Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne derailment

The Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne derailment of December 12, 1917, is the most serious railway accident in France’s history. The derailment of an overloaded train carrying nearly 1,000 French soldiers on leave returning from the Italian front, as the train descended the Maurienne valley rail line, caused a catastrophic crash and fire in which approximately 700 died. The accident occurred on the Culoz–Modane railway line, part of the Fréjus Railway.