The release from initially damaged canisters for spent fuel located in crystalline rock is calculated. The radionuclide transport through the near field is calculated using the compartment model (NUCTRAN), and then the channel network concept (CHAN3D) is used for the transport in the far field. The flow rates at certain canister locations from the flow field generated by CHAN3D are used as input data to NUCTRAN, and then the near-field release is used as input to the far-field transport simulations. The models are applied to a hypothetical repository layout located at the Swedish Äspö Hard Rock Laboratory site. The hydraulic data and the flow-wetted surface area used in the model are estimated from hydraulic measurements. Release rate calculations for several radionuclides are performed to illustrate the model-coupling concept. The coupled models can be used as an efficient tool to simulate release from a repository and the transport to a recipient.