In brief
On Thursday night a minibus carrying lorry drivers struck a stopped freight train on the loading platform at the French side of the Channel Tunnel near Coquelles, Calais. The collision left the driver and 18 passengers injured, all treated and air‑lifted; none suffered life‑threatening injuries. French authorities said rail traffic was only briefly paused and has since resumed, while an investigation has begun. Eurostar confirmed that the incident did not affect its London‑France services.
On Thursday night at approximately 7:27 p.m. local time, a minibus carrying lorry drivers heading for a rail shuttle collided with a freight train that had been stopped at the loading platform on the French side of the Channel Tunnel in Coquelles, near Calais.
The impact left the bus driver and one passenger with severe injuries; all 19 injured were air‑lifted to hospitals. Officials later reported that none were in life‑threatening condition.
French sub‑prefect Agathe Cury said freight and Eurostar traffic was not disrupted once staff evacuated the injured. A brief pause lasted only minutes before services resumed.
Investigations are underway to determine the cause of the collision. French authorities say this is the first such incident on an Eurotunnel loading platform.
Eurostar spokesperson confirmed that the incident is unrelated to its passenger trains and assured that all Eurostar services would run as scheduled.
Images and videos of the incident show the small bus damaged and a crowd of emergency workers.
