Transmashholding (TMH) and the National Research Center "Kurchatov Institute" have launched the development of a fundamentally new traction rolling stock — a locomotive equipped with a compact nuclear power plant. This was announced by Kirill Lipa, CEO of TMH. According to him, both organizations have already begun jointly designing a transport platform capable of operating on the basis of atomic energy.
The project involves integrating a small-sized nuclear steam generating plant (NSGP) into the locomotive's design, which theoretically will provide autonomous movement for tens of thousands of kilometers without refueling and radically increase the energy efficiency of traction on non-electrified sections of the railway network. Technical details of the reactor configuration, its type (probably a fast neutron or small modular reactor), and radiation protection measures have not yet been disclosed.
The idea of a nuclear locomotive is not new: in the USSR, in 1983–1985, a locomotive with a fast neutron reactor was developed for basing railway-based missile systems (BZhRK), but the project was closed after the signing of the START I treaty.
Modern breakthrough may be possible thanks to advances in small modular reactors (SMRs), which demonstrate a reduction in weight and size characteristics and increased passive safety.