19 Injured After Minibus Hits Freight Train at Channel Tunnel Terminal in France — What We Know

Quick answer: Nineteen people were injured when a minibus collided with a freight train at the Eurotunnel loading platform on the French side of the Channel Tunnel on the evening of 15 October 2026. Two people were airlifted to hospital in Lille; officials said no deaths were reported and no lives were in danger.

Key facts

• What: Minibus collided with a freight train at a Eurotunnel loading platform
• Where: Coquelles, Pas-de-Calais, France (French terminal of the Channel Tunnel)
• When: Evening of 15 October 2026
• Toll: 19 injured (18 passengers and the bus driver); 0 deaths
• Emergency number in France: 112 / 15 (medical)
• Status: Investigation under way

What happened

A minibus transporting heavy goods vehicle drivers who were about to board Le Shuttle struck a freight train at the Eurotunnel loading platform in Coquelles, near Calais. The Pas-de-Calais Under Prefect, Agathe Cury, said that for reasons currently unknown, the minibus struck the shuttle as it was departing.

Emergency responders were dispatched within nine minutes of the first alert. Fifty-five firefighters attended the scene alongside 25 teams from the mobile emergency and intensive care service.

Eighteen passengers and the bus driver were injured. Two people, including the driver, were airlifted to hospital in Lille. The remaining 17 injured people were taken to hospitals in Helfaut, Calais, Boulogne, Montreuil-sur-Mer and Dunkirk. Officials said none of the injured were in critical condition and no lives were considered to be in danger.

What officials said

Under Prefect Agathe Cury said an inquiry had been launched into the causes of the collision and described it as the first time an incident of this type had occurred on a Eurotunnel loading platform. Freight and Eurostar traffic were not disrupted, and Eurostar said all its trains would run as scheduled.

What happens next

An investigation into the circumstances of the collision is under way. Investigators will examine how the minibus came to strike the departing shuttle on the loading platform. Eurotunnel said the incident was the first of its kind on a loading platform.

Source: BBC News live coverage — https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c6zxz4dyvdq4t

Frequently asked questions

How many people were injured in the Channel Tunnel minibus crash?

Nineteen people were injured — 18 passengers and the bus driver. No deaths were reported.

Where did the Channel Tunnel minibus crash happen?

At the Eurotunnel loading platform in Coquelles, Pas-de-Calais, on the French side of the Channel Tunnel, near Calais.

What caused the Channel Tunnel minibus crash?

The cause is under investigation. Officials said the minibus struck the shuttle as it was departing, for reasons not yet known.

What is the emergency number in France?

Dial 112 for general emergencies or 15 for medical emergencies (SAMU).