Date: 26/02/2013

The remainder of nuclear fuel at Dounreay in Caithness is to be transferred to Sellafield in Cumbria. Known as 'exotics', it includes material containing highly enriched uranium. The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) said arrangements were being made on how to transport the fuel safely and securely. The first shipments are expected to start in 2014 or 2015 and continue for six years. Dounreay is in the process of being demolished. In December, work started on moving material called breeder from Dounreay for reprocessing at Sellafield. The breeder has to be taken by road to a railway station at Georgemas for the rest of the journey from Scotland to England.

External links

All nuclear fuel to leave Dounreay

BBC News

The remainder of nuclear fuel at Dounreay in Caithness is to be transferred to Sellafield in Cumbria.

Related images

Having shuttled to Thurso and back 158702 runs in to Georgemas Junction ready to continue on to Wick. In the background the new crane and loading area for the Dounreay flasks are nearing completion and as a result the footbridge has gone and the old platform has been incorporated into the perimeter fence. [See image 12679] for the same location in 1989. A few days after this photo was taken two DRS Class 37s with a nuclear flask wagon made a timing run to Georgemas Junction ahead of the Dounreay traffic commencing in earnest.
Location: Georgemas Junction
Company: Sutherland and Caithness Railway
06/07/2012 Mark Bartlett

...and finally. At the rear of the convoy heading south through Leyland on 13 June [see image 39201]. A nuclear flask.
Location: Leyland
Company: North Union Railway
13/06/2012 John McIntyre

DRS 66417 and friend pause at Carlisle on 31 July with a nuclear flask train.
Location: Carlisle
Company: Caledonian Railway
31/07/2010 Michael Gibb