Gare Montparnasse

Paris Montparnasse is one of the six large terminus train stations of Paris, located in the Montparnasse area, in the XIVe arrondissement. The station was opened in 1840, and rebuilt completely in 1969. A steam train crashed through the station in 1895; there is a well-known photograph of the event, and full scale reproductions outside a museum chain in South America.

The station is used for the intercity TGV trains to destinations in the west and south-west of France including Tours, Bordeaux, Rennes and Nantes. Additionally, it is served by several suburban and regional services on the Transilien Paris – Montparnasse routes. There is also a metro station, and a high-speed moving walkway.

History

The original station opened in 1840, and was named Gare de l'Ouest, before later being renamed. A second station was built between 1848 and 1852.

On 25 August 1944, the German military governor of Paris, General von Choltitz, surrendered his garrison to the French General Philippe Leclerc at the old train station, after disobeying Adolf Hitler's direct order to destroy the city (see Liberation of Paris).

During the 1960s, a newer station integrated into a complex of office buildings was built. In 1969, the old station was torn down and the Tour Montparnasse built on its spot. An extension was built in 1990 to host the TGV Atlantique.

1895 derailment

The Gare Montparnasse became famous for a derailment on 22 October 1895 of the Granville-Paris Express that overran the buffer stop. The engine careened across almost 30 metres (98 ft) of the station concourse, crashed through a 60-centimetre (24 in) thick wall, shot across a terrace and sailed out of the station, plummeting onto the Place de Rennes 10 metres (33 ft) below, where it stood on its nose. All on board the train survived, five sustaining injuries: two passengers (out of 131), the fireman and two conductors; however, one woman on the street below was killed by falling masonry. The accident was caused by a faulty Westinghouse brake and the engine drivers who were trying to make up for lost time. A conductor incurred a 25 franc penalty and the engine driver a 50 franc penalty.

The event captured the imagination of many artists, and inspired surrealism as an art movement.

The story of the train crash and the picture feature in the 2007 children's novel The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick. Much of the story is set in and around Gare Montparnasse.

Replicas of the train crash are recreated outside the Mundo a Vapor ("Steam World") museum chain buildings in Brazil, at the southernmost state, Rio Grande do Sul, in the city of Canela.

Regional lines serving this station

  • Transilien N Gare Montparnasse - Dreux
  • Transilien N Gare Montparnasse - Mantes-la-Jolie
  • Transilien N Gare Montparnasse - Montfort l'Amaury-Méré
  • Transilien N Gare Montparnasse - Plaisir Grignon
  • Transilien N Gare Montparnasse - Rambouillet
  • Transilien N Gare Montparnasse - Sèvres Rive Gauche
  • Transilien N Gare Montparnasse - Versailles-Chantiers

Adjacent metro station:

  • Montparnasse - Bienvenüe

Nearby station:

  • Pasteur

Travelling between the Gare Montparnasse and other Paris main line stations

See also

References

External links

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Tips & Hints
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JB A
28 May 2017
This large, easy to get around station has lots of options for food and small shopping. But the bathrooms are few, and cost 80 cents € to use.
Chris Cramer
22 July 2016
I'm working there ... not with SNCF but with CNP Assurances ... take the underground way to Metro 4 and enjoy the wallpapers
Siegfried Loeffler
5 December 2018
Attention starting 9 December 2018 and for unknown reasons sncf block the rear entrance hall 2. So plan to arrive earlier. (Of course in the early morning don't expect the new shops to be open...)
SNCF Gares & Connexions
Consignes disponibles dans cette gare tous les jours, de 7h à 23h. 3 tarifs sont proposés suivant la taille du casier (5,5 / 7,5 / 9,5€ pour 24h - 5€ par 24h supplémentaires). RDV au niveau +1.
SNCF Gares & Connexions
L’Espace Consignes et Objets Trouvés de la gare de Paris Montparnasse vous permet également de retirer ou retourner vos colis commandés sur Internet. Ouvert tous les jours, de 7h à 23h00.
SNCF Gares & Connexions
Une boîte aux lettres vous attend au niveau 0 de la gare, à proximité de la Porte Océane, de la FNAC et du Relay.
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