First freight train arrives for Sizewell C build

The first train conveying materials to be used for the construction of a new nuclear power station has arrived at the site.

Sizewell C is being built on the Suffolk coast and is expected to cost £38bn.

The train arrived at 01:30 BST on Tuesday, and bosses at the project said it brought the equivalent of 50 HGVs' worth of construction material.

Damian Leydon, site delivery director of Sizewell C, said: "By delivering 60% of our materials by rail and sea, we're significantly reducing the burden on local roads and local communities here in Suffolk."

The 1,000 tonnes of materials were brought from Tunstead Quarry near Buxton, Derbyshire.

Sizewell C said that up to four freight trains a day would be running at peak capacity.

It said: "Between now and Christmas alone, around 100,000 tonnes of material will be delivered to the project by rail, removing the equivalent of approximately 5,000 HGV journeys from local roads.

The trains are set to operate overnight with a "brief" stop at Saxmundham station "for the next few weeks", the project organisers said.

Alison Downes, from the Stop Sizewell C campaign group, said: "While reducing HGVs is positive for anyone living on or using local roads the overnight freight trains are bad news for homes and tourism businesses adjacent to the railway line."

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