From Katusha, the T34, to many other technologies, the Russians are often best when they use their own minds and local scientific and creative know-how!

Don't trains already run off of electricity generated by nuclear power?

What is the benefit of puting a nuclear power plant inside of a train?

The danger and cost must certainly outweigh the limited benefits.

You Russians need some real ideas, not just stereotypical Cold war era

bluster. How about a mag-lev that curves up and launches small satellites into space? It could even be "nuclear powered" by an existing atomic plant. 

Mike funny that Russians are doing their own thing and not killing millions of people to run their industry-- so why the U.S does not figure how to do Post.Cold war technology for energy? The Russians are orginal that is what make them tick!

Many railroads around the world, as well as in Russia, does not have electric power connected to them. And I guess it is obvious that in many areas one benefit good from not having to maintain an electrical grid connected to the railroad (f.ex. Siberia...). And, as the article mention, you would'nt need a supply of diesel or such. It would however only be benefitial if the trains using it are big and heavy... and of course, if the tech is safe.

Mike wrote in #2

Don't trains already run off of electricity generated by nuclear power?

What is the benefit of puting a nuclear power plant inside of a train?

The danger and cost must certainly outweigh the limited benefits.

 

You Russians need some real ideas, not just stereotypical Cold war era

bluster. How about a mag-lev that curves up and launches small satellites into space? It could even be "nuclear powered" by an existing atomic plant. 

The UKAEA were planning modular (complete, sealed) Fission reactors to fit in firebox and Boiler base of typical 1950's Steam Railway Locomatives.

The whole project was shelved on grounds of safety.

Has Russia not learnt it's lessons with regard to Nuclear safety? it would seem not.

LMFAO...hiroshima on wheels

Bad Idea! like another guy said, think outside the box. Look what happened in Japan

I was just going to say this must be a first because everything so far has been copied from the west but then I read the bit that said "nuclear-powered train" and knew why the rest of the world never tried it

There are plenty of other option to be  investigated, the cost of producing a train fuelled from nuclear material outweighs its benefits, in the near future and far future..It is an extremely destructive process to gather the nuclear ore, then to create it into a usable fuel is power wasting, not to mention the storage of the spent nuclear waste!! Nuclear powered devices have been thrown down our faces time and time again without the information to understand there true limitations. we are making decisions that we are forcing others to live with for hundreds of thousands of years..Its a profitable shortcoming for the few who don't care to think beyond there own lifetime. THIS IS JUST ABOUT THE $$$

If you can make sure that it is protected against derailment or misuse then it would be a great idea for siberia and polar/remote regions, however you would need the track to be laid for where you wanted to go! 
I believe the russians were the first to make use of nuclear power in merchant naval ice-breakers, you don't hear about them much because they've not gone wrong!
If, with the costa concordia, they have am oil leak, will all cruise ships be deemed dangerous and unsafe? No, so a new nuclear system compared to the old one of Japan shouldn't be deemed as having the same level of danger.
@Seanu - there, their and they're...

Let's hope there's no collision or derailment then.

Will passengers glow in the dark?

An Atomic Train?

I thought that the Russians would know better. 

Ha ha ha! Nuclear powered vacuum cleaners according to the US media! Phenomenal speculation, but a  refined critique of the media in a subtle way. Dyson, move over!