Brazilian railway industry news
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NewsSão Paulo – Campinas inter-city train project awarded
BRAZIL: A Chinese-backed consortium has won the bidding auction to introduce inter-city passenger services linking São Paulo with Campinas.
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NewsFirst rails laid on Vicente Emilio Vuolo Railway
BRAZIL: The first 3 km of track has been laid near Rondonópolis in Mato Grosso state on the 743 km Senador Vicente Emilio Vuolo Railway that will eventually link the south of the state with the capital Cuiabá, Nova Mutum and Lucas do Rio Verde. Being ...
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NewsMRS Logística orders Wabtec locomotives
BRAZIL: MRS Logística has ordered 30 Wabtec ES44ACi Evolution Series diesel locomotives as part of its fleet renewal strategy. The deal announced on February 21 is valued at around R$500m, with the first deliveries scheduled for this year. Features will include lower emissions than the predecessor ...
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Metro Report InternationalFunding agreed for Curitiba light rail studies
BRAZIL: Federal development bank BNDES has agreed to fund studies for a 22·8 km light rail line linking Centro Cívico in Curitiba with Afonso Pena International Airport in neighbouring São José dos Pinhais. A contract for BNDES to provide R$12·5m to fund the technical-operational, economic, legal, ...
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Metro Report InternationalSalvador seeks tram network to replace aborted monorail scheme
BRAZIL: The state government of Bahia has approved the call of tenders for the construction of a three-line light rail network in Salvador totalling 36 km at an estimated cost of R$3·6bn. The first 16·6 km line would link Calçada in the centre of the conurbation ...
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In depthBrazil: São Paulo stands out in uneven picture
Metro, monorail and suburban rail extensions totalling 39km are now being built in São Paulo, but several of the other fastest-growing Brazilian cities, including Rio de Janeiro, have no major projects currently under way, despite optimism among suppliers. Benjámin Zelki reports.
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In depthBrazil: National Railway Plan will reset project agenda
Government efforts to inject fresh impetus into the rail business and increase its share of the freight market continue, but reliance is being placed on the private sector to fund new projects. Murray Hughes reports.
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Metro Report InternationalAlstom invests in Brazil amid strong outlook for South American metro sector
BRAZIL: Alstom is about to start producing metro trainsets for São Paulo Line 6 at its Taubaté factory as the company invests to support growing rail markets in South America.
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Metro Report InternationalSão Paulo light rail plan to be studied
BRAZIL: São Paulo municipality is working on a plan to build two circular light rail lines totalling 12 km in the centre of the city. Brazil’s Minister of Cities Jader Barbalho Filho announced at the COP28 UN Climate Summit in Dubai on December 1 that, following ...
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NewsLegislators overturn obstacles to new line projects
BRAZIL: On October 16 changes to planned legislation intended to facilitate investment in the rail sector by private entrepreneurs were published in the Official Gazette. This followed a vote by National Congress on October 4 and signature by President Luiz Inácio da Silva on October 11. ...
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NewsSão Paulo – Campinas inter-city bids due in February
BRAZIL: São Paulo state governor Tarcísio de Freitas confirmed on October 7 that the bidding auction for ‘Expreso TIC’ services over the 101 km route between São Paulo and Campinas will be held on February 29 2024. This follows agreement by the National Bank for Economic ...
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Metro Report InternationalAlstom to automate Belo Horizonte metro
BRAZIL: Belo Horizonte metro operating concessionaire Metrô BH has awarded Alstom a contract to automate the existing Line 1 and the future Line 2. Alstom is to supply new signalling to enable automatic train operation on the 28·1 km Line 1 between Eldorado and Vilarinho and ...
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NewsRumo takes delivery of battery-diesel hybrid locomotives
BRAZIL: Freight operator Rumo has taken delivery of two Progress Rail EMD GT38H battery-diesel hybrid locomotives, which will store energy generated during dynamic braking rather than dissipate it as heat. Rumo expects the locos to use up to 45% less fuel and to be produce ...
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NewsVale invests in 4G on Carajás Railroad
BRAZIL: Mining group Vale SA is equipping the Estrada de Ferro Carajás with 4G internet in partnership with telecommunications specialist Vivo. Due to be completed by 2025, the installation is expected to improve safety and efficiency at a cost of R$240m. Forming the core of a ...
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NewsSão Paulo airport express extended to Palmeiras-Barra Funda
BRAZIL: São Paulo suburban rail operator CPTM has extended its Expresso Aeroporto service from Luz to Palmeiras-Barra Funda with effect from September 1. This has been facilitated by a R$158m project to modernise the 2 km cross-city connection between Luz and Palmeiras-Barra Funda. This was previously ...
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NewsBrazilian government to back passenger train revival
BRAZIL: Plans to launch regional passenger services over seven short or medium-distance routes are likely to be included in a National Railway Plan due to be published by the government of President Luiz Inácio Lula de Silva in October. A Passenger Rail Transport Policy establishing guidelines, principles ...
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NewsRail projects tax exemption will be ‘gigantic incentive’
BRAZIL: The National Council for Finance Policy has approved a proposal to exempt rail investment projects from a tax on the circulation of goods and transport and communication services, known as ICMS. The transport ministry expects the decision on August 9 to foster demand for rolling ...
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Metro Report InternationalTeresina suburban rail investment package approved
BRAZIL: Piauí state Governor Rafael Fonteles has given the go-ahead for the renovation and expansion of the 1 000 mm gauge suburban network in Teresina, which currently comprises a single 13·5 km route shared with freight traffic. The governor approved the R$11m investment package on August ...
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NewsMajor rail schemes in Brazil’s Growth Acceleration Programme
BRAZIL: Rail projects are to receive funds worth a total of R$94∙2bn in the country’s latest Growth Acceleration Programme unveiled by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on August 11. The Programme allocates R$55∙1bn for the period from 2023 to 2026, with the remaining R$39∙1bn due ...
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NewsWork restarts on FIOL 1
BRAZIL: Construction of the 537 km first phase of the Ferrovia de Integração Oeste-Leste project between the port of Ilhéus and Caetité was restarted on July 3.