Rail Transport

Posted: 23rd March 2022

 USA: Specialist rail vehicles are being developed for the transport of military and civilian nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste to disposal and storage facilities. The US Navy has initiated a project to replace its ageing fleet of Rail Escort Vehicles, which are designed to provide a comfortable living and working environment for security personnel escorting nuclear loads. The Navy has ordered five REVs, with the Department of Energy contributing more than $10m towards design and production and planning to order similar vehicles for escorting civilian materials. DOE said the REV ‘is no ordinary caboose’, being equipped with cameras and communications equipment for surveillance of shipments throughout the journey. A prototype REV built by Vigor Works in Portland, Oregon has been sent to the Transportation Technology Center in Pueblo, Colorado for testing. Also on test at the TTC is a 12-axle wagon for the transport of civilian nuclear waste which was designed and built by Kasgro Rail of New Castle, Pennsylvania. Railway Gazette 22nd March 2022  https://www.railwaygazette.com/freight/nuclear-transport-rolling-stock-on-test/61188.article