M / RER Chatelet

Hi,

We had some experience today and I know we did something wrong but could someone explain me what was wrong and how instead should it be done?

We went into M station in Chatelet near some shop, we validated our tickets but after a long walk through tunnels there were other gates with ticket validation. Unfortunately there were nobody in the information stands so we somehow managed to walk through the gates without validating our tickets again.

We will not return to this station (there%26#39;s no need) so the information isn%26#39;t like life-saving, but I guess someone would be happy if some with greater experience could explain step-by-step what should be done there to get from M side to RER side without violating any rules.

Thanks,

Armands

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You did nothing wrong. The fact that there are turnstiles with ticket validation does not mean you need a new ticket - you should just use the same ticket you used when entering the metro. Sometimes you%26#39;ll also need it to leave the station (especially on the RER).

In any case, you should always keep your ticket handy - there can also be random ticket checks by inspectors anywhere during your trip, even at the exits.

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Any passage between the RER and the metro requires that you put the same ticket in the turnstile.

Actually, the worst place for this (which even confuses some Parisians) is the metro connection at Gare de Lyon. To get from line 1 to line 14, you have to pass through the RER zone and actually use your ticket three times to get to the right place.

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No rules violated, but it can be disconcerting, after all, you%26#39;ve gone through the barrier and you think that would be it....but up comes another barrier and you hesitate thinking that the alarms will go off or that the opening barriers will slam shut half way through almost slicing you into two with a loud bell coming out of nowhere screaming at you for trying to rip of the Metro system as you get stuck midway through the gate.

Well, that%26#39;s what I thought during my first negotiation of the cavernous labyrinth that is Chatelet. But there was no need.