Things got messy at the Channel Tunnel terminal in Coquelles, France, yesterday evening. A bus transporting lorry drivers—who were waiting to board a shuttle rail service—smashed into a stationary freight train at around 19:27 local time.
According to French authorities, 19 people were injured in the collision. Two of them were described as severely hurt and had to be evacuated by helicopter, though officials confirmed that nobody’s life is currently at risk. All 19 individuals involved are men of varying nationalities.
Photos from the scene, shared by the local outlet La Voix du Nord, show a smaller bus with visible damage to the front and side, surrounded by first responders.
If you were worried about your travel plans, lowkey don't stress. Local sub-prefect Agathe Cury confirmed that freight and Eurostar passenger traffic through the tunnel remained largely unaffected by the crash, aside from a short pause to clear the area for the emergency response. Eurostar also put out a statement noting that the incident happened several kilometers away from their own tracks, so the vibes are still good for trains running to and from London.
Why it matters
While the situation was chaotic, the fact that international travel and major freight logistics through the tunnel stayed on track is a major W. Authorities are currently processing the scene, but operations have resumed as normal.
