BRAZIL: Public transport operator EMTU is expecting to award in September a contract worth up to R$284·3m to supply 22 vehicles for the first phase of the SIM light rail network in Santos.
Four bids have been received from Alstom Brazil/Alstom Transport, CAF, Pesa and the Tremvia Santos consortium of Trans Sistemas de Transportes and Vossloh España. Delivery is scheduled to take place between April 2014 and March 2015.
Costing a total of R$855m, the first phase of the new network comprises an 11 km route from Barreiros to Porto with a 4 km branch from Conselheiro Nébias to Valongo.
Design studies are also underway for subsequent project phases including Barreiros - Samaritá (7·4 km), Conselheiro Nébias - Ponta da Praia (4·4 km) and Samaritá - Tatico (7 km).
The first phase of SIM is expected to carry 70 000 passengers a day, reducing the bus fleet by 23% and saving R$21m a year in maintenance and other costs.
