THE São Paulo Department of Logistics and Transport has proposed a bill that authorises the use of rail infrastructure and services for new private concessions, which it hopes will transform the state’s rail network.
A new working group, SP Railways, led by Mr Luiz Alberto Fioravante, has also been established to develop a strategic railway plan for the state, which will look at ways to relaunch disused lines in the city and manage freight flows to reduce logistics costs. More than half of the state’s 5700km network have little or no use.
The strategic plan already includes the Passenger Transport and Cargo Logistics Action Plan for the Macrometropolis of São Paulo (PAM-TL). This foresees private investments of around Reais 70bn ($US 14.59bn), including Reais 54.2bn to be invested in the rail networks in the cities of São Paulo, Campinas, Sorocaba, Baixada Santista and São José dos Campos, which together account for around 70% of the state’s freight transport and 32% of national GDP.
PAM-TL includes five major initiatives planned until 2040:
- implementation of the Intercity Train (TIC) project, which will link São Paulo to Campinas, Sorocaba, Santos and São José dos Campos
- express freight lines
- development of the São Paulo Metropolitan Region Railroad Bypass (Ferroanel), a line to connect the main lines running into the city while avoiding the city centre
- duplication of the western section of the Rodoanel ring highway, and
- bidding for the Green Line, a zero-carbon road and rail freight connection between São Paulo and the port of Santos.
The plan also includes 13 road-rail freight yards with storage for the distribution and transfer between modes to reduce time and transport costs.
Rail currently accounts for 11% of transport in the state, with São Paulo Metropolitan Trains Company (CPTM) accounting for 9%.
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