Antinuclear

What if a nuclear waste train is derailed?

Derailed train in Queensland spills 200,000l sulphuric acid and diesel, Logistics Business Review  28 December 2015 Approximately 200,000l of sulphuric acid and diesel was spilled when all 26 carriages of a freight train derailed in Quarrells, 20km east of Julia Creek in mid-northern Queensland, Australia.

Emergency crews have started clean-up operation in heavy rain and three train staff sustained minor injuries in the accident. Following the incident on Sunday, Queensland Police declared an emergency situation covering a 2km exclusion zone around the crash site.

Queensland Rail said: “Emergency services attended the scene, however, Queensland Rail crews have been unable to access the site as the Flinders highway is currently cut off due to flooding in the region…….

Inland passenger services and freight trains have been affected in the region……  http://www.logistics-business-review.com/news/derailed-train-in-queensland-spills-200000l-sulphuric-acid-and-diesel-4763524

Train derailment sparks uranium transport fears   http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-12-28/20111228-train-derail-chemical-spill-react/3749716  By Emma Masters 28 Dec 2011  An environment group says the derailment of a train carrying hazardous substances raises concerns about the transport of uranium through the Northern Territory.

A freight train transporting containers of copper concentrate was derailed yesterday after flash floods damaged the railway track north of Katherine yesterday.

The Environment Department is investigating reports that containers may have spilled and washed into the Edith River.

Environment Centre NT director Stuart Blanch says the incident is a worrying sign. “This spill highlights a lack of due diligence by the owners of the railway and the people transporting this product,” he said.

“What would have happened to the Edith if there was a spill of uranium oxide into the Edith River?

“That is a real concern, with a lot more uranium coming up from South Australia in the years ahead.”

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Paul Henderson says he is satisfied that copper concentrate was the only toxic substance being carried by the train.

Mr Henderson says it is not radioactive material from a uranium mine in South Australia. “What the environmental impacts may be, I have not been briefed as to what they may be,” he said.He says government officials are on site to carry out a monitoring program.

January 13, 2016 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, Northern Territory, Queensland, safety