Taking a ride in the large sports events — World Cup and Olympic Games — the government will increase the number of tourism trains in operation in the country, an attraction that will be part of the routes offered to foreigners. By 2015, the purpose is to double the number of passengers, to ten million, and increase in 50% the operations. For that, approximately US$291.20 million will be invested.
The Corcovado Train only will count with more than US$37.23 million. A Federal Grant, it transports almost 300 people an hour and should increase its capacity to 615 passengers/hour.
In the activation of the Rio-Petrópolis train, US$41.88 million will be invested, according to the Brazilian Association of Tourism and Cultural Trains Operators (ABOTTC). But the Tourism Ministry informed that it should take longer to be implemented, because it will be necessary to remove families along the route. The Magé City Hall is also involved in the project.
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The trains are the great attraction of the regions where they operate, filling the safes of the cities which invest in the service, such as the South of the country.
Should be activated, over the next two years, according to the Director of the Tourism Structuring and Organization Department of the Tourism Ministry, Ricardo Moesch, the tourism trains of Mogi das Cruzes (SP); of the São Carlos (SP) urban area; of Santa Maria (RS); and the Contestado (SC) Railway. In the Northeast, new operations are also foreseen.
In 2007, the trains carried more than 3.5 million passengers and generated approximately 20 thousand direct and indirect jobs. And they provided approximately US$58.10 million with the sale of tickets. In 2011, the numbers were already much higher: five million passengers travelled by train and paid an average of US$34.86, and investments of US$174.31million were made, according to the ABOTTC CEO, Sávio Neves.
— A few multinational companies are already interested in the business. Vale, in the Ouro Preto to Mariana (MG) section, and EBX, at Serra do Navio (AP) — he says.
Neves adds that the direct jobs in the sector total three thousand and, if added to the indirect jobs, the number exceeds eight thousand — not including the activities related to photography, plastic arts and gastronomy.
Approximately 50 projects from City Halls and non-profit private entities for the installation of locomotives are being analyzed by the work group led by the Tourism Ministry.
There are 44 additional requests.
Today, there are 32 tourism trains in operation spread by 11 states. Among the most widely known are the Corcovado Train (RJ), Vinho (RS), Pantanal (MS), Vale Ouro Preto Mariana (MG), Serra do Mar (PR) and the Campos do Jordão Railway (SP). These are large operations, where approximately 150 thousand passenger go by every year.
A few trains operate on a daily basis and others only on the weekends, depending on the demand. There are also 15 occasional trains, such as Trem do Forró, in Campina Grande (PB), which only operates during the June Celebrations, or Trem do Frevo (PE). In addition, seven tourism street cars operate in areas such as the Taquaral Park, in Campinas (SP); in Campos do Jordão (SP); in Santa Tereza (RJ); and in the circuit between Valongo and Praça Mauá, in Santos (SP).
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