Atlas Phase 3 Report - Prototype Fabrication and Delivery

The United States Department of Energy (DOE) is preparing for future large-scale transport of spent 
nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste, which are collectively defined as High-Level Radioactive 
Material (HLRM) by the Association of American Railroads (AAR). A part of this preparation includes 
designing railcars to be used for the transport of HLRM. 
 

The DOE Contract DE-NE0008390 titled “Design and Prototype Fabrication of Railcars for Transport of 
High-Level Radioactive Material” was awarded to AREVA Federal Services, LLC (now known as Orano 
Federal Services LLC) in August 2015. Prototype railcars are to include both a cask railcar to haul 
HLRM casks (hereafter, the deliverable cask railcar is specifically referred to as "Atlas") and two buffer 
railcars used for spacing between the train engine and Atlas railcars, the Atlas and escort railcars, and 
for weight distribution between Atlas railcars, as deemed necessary. 

Phase 3 includes (completed): 
a) The fabrication and delivery of one Atlas and two buffer prototype railcars; 

b) The delivery of an as-built design package including drawings, inspection reports, and Bill of 
Materials (BOM) for both the Atlas and buffer railcars; 

c) Operation and maintenance manuals including maintenance intervals for both the Atlas and 
buffer railcars;

d) Final design information necessary for the fabrication of test loads, cradles and end stops 
necessary for future testing of the Atlas railcar.  
 

This report titled “Design and Prototype Fabrication of Railcars for Transport of High-Level Radioactive 
Material, Phase 3: Prototype Fabrication and Delivery” compiles the work that was completed during 
Phase 3. This report includes a summary of the results in meeting Phase 3 contract objectives including 
fabrication of the prototype railcars, an as-built data package for the fabricated railcars, test load and 
ballast load fabrication designs, and copies of Phase 3 deliverables in the appendices.