AREVA to build railcars for transporting nuclear materials

AREVA Federal Services has been contracted by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to design and manufacture railcars to transport nuclear materials, the company said on Wednesday.

These railcars would be utilized in the transport of high-level radioactive materials (HLRM), including spent nuclear fuel, to interim storage sites until a permanent site is established. In the design process, AREVA will be working with KASGRO Rail, a company that manufactures the only available HLRM-certified railcar, and Transportation Technology Center Inc.

“Safe and reliable transportation is a vital component of our country’s integrated nuclear waste disposition program,” Tom Franch, president of AREVA Federal Services, said. “With our commitment to operational excellence and more than 50 years of international experience in nuclear-materials transportation, we have the resources and expertise to support the DOE’s effort to plan and to develop options for execution of this program.”

AREVA said design-review support will be provided by Stoller Newport News Nuclear and MHF Services. The manufacturing process for the prototype will be carried out after the Association of American Railroads (AAR) approves the proposed design for HLRM transport.

The DOE’s used nuclear fuel and HLRM strategy is centered around utilizing railways to transport these materials to a consolidated storage facility by the year 2025.