A minibus collided with a freight train departing from the car shuttle platform near the French entrance to the English Channel Tunnel close to Calais, injuring 19 people. Among them, two are in critical condition and were transported to a hospital in Lille. Officials stated that none of the injured are in life-threatening condition. Eurostar train services were not affected, but vehicle shuttle services remain delayed by about an hour due to the incident.
French authorities revealed that 19 people were injured after a minibus collided with a freight train departing from the car shuttle platform near the French entrance to the English Channel Tunnel in Coquelles, near Calais, at approximately 19:27 local time on 15 Oct, corresponding to 18:27 in the UK.
The minibus was carrying truck drivers preparing to board the Le Shuttle vehicle shuttle service to cross the English Channel when the incident occurred. At the time, one freight train was moving out of the platform while another was stationary, loading trucks before departure across the Channel.
Agathe Coury, Deputy Prefect for the Pas-de-Calais department, said the exact cause of the minibus collision with the train as it was leaving the platform remains unclear. She added this is the first accident of its kind to occur at the Eurotunnel vehicle shuttle platform.
Coury stated the minibus did not overturn, but the impact caused passenger injuries. All injured were men of various nationalities, mostly truck drivers preparing to travel via the Le Shuttle service. The minibus driver is an employee of Eurotunnel.
Of the 19 injured, two are in critical condition and were airlifted to a hospital in Lille, while the other 17 received treatment at several nearby hospitals. Officials confirmed that none of the injured are in life-threatening condition.
Local French media La Voix du Nord reported that eight injured sustained minor injuries, while nine others were still being assessed at the scene. Photos published by the outlet showed the minibus heavily damaged at the front and side, parked beside the train, with rescue and emergency personnel assisting the injured.
Coury confirmed that freight and Eurostar passenger rail traffic was not affected by the accident, although train services were temporarily suspended to allow emergency crews to operate, before normal service resumed.
However, the Le Shuttle service, which transports vehicles between Calais, France, and Folkestone in Kent, England, continues to face delays of about one hour following the incident.
Eurostar issued a statement saying the accident occurred several kilometers from the Channel Tunnel and did not affect Eurostar trains operating between London and various European destinations, with all trains running on schedule.
The English Channel Tunnel runs beneath the sea, linking Folkestone in England with Coquelles in France. It offers three main types of train services: Eurostar passenger trains, freight trains, and the Le Shuttle vehicle shuttle transporting vehicles between the two countries.