Nineteen injured as minibus collides with train at Channel Tunnel terminal in France
A minibus and a train collided on a loading platform near the French entrance to the Channel Tunnel in Pas-de-Calais, leaving at least 19 people injured. The incident has prompted a major emergency response and disrupted cross-Channel services.
At least nineteen people have been injured after a minibus collided with a train on a loading platform near the French entrance to the Channel Tunnel in Pas-de-Calais, northern France. The collision occurred on the French side of the cross-Channel rail link, according to emergency services and local authorities.
The minibus struck the train at the terminal area where vehicles are loaded onto shuttle services that carry road traffic beneath the English Channel. The force of the impact left multiple passengers requiring medical attention, with emergency crews dispatched to the scene to treat the wounded and secure the area.
Details of the victims' conditions have not yet been fully released, but the casualty figure of nineteen was confirmed by multiple sources. The injured were attended to by paramedics and local fire services, with some reportedly receiving treatment at the scene before being transferred to nearby hospitals. The severity of the injuries sustained in the collision remains unclear.
The incident took place at the French terminal near Coquelles, close to Calais, where the Eurotunnel shuttle service operates. This is the primary crossing point for vehicles travelling between Britain and mainland Europe via the undersea tunnel. The terminal handles thousands of passenger vehicles, coaches, and freight lorries daily.
Emergency responders were quickly mobilised to the loading platform following the collision. The area was cordoned off as investigators began examining the circumstances that led to the minibus hitting the train. It is not yet known whether the collision was caused by a mechanical failure, driver error, or another factor.
The crash is expected to cause significant disruption to cross-Channel travel, with shuttle services potentially facing delays or cancellations while the scene is cleared and investigated. Passengers booked on Eurotunnel services have been advised to check the latest travel updates before setting out.
The Channel Tunnel, which opened in 1994, is a critical piece of infrastructure linking the United Kingdom with France and the wider European continent. It carries millions of passengers and tonnes of freight each year, making any incident at its terminals a matter of international transport concern.
French authorities have launched an investigation into the collision. The circumstances surrounding how the minibus came into contact with the train on the loading platform will form the central focus of the inquiry. Safety protocols at the terminal are also likely to be reviewed.
This is a developing story. Further information about the conditions of the injured and the cause of the collision is expected as authorities continue their work at the scene.
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