At least 19 injured as minibus collides with train near Channel Tunnel
At least 19 injured as minibus collides with train near Channel Tunnel
Poinews.com – At least 19 injured as minibus collided with a Le Shuttle train at the Eurotunnel site in northern France on Thursday evening. The crash happened on a loading platform near the Channel Tunnel, leading to a major emergency response involving ambulances, helicopters and police.
Officials said the injured people were all men of different nationalities. None was believed to have suffered life-threatening injuries. The minibus did not overturn during the collision.
Crash occurred at Eurotunnel loading platform
The minibus was transporting heavy goods vehicle drivers who were preparing to board a Le Shuttle service. These trains carry road vehicles through the Channel Tunnel between France and the United Kingdom.
The Pas-de-Calais prefecture said the collision took place at the loading platform of the Eurotunnel site. The train involved was departing when it was struck by the minibus, according to the information released by local authorities.
An accident involving a minibus transporting heavy goods vehicle drivers who were about to board a Le Shuttle shuttle occurred this evening, at the loading platform of the Eurotunnel site.
The driver of the minibus was an Eurotunnel employee. Authorities did not immediately explain what caused the vehicle to collide with the train, and the circumstances of the impact remained under investigation.
French authorities open investigation
A judicial investigation has been launched to determine how the incident occurred. Investigators are expected to examine the movements of both the minibus and the departing shuttle train, as well as conditions at the terminal at the time of the collision.
Agathe Cury, the sub-prefect of Calais, said it was the first accident of this kind at an Eurotunnel loading platform. The incident took place in a tightly controlled operational area where commercial vehicles, shuttle trains, staff and professional drivers move through the terminal before cross-Channel journeys.
At least 19 injured as minibus crash reports highlighted the scale of the emergency response, but officials stressed that the injuries were not considered life-threatening. Emergency crews treated those affected at the scene near Calais, one of Europe’s busiest freight and passenger gateways.
Channel Tunnel traffic continues after collision
Traffic through the Channel Tunnel continued following the crash. The collision did not stop Le Shuttle services, which are used by passenger vehicles, freight operators and drivers travelling between France and the UK.
The Eurotunnel terminal near Calais plays an important role in cross-Channel transport. Heavy goods vehicle drivers pass through the site as part of the loading process before vehicles are carried through the tunnel by train. The collision occurred in the terminal loading area, not inside the Channel Tunnel itself.
Although at least 19 injured as minibus collision drew attention to safety at transport terminals, operations continued while emergency services responded. The official inquiry will determine why the minibus came into contact with the train and whether any changes may be needed at the loading platform.
Frequently asked questions
Where did the minibus collision happen? The crash happened at a Eurotunnel loading platform in northern France, near Calais and the French entrance to the Channel Tunnel.
Were Channel Tunnel services suspended? No. Authorities said traffic through the Channel Tunnel continued after the collision.
Who was travelling in the minibus? The minibus was carrying heavy goods vehicle drivers who were preparing to board a Le Shuttle train.
How serious were the injuries? Nineteen people were injured, but authorities said none was believed to have life-threatening injuries.
What happens next? French authorities have opened a judicial investigation to establish the circumstances that caused the minibus to collide with the departing shuttle train.