A major milestone has been achieved at the Low-Level Waste Repository site for Nuclear Waste Services (NWS) in West Cumbria, with the first deliveries of aggregate materials arriving earlier this month.

Known as the southern trench interim membrane (STIM) project, this phase of the capping work involves placing a new membrane, or protective layer, over legacy disposal trenches which will remain in place for up to 100 years.

Working collaboratively with specialist transport and logistics provider Nuclear Transport Solutions (NTS) the first rail deliveries of 280,000 tonnes of aggregate arrived on site earlier this month and will be delivered over a three year period.

This is a significant achiement in Capping Operations and will lead to the final closure of the Repository which is currently expected in 2135.

STIM will replace a current interim membrane over part of the legacy disposal trenches. This layer will permenantly protecting people and the environment while the radioactivity decays.

The first deliveries will arrive between February and March 2025, with eight deliveries expected each week.

Alastair Lewis, GRAHAM Contracts Director, said: “It’s fantastic to see the start of rail deliveries to site, marking the beginning of an extensive program of works. This is a significant milestone for the project, and I’m proud of the hard work and dedication of our team and key stakeholders in making this happen. We have been managing and carrying out aggregate train deliveries since 2018, and this experience has been invaluable in ensuring a smooth and efficient transition to this new phase of the project. Our collaborative approach involving NTS, NWS, and our supply chain to coordinate the logistics has been key to achieving this important milestone for the Repository Capping Operations Programme.”

Mike Pigott, Site Director, Nuclear Waste Services, said: “This is a first-of-a-kind activity in the UK, and it’s great to finally be getting boots on the ground and moving the project forward. Working with NTS and GRAHAM gives us a wealth of expertise in this key phase of the works, moving a massive quantity of material to site by rail – with safety, efficiency, and sustainability at the core of the works. It is important that NWS caps the existing vaults and trenches to provide long-term protection of the environment for generations to come. This work is integral to our mission, to make the UK’s nuclear waste permanently safe, sooner.”