More Nuclear Waste Just Arrived at Sellafield along West Cumbria’s Vulnerable Train Route
Today at Lancaster Rail Station - 08.000 am 10/04/25 1 nuclear waste flask pulled by two Direct Rail Services diesel engines north bound to Sellafield. Often there are several flasks travelling at one time. Photo Credit: Steve Wallis
From Lancaster the nuclear waste train will travel across the Arnside Viaduct over the Kent Estuary which is part of Morecambe Bay. In March of last year a passenger trail derailed just past the Viaduct “At around 06:05 on 22 March 2024, a passenger train travelling at 56 mph (90 km/h) derailed on the approach to Grange-over-Sands station. The derailment occurred because a void had opened in the embankment on which the train was travelling, leading to the rails under the train losing support. The train was carrying four train crew and four passengers when it derailed. Nobody was injured, but significant damage was caused to both the train and the railway infrastructure.”
Last weekend saw multiple fires along the tracks hugging the Lake District coastline on the nuclear flask route to Sellafield. Coming from the other direction the nuclear trains pass through Whitehaven’s Bransty Tunnel, the infrastructure of which is crumbling due to acid mine pollution. All in all nuclear waste trains should not be travelling on this already vulnerable rail infrastructure.