European Nuclear Society
e-news Issue 35 Winter 2012
http://www.euronuclear.org/e-news/e-news-35/rosatom.htm

Rosatom launches its “Exhibition on Wheels”

In August 2011, a unique project was launched in Russia, called the « Train of innovations». It is a mobile exhibition and lecturing complex created in partnership with some of Russia’s leading companies, including JSC «Russian Railways», the Rosatom State Corporation and JSC «Rosnano».

The train consists of eight exhibition and three auxiliary wagons. Each individual exhibition is located in a separate wagon and represents the innovative developments of each participating company. When creating the concept, the project’s designers used the experiences gained from similar international projects, for example the one in India, where a similar train was launched several years ago. Another example is the one in Germany, where a number of mobile “nanotrucks” were launched displaying various innovative technologies.

Rosatom’s exhibition train is divided into three thematic units. It highlights the company’s latest achievements, provides detailed information about radiation safety rules and radiation sources and gives an historic overview of the nuclear sector.

Inside one wagon is a universal radiometer, which has been placed there to enable visitors to measure the radiation level of their own body. On the walls monitors have been installed that broadcast reports from various places in the world haracterised by a high level of natural radiation – such as the monazite sands at Guarapari beaches, in Brazil, and the coastal territories of India’s Kerala State.

The central part of the exposition is devoted to safety systems installed at nuclear power plants. Animated models show the main security systems in place and spotlight Russia’s know-how in this field, in particular the operation of a melt trap.

By 2012, the train had completed two journeys via 75 towns and cities in Russia. The exhibition was visited by 80,000 people. The train crossed Russia from its capital up to the coast of the Pacific Ocean and back, covering a total of some 30,000 km of railroad track.

Residents in Russia’s megacities, such as Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Ekaterinburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan, Chelyabinsk and many more, were given a unique opportunity to familiarise themselves with the innovative developments of the participating companies and received comprehensive answers to all of their questions. The train was also visited by state officials, including governors and mayors. “The exhibition created a strong impression”, commented Sergey Komyakov, Vice Governor of Chelyabinsk Region. “The cooperation of the Alliance of Russian Railways, together with the state corporations Rosnano and Rosatom, proved to be quite an interesting one as all the exhibits are related to the present day priorities of the whole country” added Mr. Komyakov.

The Train of Innovations stimulated interest from both professionals and citizens in each and every town and city visited. Both children and adults were enthusiastic about exploring the exhibition area, which often received over 1,000 visitors a day. In some cities, the number of people willing to see the hit was even too big to accommodate all of them.

The project does not end in 2012: it is to be implemented in new towns and even other countries. In due course, the train will cross Russia’s borders and visit the Ukraine, Belarus, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Finland and the Baltic states.

At the beginning of 2012, the train is scheduled to visit the Northern Caucasus and its major towns Novorossiysk, Makhachkala, Vladikavkaz, Grozny and others. Considering the tremendous amount of public interest that has been raised by the project, the route is organised taking into account as many towns and settlements as possible in order to cover a maximum amount of localities. There is enough time to achieve this as the implementation of the project is only limited by the “in-commission time” of the rolling stock – in accordance with existing regulations, that is some 60 years!