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Trains are back in Brazil! The government is taking its hands out of its pockets and spending millions of dollars to restore a traditional railway complex

Written by Alisson Ficher
Published 20/01/2025 às 13:16

The federal government has announced R$800 for restoration projects at the Campo Grande Railway Complex, an icon of Brazilian railway history. Abandoned for years, the site is in severe deterioration and requires significant investment. Will this initial funding be enough to preserve a heritage site that is over a century old? Find out all the details.

If you think that trains are a thing of the past and that historic railway complexes are just forgotten relics, it's time to think again.

In an initiative that promises to boost the preservation of Brazilian cultural heritage, the federal government has decided to release millions of dollars for the restoration of one of the most emblematic symbols of national railway history.

But is the amount enough to face years of neglect and abandonment?

Last week, the transfer of R$ 800 thousand for the restoration of Campo Grande Railway Complex, belonging to the old Estrada de Ferro Noroeste do Brasil and listed as a historical heritage site.

The resource will be directed towards the development of architecture, engineering and restoration projects in the most damaged areas, such as the Rotunda and the warehouses.

The decision was made official with the publication of the extract of the commitment term in the Official Gazette of the Union, signed by the president of Iphan (National Institute of Historical and Artistic Heritage), Leandro Antonio Grass Peixoto, and by the mayor of Campo Grande, Adriane Lopes.

A decision expected for months

The expectation for resources is not new. Since April 2024, when heavy rains caused the roof of the locomotive shelter, one of the main components of the Railway Complex, to collapse, the situation required an urgent response.

At the time, Mayor Adriane Lopes met with the superintendent of Iphan in Mato Grosso do Sul, João Santos, to discuss solutions.

According to Santos, the project approved via PAC (Growth Acceleration Plan) includes priority actions for the most deteriorated areas.

“They are the most deficient parts and have the most problems to be solved in the short term”, explained João Santos, referring to the Rotunda and the warehouses.

The term of the commitment term runs from December 20, 2024 to December 15, 2025, allowing a broader timeline for the initial revitalization projects.

Court decision reinforces urgency

In addition to the federal government's action, a decision by the Superior Court of Justice (STJ), in September 2024, pressured the city to repair the damage to the complex.

The court concluded that the municipality had been failing to comply with its “legal and constitutional obligation to manage and preserve historical and cultural heritage” since at least 2015.

According to the STJ, this omission worsened the state of abandonment and neglect of one of the most important historical landmarks in Mato Grosso do Sul.

The Court of Justice of Mato Grosso do Sul (TJMS) had already issued similar opinions, highlighting that the Railway Complex suffered from severe structural problems and prolonged negligence.

The Esplanada Ferroviária, the main area of ​​the complex, houses significant properties such as the Railway Station, the Cultural Warehouse and warehouses, as well as open spaces that still maintain original tracks.

A legacy of more than a century

The Campo Grande Railway Complex is much more than a group of old buildings.

It occupies an area of ​​22,3 hectares, with 135 buildings constructed in masonry and wood, representing different periods of Brazilian railway history.

Among its structures, the workers' houses, schools, offices, workshops and an iconic water tank stand out.

The railway station, built in 1914 and expanded in 1924 and 1930, is a landmark in the expansion of the railway network in the Central-West region.

According to João Santos, the Esplanada Ferroviária encompasses the main large buildings, while the complex as a whole also includes streets, workshops and public and private properties.

“It is still possible to see tracks that were not removed from the urban area, a living reminder of the historical importance of this space,” highlighted.

Resources are just the beginning

Although the R$800 released by the federal government represents a significant step, experts point out that the amount is just the beginning of a much larger effort needed to fully restore the complex.

Restoring structures that are over 100 years old requires specialized labor, specific materials and detailed planning, which can considerably increase costs.

Furthermore, it is crucial that society and the private sector also get involved in this process, ensuring that the complex not only recovers its structure, but also becomes a dynamic space, capable of attracting visitors and promoting cultural tourism in the region.

Heritage under threat: what is at stake?

The preservation of the Campo Grande Railway Complex is essential for Brazil's historical memory.

Its deterioration not only represents the loss of an architectural and cultural legacy, but also undermines the region's potential for urban and economic revitalization.

For Mayor Adriane Lopes, restoration goes far beyond the physical preservation of the buildings.

“It is an opportunity to rescue history and return to the population a space that symbolizes the development of our city and country,” stated.

With preliminary projects already underway, it remains to be seen whether the deadline set until December 2025 will be sufficient to complete the initial stages and whether new investments will be guaranteed to complete the revitalization of the complex.

A question for the reader

Do you believe that the government's efforts will be enough to transform the Campo Grande Railway Complex into an example of historical preservation in Brazil? Leave your opinion in the comments!

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Sturaro Report
Sturaro Report
23/01/2025 15:45

It is essential that all branch lines be renovated and operational again. We cannot accept this neglect. The hills that have been cut down are there, the tunnels are there, the small and large bridges are there, the railways are there, the cities have grown and the number of companies and people is there too. All that is needed is to renovate them, install new wagons and locomotives, and publicize, promote and never abandon them. There is no country in the world that has developed without trains. Trains cause less environmental damage, their tracks are thin and a locomotive can pull 200 wagons. Highways are breaking down with heavy loads. Trains transporting heavy loads and more trucks for distribution would not be a shortage of jobs. Large trucks would transport light loads. Trains are the best land transport in the world, they are cheaper, safer, viable and have multiple functions: cargo, passengers, tourism, excursions, students, workers, pilgrimages, they can be used for distributing education items, health, escorting prisoners, etc. In addition, the Railways could be transformed into FerroShoppings, with screens showing sponsoring and other friendly companies, as well as telling the history of the line, the place and others, food courts,
Movie theaters, meeting rooms. States and municipalities must work hard to bring back this mode of transport. The Northwest branch line of Brazil passes through the Pantanal, has a beautiful English bridge over the Miranda River and another over the Paraná River, and several beautiful stations. It is one of the branches that can be connected to the Madeira-Mamore line, Bolivia, Paraguay, and also Manaus and Boa Vista. Brazil needs trains.

Alisson Ficher

Journalist graduated in 2017 and working in the field since 2015, with six years of experience in print magazines, stints on broadcast TV channels and over 12 online publications. Specialist in politics, jobs, economics, courses, among other topics. Professional registration: 0087134/SP. If you have any questions, want to report an error or suggest a topic on the topics covered on the site, please contact us by email: alisson.hficher@outlook.com. We do not accept resumes!

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