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The billion-dollar project that is about to transform cargo transportation in Brazil!
At 1.753 km long, the largest railway under construction in Brazil promises to change logistics in the Northeast once and for all. Connecting Pernambuco, Piauí and Ceará to strategic ports, the project has already cost R$8 billion and still needs another R$7 billion to be completed. But don't worry! The good news is that part of it will start operating in 2025. And that's not all: when it's fully completed, the railway could increase the Northeast's GDP by R$7 billion per year and cut transportation costs by up to 30%. After so many delays and setbacks, it seems like it's finally happening.
The railway route and why it is so important
If there is one thing that Brazil needed, was to improve rail transport. And Transnordestina is here to do just that. It was designed to connect Eliseu Martins, in Piauí, to the Port of Pecém, in Ceará, and to the Port of Suape, in Pernambuco. This connection will greatly facilitate the flow of products such as grains and minerals for export.
The main sections of the largest railway under construction in Brazil
The original plan included three major sections:
- With R$27 billion invested, a mega solar energy project in Piauí will generate 3.500 jobs and transform the state into a reference in renewable energy in Brazil
- Highway (BR) will have a triplication that promises to greatly reduce travel time; work already has a completion date
- The state will have a mega double tunnel of two thousand meters! The work is at an advanced stage; see what is missing for the structure to be ready and released
- Technological Innovation: Revolutionizing Efficiency in Civil Construction in 2025
- Pecém – Willow (665 km)
- Willow – Eliseu Martins (587 km)
- Willow – Suape (544 km)
But, as always, there was a restructuring. In 2022, the company responsible for the project decided to focus on the Pecém – Eliseu Martins section, reducing the railway to 1.209 km. The Salgueiro – Suape section was transferred to the federal government and entered the New PAC, with a promise of resumption soon.
Transnordestina will facilitate the transportation of heavy cargo with mixed gauge (wide and metric), which guarantees greater capacity and compatibility with other railways. What does this mean? Lower costs, greater efficiency and a more competitive Brazil in the international market. And let's face it, it's high time we started relying less on highways.
A bit of history: 18 years of construction and many delays
This saga began back in 2006, when then-president Lula kicked off the construction of the railway. The initial budget was R$4,5 billion and the promise was that it would be ready by 2010. Well, needless to say, it didn't happen, right?
- 2008: The budget rose to R$5,4 billion and only 6% of the railway was ready.
- 2011: New delivery forecast for 2013, but the cost had already jumped to R$7,5 billion.
- 2017: Work halted due to lack of resources and management problems.
- 2019: Resumption with new investments.
Now, finally, it seems that the project is moving forward. The current forecast is that the stretch between Eliseu Martins and Pecém will be in operation by 2026.
What is being done now?
A ferrovia is receiving investments both public and private, including resources from the Northeast Development Fund (FDNE) and Banco do Nordeste.
The work is being carried out using the most modern railway infrastructure:
- Aluminothermic welding, which guarantees more resistant and long-lasting rails.
- Ramps of up to 1,5% and curves with a minimum radius of 400 meters, to ensure greater efficiency.
- Reinforced concrete sleepers, which increase the useful life of the railway.
If you think all this doesn't affect you, think again:
- More direct and indirect jobs in the construction and operation of the railway.
- Reduction in logistics costs, which can make products cheaper on the market.
- More exports and more money circulating in the economy.
The future of Transnordestina
The big bet now is the integration of Transnordestina with the North-South Railway, which is one of the country's main railway corridors. This connection will be made via a 400 km branch line between Eliseu Martins (PI) and Porto Franco (MA). When it is ready, cargo transportation will be much more efficient and cheaper.
Today, we depend too much on roads, and this makes everything more expensive. If Transnordestina is successful, it could reduce logistics costs in the Northeast by up to 30%. This means more competitive products on the international market. and a great relief for producers and exporters.
The southerners are jealous of the northeasterners, let's finish this work and put the northeast at the forefront of rail transport.
TRANSNORDESTINA IS NOT STILL. WHOEVER SAID THAT IS LYING.
I ONLY SAY ONE THING, LULA DOESN'T EVEN WANT TO SEE THE WEST-EAST RAILWAY ANYMORE. IT'S BETTER ONE DAY AFTER ANOTHER, STAY IN YOUR MIND LULA.