In brief
On Thursday evening, a minibus transporting lorry drivers collided with a freight train stalled on the loading platform at Coquelles, just outside Calais. The impact left 19 people injured, including the bus driver and a passenger who required helicopter evacuation, but fortunately none faced life‑threatening injuries. Local officials say normal rail and Eurostar services were briefly halted but resumed shortly. An investigation into the cause of the collision has begun, as it marks the first of its kind incident on the Eurotunnel loading platform.
A minibus carrying lorry drivers was struck by a freight train on a loading platform at Coquelles, the French side of the Channel Tunnel, on Thursday night. The collision left 19 people hurt, including the bus driver and a passenger who were seriously injured and had to be evacuated by helicopter. Fortunately, none of the injuries were life‑threatening.
Sub‑prefect Agathe Cury said the incident caused a brief stoppage of freight and Eurostar traffic, but normal operations resumed shortly after the emergency crews cleared the scene. “The arrival and departure of freight trains were unaffected once the injured were removed,” she confirmed.
The bus, a small minibus, was transporting a crew of truck drivers scheduled to board the Le Shuttle service, which ferries vehicles through the tunnel. All passengers were men of various nationalities; it remains unclear whether any British nationals were among the injured.
The incident occurred just as a freight train, loaded with heavy goods vehicles, was preparing to depart from the platform. According to Cury, the bus—unloaded—collided with the departing train for reasons that are still unknown. Though the bus remained upright, the impact caused injuries to those on board.
Eurostar released a statement noting that the incident did not affect their services: "All Eurostar trains from London will run as expected."
The Eurotunnel, running under the English Channel from Folkestone to Coquelles, handles three rail services: Eurostar passenger trains, freight services, and the Le Shuttle that moves vehicles. Although the collision caused an isolated incident, traffic remained largely unchanged beyond the immediate platform area.
An investigation into the collision has been launched. Meanwhile, closure of the Eurotunnel to freight traffic has not been announced, and authorities are continuing to monitor the situation.
