19 hurt as coach and train collide near Channel Tunnel

At least 19 people were injured Thursday when a coach and a train collided near the Channel Tunnel entrance in northern France, officials said.

The collision happened at Coquelles, near Calais, close to the entrance of the tunnel linking France and Britain, according to a Reuters report carried by CP24. The local prefect’s office said none of the injuries was life-threatening. Ambulances, a helicopter and police attended the scene, Reuters reported.

Reports differ on the vehicles involved. Reuters described a freight train and a coach. BBC News reported a bus and a train, while The Guardian described a minibus accident on the Eurotunnel loading platform. The Guardian put the number of injured at 19, as did BBC News.

The coach driver was among the injured, according to Reuters. Reports reviewed by Canada News Media did not say who else was aboard.

The cause of the collision has not been made public. The reports did not include a statement from Eurotunnel, the operator, and did not say whether tunnel or rail services were disrupted.

The Channel Tunnel runs about 50 kilometres beneath the English Channel between Coquelles, near Calais, and Folkestone in England. Eurotunnel operates the shuttle trains that carry cars, coaches and freight vehicles through it, and vehicles are driven onto the shuttles at a terminal on each side. Passenger and freight trains also use the tunnel.

Incidents at the tunnel have drawn wide attention in the past. A 2008 fire on a freight shuttle injured 14 people and shut the tunnel, NBC News reported at the time. In 2022, about 400 people had to leave their vehicles on a stalled shuttle and walk through the service tunnel, Fortune reported.

French authorities have not yet released further details on the condition of those hurt or on the investigation. Canadians travelling between France and Britain by the tunnel should check with Eurotunnel for service updates, and can consult the Government of Canada’s travel advice for France.

This story is developing and will be updated when officials release more information.

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