Sellafield-based firms force to lay off staff due to work shortage
‘ A number of firms which have contracts at the Sellafield site have been forced to lay off workers temporarily.
The Engineering Construction Industry Association confirmed that the firms were working on projects affected by industrial action taken by Unite members at the site.’
We can not view URENCO and Capenhurst in isolation.
The activities of URENCO at Capenhurst are a key part of the way in the Nukiller industry operates, and need to be curtailed as a part of the campaign to close down all existing and proposed new reactors.
That is why we are equally concerned about what goes on at Whitehaven, Barrow, Drigg, Springfield, and all the other existing nukiller plants.
This extends to a the mining of and transport of Uranium following through to that of dealing with Nukiller waste.
Given the size of all these problems we need to think about and commit ourselves to some very long term campaigning.
DRS
With the current closure of many parts of the West Cumbrian Railway line for repairs which started of late, we have not seen any reports of any waste trains going to or from Sellafield/Windscale.
The latest news report states that the tunnel under Whitehaven will be closed upon sometime in the spring of 2026.
It might therefore be expected that a lot of such flask movements will take place towards until the year.
DRS at 30 DRS marked a 30th anniversary during september.
A new report by the Public Accounts Committee finds that the removal of nuclear waste from ageing buildings at Sellafield – the UK’s most hazardous nuclear site – is progressing too slowly.
Letter to Nuclear Issues Board of Cumberland Council, Plutonium, Public Money and a Perilous Nuclear Dump on the Lake District Coast, a Letter to Cumberland Council’s “Nuclear Issues Board”
‘The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has served an improvement notice on a Carlisle-based specialist rail freight company that carries nuclear material.
In November 2024, Direct Rail Services Limited (DRS) temporarily suspended movements of UN Class 7 (radioactive material) dangerous goods when it was discovered that its appointed subcontractor was not complying with applicable regulations.’
Urenco announces no stabilisation for €500m bond offering
‘Urenco Finance N.V. announced Monday that no stabilisation activities were undertaken for its recent €500 million bond offering, according to a post-stabilisation notice issued by Deutsche Bank AG (ETR:DBKGn), Frankfurt.
The 10-year notes, guaranteed by Urenco Limited and its subsidiaries, carry a 3.625% coupon and are due on June 18, 2035. The securities were issued at a price of 99.415% with a spread of 116.3 basis points over the German government bond (DBR 2½ 02/35).’
One of three National Union of Plutonium workers has reached a new deal with the Nukiller authorities.
‘Workers at Great British Energy – Nuclear (GBE-N) will now be represented in pay negotiations by the Prospect union, after a recognition agreement was signed between the two organisations.’
Network Rail has given advance warning that there will be a 23-day closure of the Cumbrian Coast Line between Sellafield and Workington from Saturday, 30th August.
The closure is on the line has been affected by water contaminated with ochre from abandoned mines flowing through the Bransty tunnel at Whitehaven before it is discharged into Whitehaven Harbour.
‘It’s [ the ] first time DRS has used its JNA-Z box wagons, with each train making the journey from Shap quarry to the Repository to deliver over 750 tonnes of material.’
Fires along the same West Cumbrian Train Route used by Nuclear WasteTrains should set alarm bells ringing say campaigners.
Campaigners in the North West have written to the Office for Nuclear Regulation and Network Rail expressing concerns that radioactive wastes continue to be hauled along the vulnerable West Cumbrian coastline from reactors in the south and from the north to the Sellafield nuclear waste plant.
Martyn Lowe from Close Capenhurst points out that “the Bransty Tunnel in Whitehaven is used regularly by nuclear waste coming from the north. The 1km long tunnel and tracks are being undermined by acid mine pollution so this along with the fires in the same area last weekend are a real cause for concern. “
The tunnel is set to be closed for 23 days from the 30th August to carry out infrastructure repairs but campaigners say that the continued transport of nuclear wastes through the tunnel should be permanently halted.
Campaigners point to the inadequacy of nuclear waste flasks to withstand the kind of tunnel fire already experienced in this country at the Summit Tunnel Fire between Manchester and Leeds in 1984 with heat rising well above 1500 degrees celsius. The reference fire for a nuclear flask is 800 degrees celsius, beyond this the flask is likely to release its radioactive contents. Nuclear waste flasks are pulled by two diesel engines rather than one electric engine to allow for the weight of the flasks and to ensure the flasks of nuclear waste can be moved if one engine breaks down.
Dear ONR and Network Rail
We are writing to express concern at the continued use of the West Coast Rail Line to transport nuclear waste flasks.
