Rail/Spur line= best option

Reference Number
188
Text

Rail-Specific Details for the Ignace Area Site
- The selected site (Revell area, ~21 km southeast of Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation and ~43 km northwest of Ignace, along Hwy 17) is near existing rail lines (e.g., CN rail corridors in the region).
- Rail was a factor in site screening — the area met criteria for viable access to existing road and rail routes.
- For rail, a spur line (short branch or siding) or siding extension would likely be needed to connect the main rail line to the repository site itself. This could involve:
  - Building a short "fork" or spur track off the existing main line (a few km at most).
  - Upgrading existing nearby rail infrastructure if required.
- NWMO describes this as minor compared to full new rail construction elsewhere. The spur would be part of site development (potentially included in the DGR's infrastructure scope), but the long-distance transport remains on public/existing rail.
- Rail shipments would use the same robust Type B casks as trucks, with CNSC certification for rail-specific crash/fire tests.

If rail is prioritized in final plans, it would likely reduce perceived road dangers significantly for most of the journey. 

Submitted by
Canada First
Phase
Planning
Public Notice
Public Notice - Comments invited on the summary of the Initial Project Description and funding available
Attachment(s)
N/A
Date Submitted
2026-01-29 - 2:32 PM
Date modified: