Gare Montparnasse (Paris)

France / Ile-de-France / Gentilly / Paris
 Quick_(restaurant), train station, railway terminal
A terminus station in Paris. It is the start of the TGV lines to Rennes, Tours, Nantes and Bordeaux. The station was built in 1840 but soon replaced 8 years later. In 1969, the station was resited to the south at its current position and a new building was built along with an office block. In the 1990s it saw expansion for the TGV.

The station had a famous accident in 1895 when a Granville Express failed to stop due to brake failure, and crashed through the buffers. The train shot across the concourse and smashed through the façade. The locomotive plummeted into Place de Rennes, and was left standing on its nose. Despite the spectacular scene, only one person (a woman on the street) was killed and 5 people on the train injured.

During the liberation of Paris, a German General Dietrich von Choltitz was ordered by Hitler to cause as much damage to Paris as possible before the Allies liberated it. Choltitz had been loyal to Hitler and had authorised destruction in Holland and Paris (including the Grand Palais), but Choltitz refused and made his surrender to General Leclerc inside the old station.
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gare_Montparnasse
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   48°50'22"N   2°19'6"E

Comments

  • This accident occurred in 1895. You can see a picture of it at: http://danger-ahead.railfan.net/gallery/paris_95.htm