The Dungeness nuclear waste train, operated by Direct Rail Services (DRS), is a vital component of the UK’s nuclear fuel transport system. It runs weekly, moving spent nuclear fuel from the Dungeness B power station in Kent to Sellafield in Cumbria for reprocessing and storage. This operation is part of the ongoing decommissioning process at Dungeness B, which ceased electricity generation in 2018.
The decommissioning of Dungeness B nuclear power station is a complex and lengthy process. Although construction took about 16 years, returning the site to its original state is projected to take nearly a century. Defueling involves removing over 400 uranium-filled fuel assemblies from each reactor, a task expected to be completed by 2030. Once removed, the fuel cools underwater in storage ponds for 90 days before being transported to Sellafield in Cumbria for storage. Approximately 700 personnel are currently engaged in this decommissioning effort.
The train is typically hauled by two Class 68 diesel-electric locomotives operating in a top-and-tail configuration, ensuring maximum reliability and efficiency. These locomotives, such as 68005 Defiant and 68018 Vigilant, are part of a fleet specifically designed for mixed-traffic duties, including freight and passenger services.
The train includes specialized FNA-D wagons, which carry robust nuclear waste flasks. These flasks are engineered to endure extreme conditions, including high-impact collisions, fires, and submersion, ensuring the safety of transported materials throughout their journey.
Class 68005 “Defiant” & 68018 “Vigiliant” are seen [25th November 2024] at Kent’s most southernly rails at Dungeness and then at Sunset outside the disused Lydd Town Station, at the beginning a 400 mile overnight trek to Sellafeild in cumbria, to deliver two wagons of High level radioactive waste from de-fueling Dungeness Power station B.
The completion of defueling at Dungeness B will conclude this route’s operations, though similar transports are expected to continue elsewhere as other power stations undergo decommissioning. The UK government and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) are also planning for long-term storage solutions, including a proposed geological disposal facility (GDF), to handle the growing volume of nuclear waste safely.
The Dungeness B Recommissioning Project aims to reduce the time it takes to make the site habitable again. The project includes plans to use parts of the power station to create a community space with housing, art spaces, and a library.
Photos courtesy of Dominic Noades from Southeastern Trains Enthusiasts. For more information see the Facebook group UK Nuclear Flask Trains
References and sources used to provide detailed information about the Dungeness nuclear waste train and its operation:
- Direct Rail Services Class 68 Information – Technical details and operational roles of Class 68 locomotives, which are used for hauling the nuclear waste train
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- Nuclear Flask Transport Details – Insights into the safety design and testing of nuclear waste flasks used on these trains
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- Nuclear Decommissioning and Waste Management at Dungeness B – Information on the defueling process, waste management, and future plans for a geological disposal facility by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.
- ‘Long journey ahead’ for nuclear plant clean-up – updated content
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