nord, then Metro 4 | Surface-platform arrival and an extra transfer with luggage |
| Southern RER B branch to CDG | RER B to Denfert-Rochereau, Metro 4 to Gare du Nord, then RER B surface train | Two separate rail segments and a station transfer |
With a suitcase, stroller or limited mobility, select an accessible journey in the official planner instead of assuming the fastest route is step-free. Platform changes and long corridors can matter more than the number of stops.
How to travel between Gare du Nord and Gare de Lyon
RER D cannot cross central Paris that weekend. The published alternative from Gare du Nord is Metro 5 to Bastille, followed by Metro 1 to Gare de Lyon. From Gare de Lyon to Chatelet, Metro 1 is direct. For Paris Nord, take Metro 1 to Bastille and change to Metro 5.
Northern RER D trains terminate at Gare du Nord. Southern trains start and finish at Gare de Lyon's surface platforms. Read the mainline departure board before heading to the usual underground RER area.
This route is important for travelers connecting between Eurostar or a northern France train at Gare du Nord and a TGV from Gare de Lyon. Do not preserve a normal RER D transfer time. Rebuild the complete station-to-station journey and start earlier, especially when separate tickets leave no protected connection.
Stade de France visitors need the station name, not only the line
Stade de France Saint-Denis on RER D will not be served on September 12 or 13. Current disruption guidance points passengers to Metro 14 at Saint-Denis Pleyel.
There is another nearby station called La Plaine Stade de France on RER B. It is north of Gare du Nord, so daytime RER B service can reach it from the northern section. It does not solve every journey: a traveler starting in central Paris must first reach Gare du Nord by Metro, and the RER B northern branch closes from 10:45 p.m.
Check the event organizer's final access instructions as well as the transport planner. The best arrival station can depend on the assigned gate and any event controls.
Other Paris transport works can break a backup route
The RER B and D closures are not the only planned work that weekend. The current network roundup also lists reduced or interrupted RER C service south of Paris, and Metro 13 is scheduled to close across the line until noon on Sunday, September 13.
That makes improvised detours risky. Do not switch to another line because its color looks parallel on a map. Enter the exact origin, destination and departure time in Ile-de-France Mobilites or Bonjour RATP, then confirm any SNCF-operated segment in SNCF Connect.
Tickets and phone setup before entering the station
The closure does not make every replacement route free. Use the official ticket tool for the full journey, particularly for an airport trip. A central Paris ticket is not automatically valid to CDG, and the correct airport ticket or pass still matters when the rail journey is split at Gare du Nord.
Prepare the route while the phone has a stable connection:
- Save the destination address, terminal and train number.
- Screenshot the operator's closure diagram and the surface-platform instruction.
- Download an offline Paris map, but use live data for the final route.
- Keep the airline, hotel and rail booking references available offline.
- Carry a second payment method in case a phone wallet or ticket app fails.
The offline maps guide explains what a downloaded map can and cannot do. The Paris Heritage Days guide covers the following weekend's reservation-led visits. Travelers heading to Base 217 on the closure weekend should also read the Fete de l'Humanite guide, which has separate RER C and RER D shuttle instructions.
Mobile data for live Paris routes and flight changes
A France Roaming eSIM can provide data for live route checks, airline messages, ticket access and meeting-point changes where the selected partner network has service. It cannot restore a closed railway, guarantee capacity on Metro 4 or remove congestion inside Gare du Nord.
The public catalog returned 18 France plans on September 8. Seventeen were marked as supporting top-up and one was not. Published cards listed Bouygues, Free Mobile, Orange and SFR across the available choices, but the exact network set, allowance, validity, speed policy and top-up status depend on the selected plan.
The practical Roaming eSIM edge is visible before checkout: travelers can compare those package fields and arrange data before reaching the disrupted station. The public 24/7 support route is available for setup and plan help. That is more dependable than treating station Wi-Fi as the only way to recalculate a time-sensitive airport journey, but it is not a promise of uninterrupted mobile service in a crowd.
Use the France route for a France-only trip. Europe Roaming eSIM or Europe 33 areas may fit a wider rail itinerary when every destination appears in the selected coverage list. Global 120 areas is for a broader multi-region journey.
Check the travel data calculator, installation timing guide and phone compatibility guide before departure.
Ten questions travelers are asking about the Paris RER closures
1. Is RER B closed between CDG and Paris all weekend?
No. During the day, trains run between CDG and Gare du Nord's surface platforms. They do not continue through central Paris. From 10:45 p.m. on September 11, 12 and 13, the closure expands between Denfert-Rochereau and the airport or Mitry-Claye branches.
2. Where do CDG trains leave from at Gare du Nord?
The RER B operator lists surface platforms 31 to 33 for trains toward CDG 2 TGV and Mitry-Claye. Check the live board because a platform can still change.
3. Which stations are closed on the central RER B section?
There is no RER B service between Gare du Nord and Denfert-Rochereau. That removes the through stops at Chatelet-Les Halles, Saint-Michel Notre-Dame, Luxembourg and Port-Royal.
4. What replaces RER B between Gare du Nord and Denfert-Rochereau?
Metro 4 is the direct alternative and receives extra service. Bus 38 is also reinforced. Choose with the live planner based on luggage, accessibility and road conditions.
5. Is RER D running between Gare du Nord and Gare de Lyon?
No. The central section is closed all day September 12 and 13. Use Metro 5 to Bastille and Metro 1 to Gare de Lyon.
6. Can I connect from Eurostar to a Gare de Lyon train?
Yes, but not by the normal through RER D route. Replan with Metro 5 and Metro 1 and leave a larger margin, especially when the onward ticket is separate.
7. Is Stade de France Saint-Denis station open?
Not on RER D. The station is not served in either direction. Current guidance points to Metro 14 at Saint-Denis Pleyel.
8. Can I use RER B for La Plaine Stade de France?
The station is on the northern RER B section, which runs from Gare du Nord during the day. Reach Gare du Nord by Metro if starting in central Paris, and remember that the northern RER B closes from 10:45 p.m.
9. Do I need a separate airport ticket after changing at Gare du Nord?
You still need the fare or pass valid for the full airport journey. Use the official ticket page or app for the exact route rather than assuming a central Paris ticket covers CDG.
10. How much extra time should I allow?
There is no reliable universal number. A suitcase transfer at Gare du Nord, crowding on Metro 4 and a surface-platform departure can each add time. Recalculate the complete journey and add a separate buffer beyond the app's estimate for flights and reserved trains.
Check the journey again before leaving
Build the route around the correct time boundary. In daytime, split RER B at Gare du Nord and Denfert-Rochereau, and split RER D at Gare du Nord and Gare de Lyon. After 10:45 p.m., treat the RER B airport branch as closed too.
Then check the live operator notice, departure board and final arrival time. The useful plan is not a memorized detour. It is a route that still works when you reach the station.
