The journey so far
When it enters service on 28 March 2027, the CDG Express will realise a vision first imagined more than 30 years ago: a direct link between central Paris and its main international airport.
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Working side by side with our partners in the tourism and airport sectors, we will deliver on our promise to provide an efficient, sustainable and low-carbon transport service that helps enhance Paris’s international standing.
Soledad Valencia-Risseto
Chairwoman of Hello Paris
It all began in Paris
Over 72 million passengers travelled through Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport in 2025, ranking it among the world’s leading international hubs. Unlike London, Oslo, Stockholm and Vienna, however, Paris did not have a direct express link between its main airport and the city centre.
Feasibility studies to create that missing link began in 1998, and it soon became clear that Gare de l’Est was the natural choice for the terminal station rather than nearby Gare du Nord, which was already at full capacity.
Keolis and RATP Dev joined forces in 2018 to create Hello Paris, pooling their expertise in rail operations, high-density transport network management and service quality. The project began to take shape in 2019 with the creation of a 32 km rail link between Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport and Gare de l’Est.
The project’s key stakeholders
The project in pictures
The CDG Express route
Several years of studies and planning resulted in a 32 km route, including 8 km of new track from Gare de l’Est.
Three-quarters of the route is on existing rail lines, which avoided the need to build new tunnels. The route is longer than originally planned, but the dedicated, non-stop service between Charles de Gaulle Airport and Paris will still take only 20 minutes.
SNCF Réseau and Groupe ADP built the infrastructure to operate the CDG Express and upgraded a substantial portion of the existing rail network north of Paris, under a public works concession, starting in 2019.
The CDG Express infrastructure management company oversaw the design, construction and maintenance of the rail facilities in the eight areas crossed by the route. It is owned in equal shares by Groupe ADP, SNCF Réseau and Banque des Territoires, and financed the entire project without public subsidies.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I join the CDG Express team?
See our vacancies in “Join us”.
Hello Paris, the company that operates the CDG Express, is hiring in preparation for the service launch, planned for March 2027. Current vacancies – in driving, maintenance, passenger services and supervision – are available on the “Join us” page. You can also contact HR directly at the address on the “Contact us” page.
How many stops does the CDG Express make?
None.
The CDG Express provides a non-stop service between Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport and Gare de l'Est.
What do the pre-tests in the recruitment process involve?
These tests assess a candidate’s ability and aptitude for a role linked to rail safety or operations.
They only apply to candidates applying for driver training.
They may include logic and vigilance tests, as well as practical scenarios related to the role. They also help assess a candidate’s motivation, judgement, ability to follow strict rail procedures and capacity to learn. They take about two hours to complete online.
