A bus has collided with a stationary freight train near the French entrance to the Channel Tunnel, resulting in injuries to the driver and 18 passengers, according to French authorities. The incident occurred at 19:27 (18:27 BST) on Thursday at the loading platform in Coquelles, near Calais, while the bus was transporting lorry drivers to a shuttle rail service. The bus driver and one passenger sustained severe injuries and were evacuated by helicopter; however, none of the injuries were reported as life-threatening, stated a local official.
Local sub-prefect Agathe Cury mentioned that freight and Eurostar passenger traffic through the tunnel was not disrupted following a brief stoppage for the evacuation of the injured. An investigation into the incident has commenced. Cury explained that two trains were positioned on either side of the platform: one was being loaded with heavy goods vehicles for a cross-Channel journey, while another was departing after being loaded.
The cause of the collision, which involved a minibus transporting workers preparing to board Le Shuttle, remains unknown. All individuals involved were men of various nationalities, and it is unclear if any British nationals were among the injured. Cury noted that this was the first occurrence of such an incident on an Eurotunnel loading platform.
Evan Davis from the BBC, who was traveling through the Eurotunnel at the time, reported seeing emergency vehicles concentrated on one of the platforms. He observed that cars were still queuing at check-in, indicating that operations were continuing despite the collision. Photos from local French newspaper La Voix du Nord showed the damaged bus alongside the train, surrounded by emergency workers.
Eurostar issued a statement confirming that the incident occurred several kilometers away from the Channel Tunnel and does not affect Eurostar services, which will continue to operate as scheduled. The Eurotunnel connects England and France, running from Folkestone in Kent to Coquelles on the French side, facilitating three rail services: Eurostar for passenger travel, freight trains for goods transport, and Le Shuttle for vehicles.