Nineteen hurt as minibus hits freight train at Eurotunnel site near Calais

A minibus collided with a stationary freight train on the loading platform of the Eurotunnel site near Calais in northern France on Thursday evening, injuring 19 people. The Eurotunnel is the undersea rail link under the English Channel between France and Britain. Eurostar passenger services to and from London are not affected.

Casualties and response

Agathe Cury, the underprefect of the Pas-de-Calais department, said 18 passengers and the driver were hurt. Two people, including the driver, were critically injured and airlifted to the University hospital in Lille. The other 17 were taken to hospitals in Helfaut, Calais, Boulogne, Montreuil-sur-Mer and Dunkirk. Cury said no one's life was at risk.

The minibus was carrying lorry drivers heading for a LeShuttle service, which carries vehicles through the tunnel. About 200 emergency responders and other personnel attended the scene.

Disruption and investigation

Shuttle services through the tunnel were suspended for 90 minutes and gradually resumed by late evening. Cury said an inquiry has been opened into the causes. For reasons not yet known, the minibus struck the shuttle as it was departing.

Eurostar said the incident happened several kilometres from the Channel tunnel and does not affect its trains running to and from London. Local outlet La Voix du Nord published a photograph showing a badly damaged minibus on the platform, with police officers and staff in high-visibility jackets nearby.

The tunnel opened in 1994 and carried 3.4 million vehicles last year, in addition to millions of Eurostar passengers.