Russia has begun work on a nuclear-powered locomotive project.

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Russia may build a nuclear-powered locomotive, according to media reports citing a statement by Transmashholding CEO Kirill Lipa made at the AMTEXPO 2026 forum.

Transmashholding is reportedly planning to develop an innovative project jointly with the Kurchatov Institute.



It's worth noting that this isn't the first mention of a nuclear-powered locomotive in recent decades. In 2011, Russian media reported that Rosatom and Russian Railways were ready to unveil a concept, but no demonstration ever took place.
A number of media outlets then linked the idea with the promising BZhRK (Barguzin), an idea that was also later abandoned.

There were also projects during the Soviet era. In the 1980s, the idea was also explored in conjunction with rail-based ballistic missile systems, but even then, the concept was considered too ambitious.

American engineers also had their own proposals. One of the most famous concepts was the X-12 locomotive, approximately 48 meters long and weighing 360 tons. It, too, was never realized, remaining a daring Cold War idea.

Ultimately, nuclear propulsion found application only in maritime transport and interplanetary stations, where the risks are lower and the advantages are obvious.
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  1. Afinogen
    Afinogen
    +9
    28 January 2026 20: 48
    Russia may build a nuclear-powered locomotive,

    They might do it again. Or they might not build it (which is very likely). Incidentally, they might too. Even if it's a fantastical fantasy to imagine it built. At a crossing, a dump truck driver got tired of standing still, so he drove off, and they collided with a rapidly approaching nuclear locomotive. Radioactive contamination is guaranteed.
    1. Nikolaevich I
      Nikolaevich I
      0
      28 January 2026 21: 24
      Quote: Athenogen
      The dump truck driver got tired of standing at the crossing, so he drove on, and they encountered a rapidly approaching nuclear locomotive. Radioactive contamination is guaranteed.

      Are you joking or serious? belay Can you really imagine nuclear trains rolling across the vast expanses of our Motherland, mixed in with diesel and electric locomotives? And has it never occurred to you that, for some reason, special tracks are provided for magnetic levitation trains... and for "super-high-speed" ones, too!
      1. Afinogen
        Afinogen
        +2
        28 January 2026 21: 34
        Are you joking or serious?

        Well, I wrote it

        it's fantastic to imagine

        only this way, no other way.
    2. Dimas
      Dimas
      +3
      29 January 2026 05: 15
      They were also planning a submarine gas carrier. But what's the design? Are you out of ideas on what to spend your budget on?
  2. Dart2027
    Dart2027
    +2
    28 January 2026 21: 06
    Most likely, construction has long been technically possible, but no one will undertake it because the risk of an accident or sabotage is too great.
    1. vitgusin
      vitgusin
      -2
      28 January 2026 21: 58
      Quote: Dart2027
      because the risk of an accident is too great

      What is your opinion on what will fly?
      1. Dart2027
        Dart2027
        0
        28 January 2026 22: 37
        Quote: vitgusin
        What is your opinion on what will fly?

        What? Could you explain it more clearly?
        1. vitgusin
          vitgusin
          -1
          29 January 2026 12: 33
          Quote: Dart2027
          What? Could you explain it more clearly?

          Petrel
          1. Dart2027
            Dart2027
            -3
            29 January 2026 19: 14
            Quote: vitgusin
            Petrel

            I think yes.
    2. alexandre II
      alexandre II
      -1
      29 January 2026 05: 34
      So, an accident or sabotage is impossible on a nuclear icebreaker?
      1. vitgusin
        vitgusin
        -2
        29 January 2026 12: 37
        Quote from: alexandre
        So, an accident or sabotage is impossible on a nuclear icebreaker?

        Anything is always possible. But the reactors there account for up to 20% of the total, and they're located in the open ocean, where nuclear weapons have already been tested.
      2. Dart2027
        Dart2027
        +1
        29 January 2026 19: 12
        Quote from: alexandre
        an accident or sabotage is impossible on a nuclear icebreaker

        Possible. But, firstly, it's easier to secure an icebreaker than a train, and secondly, in the worst-case scenario, an "incident" somewhere in the ocean is not the same as one near a city with a population of over a million.
  3. vlad127490
    vlad127490
    +3
    28 January 2026 23: 47
    Russia has begun work on a nuclear-powered locomotive project.

    They are planning to embezzle money and pull the wool over the eyes of the average person.
    What is the goal? What is the economic effect?
    Russia is a capitalist country. An oligarch owns a nuclear locomotive.
    In a socialist people's state this is possible, but under capitalism it is a disaster.
    1. Dimas
      Dimas
      +2
      29 January 2026 05: 14
      They might also build a submarine gas carrier. But what's the plan? And where will they get the crew for it? I think someone in the government has gone crazy.
  4. Valya
    Valya
    +6
    29 January 2026 00: 17
    Hmm! Damn, they don't know what to do anymore, just to rake in the dough. The Moscow-St. Petersburg high-speed rail line probably inspired this. You see, 3,5 hours is way too long; it needs to be done in 2 hours. The country is at war, there's no money for the most basic necessities, but without the high-speed rail line, there's no way we can do it.
    And now this thermonuclear crap has shown up.
  5. depavel
    depavel
    +2
    29 January 2026 05: 43
    Why? The money could be given to the West! What are Nabiullina and Siluanov for?
  6. Sergey Latyshev
    Sergey Latyshev
    +3
    29 January 2026 09: 02
    Another "started work" and "can." In other words, "give us some money to cut up the mess."
    It's logical, right? At least we'll keep the media busy. They'll be discussing the "nuclear locomotive" (nuclear lunar station, space tug, etc.) every week.
  7. goncharov.62
    goncharov.62
    +3
    29 January 2026 09: 26
    At one time, British scientists and engineers (!) tried to develop a nuclear-powered aircraft project. Well, back then, relations were normal, with visits from our nuclear scientists, a peace-and-friendship-like atmosphere. Well, ours criticized their plans so much that they realized the futility of the project and shut it down. And now it's "Lokomotiv GT," so to speak. Is it show-offiness or stupidity that's preventing you from getting down to real work?
  8. prior
    prior
    +4
    29 January 2026 11: 24
    How Russia lacks nuclear locomotives!
    So that's why we have a crisis in the railway industry.
    Is it possible to set up small modular nuclear power plants?
    To prevent people from freezing in Russian cities, as in Murmansk, in the event of an emergency.
  9. Pavel57
    Pavel57
    +2
    29 January 2026 14: 21
    How will a locomotive's reactor behave in an accident or fire?
  10. smtm
    smtm
    +2
    30 January 2026 07: 52
    First, make a reactor for the frigate...
  11. Garry_Z
    Garry_Z
    0
    3 February 2026 12: 28
    A number of media outlets then linked the idea with the promising BZhRK (Barguzin), an idea that was also later abandoned.

    Did you really refuse? And did they even call the media? Don't read the newspapers before lunch!!!
  12. Garry_Z
    Garry_Z
    0
    3 February 2026 12: 30
    Well, we have nowhere else to put the reactors!