CBTU ensures resources for expansion of urban trains

06/12 – Exame

Companhia Brasileira de Trens Urbanos – CBTU (Brazilian Urban Trains Company) ensures resources to continue its projects for the year 2016, comprising the works of expansion and modernization of the systems operating in the cities of Belo Horizonte (MG), Recife (PE), Maceió (AL), Natal (RN) and João Pessoa (PB).

This information was given by the company’s CEO, Marco Fireman, who met this week at the Ministry of Planning in Brasilia with the executive secretary of the Programa de Aceleração do Crescimento – PAC (Growth Acceleration Program), Mauricio Muniz. CBTU is under the Ministry of Cities and is headquartered in Rio de Janeiro.

In Maceió, CBTU has two expansion projects of Light Rail Transit (LRT), which will cost R$110 million. The first is the extension that leaves the central station and goes to the district of Jaraguá, where is located the dock at the port. The whole route of 2.4 km long will receive new rails and ties and signaling will be in charge of Maceió City Hall, in partnership with the CBTU.

The funds invested in the expansion are around R$4.2 million, including the acquisition of necessary railway materials. The second project is the expansion of LRT to Shopping Maceió, with 3.7 km long, in which will be invested about R$104 million.

Funds of circa $80 million were also ensured for the modernization of the systems of Natal, João Pessoa, Maceió, and of diesel south line of Recife. According to CBTU, these funds will be invested in completion of executive projects, continuing the improvement services of the permanent railway, exchange of ties and rails, and in the recovery and construction of new stations, in addition to the diesel south line doubling completion in Recife.

During the meeting, CBTU also requested additional funds for investments considered priority, but not yet included in the Mobility PAC. It is R$180 million for Recife subway and R$1.5 billion for Belo Horizonte subway to be allocated to line 1 and to the construction of line 2 at Calafate to Barreiro stretch.

At the meeting, the CEO of the company linked to the Ministry of Cities and headquartered in Rio de Janeiro was accompanied by the technical director Sergio Sessim and adviser to the president Flávio Mota. “CBTU made a brilliant presentation on the investments made under PAC, ensuring resources for continuity of our projects in the year 2016”.