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Billionaire Project for the Construction of the Most Ambitious Railway in SC Promises to Be Ready in March, Change the Regional Economy, Transform Agriculture, Attract Industries, and Revolutionize Logistics in Southern Brazil, Connecting Chapecó to the Ports and Reducing Transport Costs.
A change that can go off the tracks… to get on them. For decades, the West of Santa Catarina grew at the expense of trucks, overloaded highways, and high logistics costs. Now, this scenario may change for good. The billionaire railway project, linking the productive interior of Southern Brazil to the ports of Paraná and Santa Catarina, is starting to take shape with 75% of the works completed and is already seen as a game changer for agriculture, the economy, and the industrial future of the region.
The train promises to reduce costs, unlock investments, attract industries, and transform cities like Chapecó into true logistics hubs.
The Logistical Problem Holding Back Santa Catarina’s Agriculture
Santa Catarina imports, every year, about 5 to 7 million tons of grain, primarily corn, coming from Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Goiás, and even Paraguay. This volume is essential to feed the enormous flocks of poultry and swine that make the state the largest national producer of pork and one of the leaders in poultry farming.
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The problem is that 100% of this transportation is done by highways.
According to Lenoir Antônio Broch, president of the Commercial and Industrial Association of Chapecó (ACIC):
“Today, all the grain cargo arrives in the region by road transport, which significantly increases production costs.”
Poor roads, long distances, and logistical bottlenecks have companies reevaluating their investments. Some have even begun to reduce operations or migrate to regions better served by railways.
The Railway as a Concrete and Viable Solution
It is in this context that the branch Cascavel (PR) – Chapecó (SC) emerges, with 263 kilometers of extension, integrated into the Nova Ferroeste project.
The technical and environmental studies have already been completed and indicate a decisive data:
up to 28% reduction in the cost of grain transportation.
“Just for this reason, the railway has already proven to be viable,” Broch asserts.
This section would function as a strategic complement to the Nova Ferroeste, a project led by the Government of Paraná that anticipates 1,304 km of tracks, linking the Port of Paranaguá to Maracaju (MS).
Chicken Railway: The Most Ambitious Project in SC
At the same time, Santa Catarina is advancing on another major railway project: the Chapecó – Correia Pinto stretch, with 319 km, known for many years as the Chicken Railway.
Today, the official name is Santa Catarina Railway Corridor, reflecting the diversity of anticipated cargo.
Current status of the project:
- 75% of the basic project completed
- Completion expected by March 2026
- Estimated investment: US$ 2 billion (about R$ 11 billion)
- Project included in the New PAC for concession studies via PPP
The cost of the basic project is R$ 28 million, already with public resources applied.
Chapecó and the West of Santa Catarina May Experience the Greatest Economic Transformation in Their History
With the sum of the two stretches — Cascavel–Chapecó and Chapecó–Correia Pinto — the city would become connected:
- To the Port of Paranaguá
- To the ports of Itajaí and Navegantes
- To the national railway network
The total investment could reach R$ 6.8 billion.
Experts point out that Chapecó, currently with about 250,000 inhabitants, could double in size over the next two decades, driven by:
- New industries
- Logistics companies
- Agriculture and export chains
Cities like Maringá and Cascavel are clear examples of how the arrival of the railway accelerates regional growth.
Interest from the Private Sector and Legal Security
The productive sector is already showing real interest. The ACIC financed viability studies for the Cascavel–Chapecó stretch and donated them to the Government of Paraná to expedite its inclusion in the Nova Ferroeste.
Moreover, the Government of Santa Catarina is working on creating a State Railway Law, which will provide more legal security to investors and allow direct concessions within the state.
According to Broch:
“The railway mode is essential for long distances. It reduces costs, improves competitiveness, and strengthens the regional GDP.”
Environmental Challenges and Strategic Planning
One of the main hurdles lies in environmental licensing, especially in areas with indigenous presence. To avoid conflicts, the studies already respect a radius of 5 to 10 km from these areas, reducing legal risks.
This care has been essential to keep the project technically viable and attractive to private investors.
An Impact That Goes Beyond Transportation
The new railway network not only benefits the transport of cargo. It directly influences:
- The price of food
- The competitiveness of exports
- The attraction of billion-dollar investments
- The strengthening of the economy in Southern Brazil
As highlighted by the Ministry of Transport in recent materials, railways are essential for a continental country like Brazil.
The Future of Agriculture and Industry Rests on the Rails
After more than 50 years without inaugurating a new railway in Santa Catarina — the last was in 1969, the state finally sees concrete projects making progress.
If the schedules are respected and the investments confirmed, Chapecó and the West of Santa Catarina may experience the greatest economic transformation in their history.
The future of agriculture, industry, and logistics in Southern Brazil is, literally, on the rails.
And you, do you believe that the railway will become a reality? Leave your comment below, share this content, and join the debate about the future of infrastructure in Southern Brazil.
Já existe uma ferrovia que liga o **** catarinense só porto de são Francisco, ela sai de Marciliano ramos/RS passa pelo planalto norte de SC e se liga ao ramal em Mafra/são Francisco e Mafra Curitiba
Kkk.. tudo fake news e propaganda enganosa e irresponsável. Ferrovias em bitola estreita e chegando a portos rasos e já não acessaveis sao grandes piadas de sulistas desesperados
Essas obras em Ferrovias seriam de 80% a 90% financiadas pela união (Governo Lula) através do BNDES. Isso a reportagem não informa! Apenas passa de leve falando sobre o projeto que entra no PAC é só! Para o cidadão comum, parece que é tudo obra dos governadores de Santa Catarina e do Paraná.