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Mining Giant Invests Billions in a Groundbreaking Railway in Espírito Santo That Will Cross Six Municipalities, Changing Logistics Routes, Creating Thousands of Jobs, and Connecting Strategic Regions to the Southeast. Technical Details and Impacts Are Still Under Environmental Analysis.
Railway Branch of Espírito Santo Promises to Transform Regional Logistics by Generating Up to 5,000 Jobs During Construction, Expected to Start in 2028.
The project, under the responsibility of Vale, will follow the route of the Vitória to Minas Railway (EFVM), connecting Santa Leopoldina to the Ubu Industrial Complex in Anchieta, with a significant impact on the Espírito Santo production chain.
According to the Environmental Impact Report (Rima) submitted to the State Institute of the Environment and Water Resources (Iema) in April 2025, the railway branch of Espírito Santo anticipates a peak of 4,920 workers and will use around 1,200 pieces of equipment, including earthmoving machines, trucks, and electromechanical assembly tools.
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The mobilization of labor is estimated for the first half of 2028, with an expected duration of approximately 50 months for the implementation phase.
Local hires will be prioritized, as per Vale’s policy, avoiding the recruitment of professionals from other regions and reducing commuting.
Job Generation in Construction and Technical Areas
During the works, there will be a high demand for construction professionals: drivers, bricklayers, carpenters, and machine operators.
Specialized technical knowledge will also be required for electromechanical assembly and superstructure, with emphasis on welders and metal structure teams.
Additionally, the construction phase will include support services such as security, food, and cleaning, expanding the employment chain.
In the operational phase, expected to begin in mid-2033, around 36 professionals should be hired, including train drivers, travel inspectors, and maintenance technicians for the track and electromechanical systems.
Part of the activities, such as operations control and fleet maintenance, may take place in the existing EFVM infrastructure in Vitória and Tubarão.
Structure of the Capixaba Railway Branch and Investment Value
The main route will be 99.3 km long and will traverse six municipalities: Santa Leopoldina, Cariacica, Vila Velha, Viana, Guarapari, and Anchieta.
It will be entirely in rural areas, mostly following the axis of BR-101.
The total investment will amount to R$ 7.43 billion, fully financed by Vale.
Among the highlighted structures, the following will be built:
- A tunnel with a length of 715 m in Viana, with an excavation timeframe of 28 months
- 14 railway bridges, 1 road bridge, 8 railway viaducts, 12 road viaducts, and 44 underpasses
These structures aim to ensure the safety of the population and minimize traffic and environmental impacts.
The project has prior licensing and EIA/RIMA under technical analysis at Iema, within legal deadlines.
Environmental Challenges and Coordination with the Government
After a delay of over a year in delivering the EIA, expected in January 2024, the documentation was presented in March 2025.
The agreement with the federal government linked the early renewal of the EFVM concession to the construction of the branch.
In early 2025, Governor Renato Casagrande and Vice Ricardo Ferraço highlighted the need for support from municipalities in the process of expropriating about 477 properties.
The environmental licensing remains one of the main obstacles, with estimates that the procedures for licenses and expropriations will take up to 24 months, followed by construction with an expected deadline of 50 to 60 months.
New Capixaba Railway Branch and National Logistics Impact
The new Capixaba railway branch not only enhances the shipment of iron ore through the Ubu Port but also opens up space for the transportation of grains, fuels, and general cargo.
The projected capacity is up to 15 million tons per year, with an operational speed of 65 km/h and up to four daily trips with trains composed of two locomotives and 172 cars.
The railway will also integrate with the EF-118, expected to connect Espírito Santo to Rio de Janeiro, linking Cariacica to Nova Iguaçu, passing through 25 municipalities.
The first phase of the EF-118 will be built by Vale, as part of the concession extension agreement for the EFVM until 2057, with an initial investment of R$ 2.5 billion and an extension of 72 km between Cariacica and Anchieta.
The total extension of the EF-118 will be 578 km.
The construction of the new Capixaba railway branch reinforces the logistical integration of the Southeast and serves as a national model for infrastructure, positioning Espírito Santo as a strategic player in the shipment of commodities.
Renewal of the Transport Matrix and Environmental Gains
In addition to job creation and modernization of infrastructure, the branch can be a catalyst for changing the transport matrix, still excessively road-based.
Rail transport contributes to the reduction of CO₂ emissions, lower impact on roads, and greater efficiency in transporting large volumes.
For experts, speed in licensing and expropriations will be crucial to meet the schedule.
If the process advances without obstacles, Espírito Santo may attract new investments and establish itself as a regional logistics hub.
Now, the question remains: will the railway branch of Espírito Santo be able to turn the tide and establish itself as a national reference in sustainable logistics and regional integration?
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