In brief
A bus travelling with lorry drivers crashed into a stopped freight train on the French side of the Channel Tunnel at Coquelles near Calais, leaving 19 people injured. Two individuals suffered severe wounds and were air‑lifted, though all lives were deemed safe. Local officials reported that freight and Eurostar movements were largely unaffected aside from a short pause to evacuate the wounded. Eurostar stated the incident was a few kilometres from the tunnel and would not impact scheduled services. The accident underscores the tight coordination required around this vital trans‑English‑Channel link.
A bus collided with a stationary freight train at the loading platform of the Channel Tunnel in Coquelles, near Calais, French authorities report, injuring 19 people.
The vehicle, carrying lorry drivers bound for a shuttle rail service, struck the train at 19:27 local time. Two occupants sustained severe injuries and were airlifted, but no life‑threatening conditions were reported.
Local sub‑prefect Agathe Cury said freight and Eurostar traffic remained largely unaffected, with only a brief halt to evacuate the injured.
Eurostar confirmed the incident was a few kilometres from the tunnel and would not affect its scheduled journeys.
The crash illustrates the complexity of operations at the Channel Tunnel entrance, a critical link between Britain and continental Europe.
