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Brazil could restore its abandoned railway network, and Ceará is in the spotlight. Billion-dollar compensation claims are in dispute and promise to boost the sector, with the possibility of new passenger trains.
Brazil may be about to see a renaissance of its railway lines: an abandoned 600 km line in Ceará may return to operation with a difference that promises to heat up debates and revive memories: passenger transport.
But the project is not limited to the return of old lines; it involves a strategic restructuring which will directly impact the railway infrastructure in the Northeast.
With this, the Federal Government and regulatory agencies evaluate possibilities that even involve billions in compensation to boost the national rail network, while discussions are held about who will have control of these resources.
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Resumption of the railway: strategic project and new possibilities
The movement around the revitalization of abandoned railways started with the National Land Transport Agency (ANTT) and the National Department of Transport Infrastructure (DNIT), who carried out studies on the national railway network and the return of abandoned concessions.
According to ANTT, the return request made by the concessionaire Ferrovia Transnordestina Logística (FTL) could open the way for the use of the structure in passenger transport, an alternative that has been gaining support in the sector.
For Ceará, these discussions not only represent a reactivation of the railway, but can also influence the integration of new Transnordestina, under construction by the company TLSA.
This resumption would have a significant impact on local infrastructure., strengthening connections and creating opportunities for logistical development in the State.
Studies and compensation: billions at stake
According to the Ministry of Transport, a working group is evaluating options for optimize the returned infrastructure by FTL, including its reintegration into the Union.
At the same time, the public company Infra SA is carrying out studies to analyze the potential use of this network, with a view to future concessions and new railway operations.
The reactivation of the Brazilian railway network, which has been abandoned or underused, represents not only an opportunity for expansion for the transport sector, but also a financial gain.
The value of compensation for abandoned sections can reach up to $ 20 billion throughout the country. These resources, however, are at the center of a dispute between ministries.
The Ministry of Transport advocates that the amount be reinvested in railway infrastructure, while the Treasury is considering allocating it to the government's fiscal adjustment.
600 km line in Ceará: potential for passenger transport?
One of the lines under study for resumption is the stretch of 600 km connecting Fortaleza to Crato, In Ceara.
This line was identified by ANTT as part of a set of railways with potential for reuse, enabling the transport of passengers between strategic regions of the State.
Use for passengers, however, still depends on the conclusion of studies conducted by Infra SA and the definition of guidelines by the Ministry of Transport.
A final destination of returned lines to the Union, according to ANTT, will be a public policy decision defined by the Ministry of Transport, which studies concession proposals for interested companies.
The strategic role of Fiec and the green hydrogen hub
Hector Studart, coordinator of the Federation of Industries of the State of Ceará (Fiec), considers the reactivation of the railway network an essential step towards the integration of the Ceará economy with other hubs in the country.
Studart argues that the recovery of the old Transnordestina is crucial to connecting Ceará to other railways, such as the North-South Railway and the Central-Atlantic Railway, which interconnect with the West-East Integration Railway and the Central-West Integration Railway.
According to Studart, the plan for the railway in Ceará is aligned with the development of green hydrogen hub in the State, and the works in the railway sector are a fundamental part of this vision.
Fiec understands that the future of the industrial sector in Ceará depends on robust and modern integration with the national network, as rail transport is a low-cost route with a high load capacity, essential for the green hydrogen project.
Furthermore, Studart suggests that the returned concessions could give rise to short lines, short passenger transport lines, which would directly benefit urban and regional transport.
“The recovery of the railway sector is one of the priorities for the industrial and logistical development of Ceará”, says Studart.
Dispute over compensation and impact on the future of railways
Today, approximately 36% of Brazil's railways are unusable or scrapped, representing a large volume of infrastructure with potential compensation value.
According to Folha de São Paulo, the average compensation for each deactivated kilometer varies between R$1,5 million and R$2 million, but the values may be adjusted depending on the complexity of each section.
Fiec and other entities are pushing for the compensation amounts to be reinvested exclusively in the railway sector.
This allocation, according to experts, is strategic for the development of national infrastructure and alignment with the green hydrogen project.
However, the dispute between the Ministries of Transport and Finance to decide the fate of these resources is intensifying, and the outcome is still uncertain.
Studart reinforces that, if applied correctly, the R$20 billion in compensation could be fundamental to restructuring national logistics and boosting innovative sectors.
“It is essential that these resources are returned to the railway sector, as this is the only way we will be able to modernize our network and support projects such as green hydrogen,” he says..
Future of railways and passenger transport
The final decision on the use of the returned railways for passenger transport represents a possible milestone for urban mobility in the country.
Although the Ministry of Transport still needs to define the guidelines, the reactivation of railway sections for passengers could be a response to the demands for alternatives to road transport, especially in urban and metropolitan regions.
For Ceará, the resumption of the tracks between Fortaleza and Crato offers a unique opportunity to rescue passenger rail transport and connect cities efficiently and sustainably.
However, for this vision to come to fruition, society, governments and companies will need to align interests and decisions, prioritizing sustainable growth and innovation in infrastructure.
If he had continued with the works when he took over, they would not have been abandoned.
The railway does not belong to the government, but to the private sector, citizen. Did you understand that?
But the government is the one who wants to take back the railway... pay close attention to who will be compensated... there are certainly politicians who are up to their necks in interest.
Train for Passenger Transport?????? Here in this country???? As they promised on the route from Campos to Vitória???? The usual talk to calm the spirits of the most excited!! FOOL ME, I DON'T LIKE IT!! Train only for cargo and that's it!!!! For the common citizen, only the duty to pay taxes!!!!