A routine transfer of truck drivers to a cross-Channel shuttle train ended in chaos near Calais after a minibus struck a departing freight train at the Eurotunnel loading platform, leaving 19 people injured, French authorities said.
The crash happened last night in Coquelles, and the cause has not yet been established, local officials said.
According to a local official speaking to reporters, the minibus — which was transporting heavy goods vehicle drivers — hit a LeShuttle train as it pulled away from the platform.
The Pas-de-Calais prefecture said in a statement: “An accident involving a minibus carrying heavy goods vehicle drivers, headed to board a LeShuttle train, occurred this evening at the loading platform of the Eurotunnel site.
“Significant resources were immediately deployed by Eurotunnel, and subsequently placed under the authority of the Prefect of the Pas-de-Calais department.
“Early reports suggest that 19 people were involved, including the driver.
“At this stage, there are no fatalities, and no one’s life is considered to be in danger.”
The Eurotunnel terminal site
At the scene, Agathe Cury, the subprefect for the Pas-de-Calais region, described a busy platform moment just before the collision.
“Two trains were 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.
“For a reason that currently remains unknown, the minibus collided with the departing train.
“The bus did not overturn, it is still upright – but the shock and the collision caused injuries to the people involved.”
Ms Cury said the minibus had been bringing HGV drivers to their dedicated passenger area inside the LeShuttle train that was still being loaded at the platform.
“There were various nationalities and the relevant consulates have been informed,” she said.
Calling the incident unusual for the site, she added: “It is the first time an accident on a loading platform of this type has occurred,” Ms Cury added.
“This is why we immediately deployed the resources necessary to respond to this incident as quickly as possible.”
Calais sub-prefect Agathe Cury speaks to journalists at the scene
Ms Cury said medical helicopters were brought in to evacuate the injured, disrupting some passenger movements through the terminal.
“The freight train traffic was not interrupted, the Eurostar traffic was not interrupted.
“The passenger traffic was suspended for an hour and a half while helicopters dealt with the injured.”
She added that a judicial investigation has been opened to examine the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Eurostar said it does not expect the incident to affect its operations.
In a service update, the company said: “An incident occurred several kilometres away from the Channel Tunnel.
“This incident does not involve or impact Eurostar trains running from and to London. All of Eurostar trains will run as expected.”
