Nineteen people were injured on Thursday evening when a minibus carrying truck drivers collided with a departing Le Shuttle freight train at the Eurotunnel loading platform in Coquelles, northern France, regional authorities said. The crash, which officials described as unprecedented on the terminal apron, halted vehicle shuttles for about 90 minutes before cross-Channel traffic resumed overnight.

Pas-de-Calais officials said the minibus was heading toward the tunnel entrance when it left its lane and struck the side of a train that was pulling away from the platform around 7:30 p.m. local time. All 19 occupants, including the driver, were hurt. Two people were airlifted to hospitals in Lille with serious but not life-threatening injuries; the remaining 17 were treated for minor wounds on site or at nearby clinics.

What travellers face now

Eurotunnel said passenger and freight shuttles were temporarily suspended while emergency crews triaged victims and secured the platform. By late evening operators reported that all cross-Channel routes were running normally again, and British media confirmed Friday morning departures on schedule. Eurostar stressed that its high-speed passenger trains were never involved; the incident occurred several kilometres from the passenger lines, and London–Paris services continued without diversion.

Under-prefect Agathe Cury told reporters it was the first time a vehicle had struck a train on the loading deck, prompting an investigation by rail safety authorities and judicial police into whether brake failure, driver error or signalling played a role. Trucking firms that rely on Le Shuttle for just-in-time deliveries faced queues during the brief shutdown, but haulage groups said freight trains through the tunnel were unaffected.

The Channel Tunnel carries tens of thousands of passengers and heavy goods vehicles daily, and any prolonged closure would ripple through supermarket supply chains on both sides of the strait. Thursday’s relatively short stoppage nonetheless revived memories of past tunnel fires and migrant incursions that closed the link for longer stretches. For now, operators are advising motorists booked on Le Shuttle to arrive with standard check-in buffers while investigators interview the minibus driver and review CCTV from the loading lanes.

British travellers planning half-term getaways largely escaped disruption because the crash involved the freight-loading zone rather than the Folkestone–Calais tourist shuttles. Ferry operators reported no spillover demand. If the inquiry finds systemic risks in how driver shuttles mix with moving trains on the platform, Eurotunnel may face pressure to adjust lane markings or speed limits even though Friday’s timetable is back to normal.