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Transport Minister States That New VLI Proposal Is Under Review and Includes Nearly R$ 24 Billion in Investments in the Centro-Atlântica Railway
The renewal of the concession of the Centro-Atlântica Railway (FCA), which connects Espírito Santo to the center of the country, is expected to be decided by August. This information was confirmed by Transport Minister Renan Filho during the Expert XP event held in São Paulo. The current contract with operator VLI ends in 2026, but the expectation is that the new agreement will anticipate an extension of another 30 years.
The updated proposal from VLI plans for investments of approximately R$ 24 billion. According to the minister, the company met some of the government’s demands and improved the terms of the previous agreement, paving the way for renewal. The FCA is one of the largest railway networks in Brazil, but there are sections in Espírito Santo that are still not directly used by the concessionaire.
Espírito Santo Presses for Improvements to the Railway Route
One of the claims made by the Espírito Santo government to VLI was the inclusion of works that ensure more competitiveness for the stretch that passes through Espírito Santo. The company’s new proposal includes the railway bypass of Belo Horizonte, considered strategic to facilitate cargo flow to the ports in Espírito Santo.
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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
Initially, the request was for the construction of the bypass around Serra do Tigre in Minas Gerais, but the project was deemed technically unfeasible. Nevertheless, the inclusion of the new segment partially meets the regional demand. Espírito Santo sees the Centro-Atlântica Railway as a opportunity to boost railway logistics, which currently still depends on the right of passage through the Vitória to Minas Railway operated by Vale.
Government Considered Relicitation of the Stretch
Before VLI’s updated proposal, the federal government considered the relicitation of the railway stretch. This measure aimed to attract new interested parties to operate the network under better conditions for the granting authority, especially regarding railway modernization and investment commitments.
With the new plan presented, the renewal gained momentum, and Renan Filho indicated that a final decision should be made by the end of August. The expectation is that with the progress of the agreement, the FCA will regain prominence in the railway transport of the Southeast and Midwest, regions strategic for agribusiness and industry.
EF-118 and BR-262 Also Advance in the Government’s Logistics Plan
In addition to the Centro-Atlântica Railway, Minister Renan Filho updated the progress on other infrastructure projects in Espírito Santo. The concession of the EF-118, which will connect Santa Leopoldina to Rio de Janeiro, is expected to occur later this year. Initially, Vale would carry out the works for the first segment, but now the government is considering the possibility of replacing them with a direct financial contribution from the mining company.
The bidding process for the duplication of BR-262 is also in the final preparation stage, with resources from the Mariana Agreement. The project is considered a priority to improve the connection between Espírito Santo and Minas Gerais, alleviating logistical bottlenecks and increasing road safety.
Do you believe that the renewal of the Centro-Atlântica Railway will bring real benefits to Espírito Santo? Join the discussion and share your opinion.
Seria bom, que a Vale vencesse essa concessão da FCA, do vetor norte mineiro, pois, possui maior experiência, sendo a Vale a Companhia ferroviária que tem maior interesse no expresso ferroviário de passageiros, sendo também, a mais pioneira nessa modalidade de transporte. Já possui as concessões das ferrovias Estrada de Ferro Vitória-Minas (EFVM) e Estrada de Ferro Carajás (EFC), na região Norte, onde já existem movimentos de trens de passageiros, nessas regiões.
Seria bom, que a Vale vencesse essa concessão da FCA, do vetor norte mineiro, pois, possui maior experiência, sendo pioneira no transporte ferroviário de passageiros.
Acredito que sim mas as linhas do trecho campos dos goytacazes estao completamente abandonadas e sem nenhuma manutencao, trilhos foram roubados em varios pontos e pessoas estao invadindo trechos.