Portuguese 
English 
Spanish 
5 min of reading 
1 comment 
Notice Brings Together Railway Concession, Integrated Bike Path, and Recovery of Historical Trains in a Tourist Project in the Paraíba Valley, with Billion-Dollar Investment from the State and Focus on Active Mobility, Heritage, and Outdoor Leisure.
The Government of São Paulo published the notice on January 19, 2026, to grant to the private sector, for 24 years, the Tourist Railway Complex of the Campos do Jordão Railway, bringing together interventions in the tourist railway and new leisure-focused facilities in a single contract.
Among the project’s main axes are the modernization of the line, recovery of historical trains, and the implementation of a bike path in the rail-trail model along the railway’s right-of-way, with an estimated investment of R$ 315 million.
Expected to follow the railway’s route, the bike path should connect the district of Eugênio Lefèvre to the center of Pindamonhangaba, creating a continuous corridor in the Paraíba Valley associated with the operation of the tourist train.
-
In A European City, The Country’s Largest Railway Junction Was Modernized Without Closing Its Doors, Kept Trains Running During Years Of Construction, Now Serves Up To 60,000 Passengers Per Day, And Installed Solar Panels That Generate About 30% Of Its Energy
-
Famous Brazilian Railway May Become a Parking Lot
-
The Country of “Punctual As a Train” Admits It Has Lost Control: High-Speed Trains Delay, Stop, Disappear from the Map and Turn 6-Hour Trips into 10, While Deutsche Bahn Promises Restructuring in 2026 But Faces 19th Century Infrastructure, Staff Shortages and Sections Closed for Months
-
With an Investment of R$ 700 Million in One of the Country’s Main Rail Networks, VLI Reinforces Infrastructure, Receives 8 New Locomotives, and Expands the Corridor Connecting 7 States, Boosting Jobs and the Transportation of Grains, Ore, and Oil Products to the Port of Santos
With this configuration, the proposal aims to integrate active mobility, leisure, and tourism within the same route, connecting natural areas, cultural facilities, and sightseeing points along the way.
Parallel Bike Path Integrates the Concession Package
In the model presented by the state government, the bike path appears as a central part of the set of interventions planned around the Campos do Jordão Railway.
The bike corridor will be implemented along the railway’s operational area, leveraging the continuity of the path already defined by the historical layout and reducing the need for new expropriations.
The rail-trail concept adopted in the project involves adapting, within the same area of the railway corridor, a trail designated for bicycle use and recreational movements, while maintaining coexistence with the tourist train’s operation.
By expanding outdoor leisure options, the government aims to strengthen the tourist appeal of municipalities that already attract visitors due to the climate, landscape, and facilities associated with the mountains.
According to the notice, the bike path segment connects Eugênio Lefèvre to Pindamonhangaba, aligning with the route of the railway and organizing the flow of cyclists on a dedicated route.
In practice, the initiative combines the cycling experience with railway visits, with stopping points and support areas distributed along the route.
Overpasses and Crossings Enhance Trajectory Safety
To ensure user safety, the project incorporates a series of interventions along the route, with special attention to crossing points.
Overpasses over watercourses and crossings in areas with road interference are planned, aiming to reduce risks in conflict areas between cyclists and vehicles.
Additionally, the plan includes the adaptation of existing structures over the tracks to ensure the bike path’s continuity, preventing interruptions that would force cyclists to leave the protected corridor.
At the most sensitive points, the project provides for the installation of guardrails, especially in crossing and elevated passage areas.
These interventions are part of the effort to deliver an accessible trail, with safety standards compatible with tourist circulation and recreational use.
The execution of the works and the maintenance of the infrastructure are linked to the obligations of the future concessionaire throughout the contract.
Investment of R$ 315 Million Includes Trains and Tourist Equipment
The investment package estimated at R$ 315 million goes beyond the implementation of the bike path and encompasses different fronts linked to the railway complex.
Items planned include the modernization and maintenance of the railway infrastructure, with interventions on the line, in stations, and in operational areas associated with the tourist train.
Another relevant axis of the project is the recovery of historical compositions, considered an essential part of the identity of the Campos do Jordão Railway and its tourist appeal.
The revitalization of facilities associated with the complex is also planned, including the Reino das Águas Claras Park, which is part of the region’s attraction set.
By bringing together tourist railway, historical heritage, and outdoor activities, the proposal consolidates, in a single contract, the operation of existing structures and the creation of new visitation options.
With this, the government’s expectation is to expand the use of the corridor throughout the year and stimulate the local economy related to services, tourism, and leisure.
Concession Auction Will Be Held at B3
According to the notice, the auction to define the private partner will occur on April 29, 2026, at B3, in São Paulo.
Proposals must be submitted by April 24, 2026, and the competition will be won by the proposer who offers the highest value to the State Government, according to the established rules.
Upon granting, the State transfers to the private operator the responsibility of executing the planned interventions, managing the complex’s operations, and fulfilling contractual goals.
The contract also defines maintenance parameters, service provision, and exploitation of economic activities associated with the tourist railway complex.
Largest Bike Path in Brazil Appears in Another State Project
The information that São Paulo will have the largest bike path in Brazil is associated with the concession of the Litoral Lot highways, which link Alto Tietê to the south coast of São Paulo.
This road package forecasts a bike path of 73.1 kilometers along the SP-055, in sections of the Padre Manoel da Nóbrega and Manoel Hipólito do Rego highways.
In the case of the Campos do Jordão Railway, the project creates a bike path integrated into the railway corridor and places the initiative within a broader policy of active mobility and tourism.
By moving forward with concessions that include cycling components, the state government indicates its intention to link new infrastructure investments to multiple uses and the tourism potential of existing corridors.
How can the implementation of this railway bike path alter the flow of visitors and the dynamics of tourism in the Paraíba Valley?
Tarcísio transformando São Paulo em um lugar de progresso e oportunidades.