The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

 

Transporting nuclear material by train is a highly specialised activity, carried out in the UK by NDA subsidiary company Direct Rail Services.

Based in Carlisle, DRS also provides a rail freight service to non-nuclear customers across the country, particularly in the retail sector, helping to remove heavy lorries from the congested road network while generating around £45 million a year to support the nuclear decommissioning mission.

With depots around the country and a staff of almost 300 people, including drivers and an engineering maintenance team, DRS is one of a handful of rail freight companies in the UK. Thanks to its nuclear expertise, it is also the most specialised. Formed in 1995 following the restructuring of the railways, it has been part of the NDA since its establishment in 2005.

From the early days where the focus was entirely on nuclear, the business has diversified to the point where around half its operations are in more general freight services, underpinning the Government drive to encourage more sustainable forms of transport.

Rail is a key mode of transport for the nuclear industry, offering a fast, safe, direct and reliable service, while being environmentally more sustainable than road. Nuclear material has been transported by rail since the early 60s, travelling more than eight million miles without any incident involving the release of radioactive material.

The used fuel is transported in purpose-built flasks, heavily shielded to protect against radiation, each weighing more than 50 tonnes and constructed from forged steel more than 30cm thick.

The flasks are designed to withstand serious accidents such as a crash, fire, even being dropped from a bridge, while safety and security are, of course, strictly regulated. Transport movements also require careful forward planning in order to fit around existing timetables and avoid stoppages.

In addition to developing the non-nuclear freight business, DRS is moving into the passenger market, and has just run a charity day with Northern Rail, in the shape of a special first-class service for enthusiasts from Workington to York. DRS was able to raise £2,400 for its two chosen local charities, out of the £6,000 raised in total.

Following last year's floods which devastated West Cumbria, DRS teamed up with Northern Rail to provide an emergency daily passenger shuttle service connecting the two halves of Workington, which were cut off when the town's road bridge was destroyed. The service, funded by the Department for Transport, ran from Workington to Maryport, was free to customers and proved extremely popular. DRS received an award from the local authority in recognition of its contribution to flood relief.

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