French authorities say a bus struck a stationary freight train at the Channel Tunnel’s French loading platform in Coquelles, near Calais, injuring the driver and 18 passengers.
The collision happened at 19:27 local time (18:27 BST) on Thursday, according to French authorities. A local official said the bus driver and one passenger were severely injured and evacuated by helicopter, and that none of the injuries were life-threatening.
What officials say happened
Local sub-prefect Agathe Cury said two trains were positioned on either side of the platform: “One was being loaded by heavy goods vehicles ahead of a cross-Channel journey, and another train that had previously been loaded was departing.” Cury added: “For a reason that currently remains unknown, the minibus collided with the departing train.” She said the vehicle did not overturn, but the impact caused injuries. Cury described the passengers as workers about to board Le Shuttle and said they were men of different nationalities. It is not clear whether any British nationals were among the injured.
Traffic and services
Cury said freight and Eurostar passenger traffic through the tunnel was not disrupted after a brief stoppage to evacuate the injured. Separately, Eurostar issued an update stating: “An incident occurred several kilometers away from the Channel Tunnel. This incident does not involved or impact Eurostar trains running from and to London. All of Eurostar trains will run as expected.”
On-the-ground accounts and images
The BBC’s Evan Davis, who was traveling through the Eurotunnel to Calais at the time, reported seeing blue-light emergency vehicles “concentrated on one of the platforms” as he entered France. He said cars were queuing at check-in and some were passing through despite the collision.
Photos published by local newspaper La Voix du Nord showed a small bus with front and side damage standing alongside a train, with numerous emergency workers present.
What remains unknown
Authorities have opened an investigation. The cause has not been established. Cury said this was “the first time an incident of this type has occurred” on a Eurotunnel loading platform.
