A question that has cropped up regularly has been about the transportation of radioactive waste and whether this is safe.
If a GDF is built in this area, transport connections will be needed – which could include improvements to the existing transport infrastructure as well as new rail lines and other infrastructure to link the site with the national transport network.
‘Nuclear trains’ run on the same lines as normal trains daily and span almost all of the UK rail network.
Here, Sarah Bryson, a Transportation Specialist with Nuclear Waste Services (NWS), reveals more about what is involved.
Sarah said: “A GDF would receive nuclear waste from around 20 sites across England and Wales. There would be in the region of five trains per week carrying radioactive waste packages to a GDF.”
“Nuclear Transport Solutions, as the transport operator, is looking to transport approximately 2,200 packages a year. Waste packages will generally be manufactured from steel or concrete and weigh between 40 and 65 tonnes. Most [waste packages] will be around 2.2 metres tall and from two to four metres long.”
Is it safe?
Sarah said: “In 2014, Public Health England estimated that, each year, approximately 110,000 transport containers were moved on the road, with 1,500 moved on the rail network.
“They have all occurred without a single major safety incident, since nuclear transport began in the 1960s.
“This unblemished safety record is due to robust management and packages undergo rigorous testing to ensure they remain safe no matter what happens to them.”
Sarah explained that to help ensure safety, “Packages [of waste] undergo drop testing from [heights of] 1.2 to nine metres. Fire testing is carried out at 800C for 30 minutes.
“All testing is recorded and can be scrutinised by the Office of Nuclear Regulation [ONR]. Transport containers are manufactured to strict conditions, and these are also put through tests. Containers are loaded to strict procedures and checks are made before transport.”
What happens during transport?
Highly trained specialists plan and control movement of waste and operate under a nuclear transport security plan approved by the ONR. Sarah said: “Only those who need to know are aware when transport shipments are happening and where they are going, and some shipments will have an armed escort.
“We are proud of our 100 per cent safety record but we have emergency plans in place and practise so everyone knows what to do should an issue arise.”
Transport Statistics
20 sites A GDF would receive nuclear waste from around 20 sites across England and Wales, but over 80% of it is at Sellafield in Cumbria.
5 trains Around five trains each week will transport packages of nuclear waste to the GDF site.
2,200 packages of nuclear waste are anticipated to be transported each year (approximately)
40-65 ton weight of waste packages, which are made from steel or concrete
800ºC Packages are tested at extremely high temperatures to ensure safety
In 2014, Public Health England estimated that, every year, approximately 110,000 transport packages of waste were moved on the roads, and approximately 1,500 packages are moved on the Rail Network
100% safety record with zero incidents, but emergency plans are in place in the unlikely event that a transport issue does arise
Learn more at nucleartransportsolutions.com