Radioactive wastes continue to be hauled along the vulnerable West Cumbrian coastline from reactors in the south and from the north to the Sellafield nuclear waste plant.
The Bransty Tunnel in Whitehaven is used regularly by nuclear waste coming from the north. The 1km long tunnel and tracks are being undermined by acid mine pollution so this along with the fires in the same area are a real cause for concern.
The tunnel is set to be closed for 23 days from the 30th August to carry out infrastructure repairs but the continued transport of nuclear wastes through the tunnel should be permanently halted.
Nuclear waste flasks would be unable to withstand the kind of tunnel fire already experienced in this country at the Summit Tunnel Fire between Manchester and Leeds in 1984 with heat rising well above 1500 degrees celsius. The reference fire for a nuclear flask is 800 degrees celsius, beyond this the flask is likely to release its radioactive contents.
Nuclear waste flasks we understand pulled by two diesel engines rather than one electric engine to allow for the weight of the flasks and to ensure the flasks of nuclear waste can be moved if one engine breaks down. This transport of nuclear wastes is clearly a danger to the public.
This is very much an update edition of Countering Capenhurst as we are very overstretched with having to deal with a number of other important issues at present.
That said we could do with a few more activists to help out with the work – Especially to join us leafleting the various stations with the DRS nukiller waste trains go through. If you can help out that way then do email us.
DRS Flask Movements
On August 21st two flasks were taken from Sellafield to crewe, with one more on the same route upon the 22nd.
On saturday September 28th an single flask was observed going north from Sellafield towards Carlisle.
On October 8th two flasks from Hinkley left Bridgewater going north towards Crewe.
While on October 23rd four flasks were taken from Crewe to Sellafield.
Then on november 16th two flasks were taken from Sellafield to Crewe.
These are just a few of the nukiller waste train movemens which are regularly conducted by DRS.
News Summary
Civil Nukiller Police update.
Labour party politician Ed Miliband orders armed police to guard gas terminals.
Chester MP visits site of £196m nuclear power investment
‘ THE MP for Chester South and Eddisbury has visited Urenco UK’s nuclear facility at Capenhurst following the announcement in May that £196m would be spent on a new uranium enrichment facility.
While so many people are just concentratng upon what is happening within one area of the world, we comtinue to focus upon the nukiller issue which has global consequences.
DRS Flask Movements
On April 17th two flasks and on May Day [ May 1st ] two more from windscale [ Sellafield ] to Crewe. We do not know their final destinations.
While on May 20th a single flask was moved from Sellafield to Crewe,and exactly the same happened on july 30th.
There were also flasks moved from Windscale [ Sellafield ] to Crewe on June 1st & July 2nd, with flasks were taken in the opposite on June 20th.
The Last DRS Open Day at Carlisle ?
On July 6th we went and handed out leaflets at the DRS open day at Carlisle.
What was very obvious to us is that far fewer people attended the event than in previous years. This was confirmed to us having viewed the 4 your tube videos of the event. In past years there was always a lot more your tube videos to view.
Having previously being an annual event, it is now a biannual event, with the next one being scheduled to take place at Crewe.
Given the above we wonder if all future events will only be held at Crewe.
Americium-241
Americium-241 has been found in the harbour at Whitehaven.
It is is produced when plutonium absorbs neutrons in nukiller reactors and nukiller weapons tests.
‘ Toxic acid leak at nuclear site ‘put workers at risk’
A watchdog said no workers were harmed but it had the potential to cause more serious consequences
Companies on a nuclear site were served improvement notices following an acid leak and a risk assessment shortfall. Watchdog, the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), told a tenant and contractor on the Urenco UK site they must improve the safety of its operations.’
IAEA Centre of Excellence(sic) launched at Capenhurst
‘ An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Centre of Excellence for Safeguards and Non-Proliferation has been launched at uranium enrichment services provider Urenco’s Capenhurst site in the UK. The centre will be fully operational in 2025.’
That is not how we would ever describe just what goes on at any URENCO site.
To mark the anniversary of the 1957 Windscale [ Sellafield ] fire in Cumbria, the Close Capenhurst Campaign and Radiation Free Lakeland will soon be announcing who has won the fourth George Monbiot Award.
The Febrary 21st to March 5 issue of the Rail magazine has an article about some of the Class 68 train engines which are used by DRS. It includes a photo of a waste flask in transite to Heysham.
Flask Movements
On Febrary 28th a single flask was taken from Crewe to Sellafield Windscale. While on March 3rd three flasks were transported from the plant via Crewe,
Derailment
Furness Line track was damaged two days before derailment
This derailment was on a part of the route which is used by DRS to move Nukiller waste flasks.