SP-Campinas Train is already in survey phase

A long time before the bullet train becomes a reality, the chances that Medium-Speed Trains connect Campinas to São Paulo are huge. This week, a survey was started to measure in details if it is feasible the implantation of a regional train operating among the cities of Campinas, Jundiai and São Paulo. This assessment, requested by São Paulo Metropolitan Train Company (CPTM – Companhia Paulista de Trens Metropolitanos) shall last 11 months, and it will be done by the Company Oficina Engenheiros Consultores Associados. With this survey, São Paulo’s Government will cross-check the information about different types of dislocation made by the population, time spent on each transportation mean, main distances traveled, origin and destination points, and people’s frequency and number.

The project shall construct a rail branch through 100 kilometers between the City of São Paulo and Campinas – an ancient project that came to life thanks to the concession of Viracopos. According to Infraero, the airport, which received 7.5 million passengers last year, shall have its demand increased to 9.5 million people by 2014. The Government’s ambition of transforming Viracopos in the main structure of the national air system inevitably has directly to pass by the implementation of a new railway connection.

Rail transportation experts and professionals do not criticize the decision of implementing the bullet train in the region, but they believe that there is some place for a parallel train structure. With US$875.14 million and three years of work, it is possible to operate a Medium-Speed Train (up to 160km/h) in the current rail network among Campinas, Jundiai and São Paulo, says Francisco Aparecido Felício, leader of the São Paulo Railroad Workers Union (Sindpaulista –Sindicato dos Trabalhadores em Empresas Ferroviárias Paulistas).

The current structure connecting Campinas to Jundiai was given to América Latina Logística (ALL) and only a part of it is used to freight transportation. In order to house a Medium-Speed Train, the rail must be adapted. One point in favor of the Medium-Speed Train is the fact that the country already has a local manufacture company able to attend the job.

For the General Director of the National Land Transport Agency (ANTT – Agência Nacional de Transportes Terrestres), Bernardo Figueiredo, the regional train may not impair the bullet train project, insomuch that the Agency is committed to deliver, by 2015, several freight tracks of the State of São Paulo for passengers transportation, like São Paulo-Jundiai stretch, São Paulo-Santos and São Paulo-Sorocaba. I do not see any problem in having a regional train to Campinas. These regional trains are parallel projects, which do not compete with the High-Speed Train.

Campinas prefecture, responsible for the survey request delivered to CPTM, informed that is just waiting a definition from the Federal Government regarding the bullet train. CPTM informed that it is not possible that the project shall become a competition branch between Viracopos and São Paulo because the proposal is a metropolitan train with foreseen stops in Valinhos, Vinhedo, Louveira and Jundiai to finally arrive in São Paulo. In fact, CPTM’s plan should include the train operation up to 100 km/hour, which means around three-hour trip to arrive in the City of São Paulo.

I believe that a Medium-Speed Train in this stretch will be a suitable project, says Luciano Amadio, CEO of Association of Public Works Contractor of São Paulo (Apeop – Associação Paulista de Empresários de Obras Públicas). If we look towards the future of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, we conclude that the bullet train will be extremely necessary, but we can also have a medium-term solution, and not only a solution after ten years.

If the agenda made by the Government goes right, the High-Speed Train shall be finished in mid-2019. We need to keep the spirit of urgency. We cannot take so much time to do things. I believe that there is more than one type of solution, says Arlindo Fernandes, managing partner of Oficina Engenheiros Consultores Associados, the Company responsible for performing the demand surveys of the region.

In 2005, São Paulo’s Government had finished the surveys for creating the so-called Bandeirante Train (Trem Bandeirante), which shall connect São Paulo to Campinas. The project’s budget was assessed in US$1.75 billion and shall be performed by means of a Public-Private Partnership (PPP). The train may take 50 minutes to go through the stretch, with a maximum speed of 160 km. At that time, Viracopos’ connection was already on the radar. The plan was put on hold after the Government’s decision to afford the High-Speed Train.

Track for Cumbica in being designed

After contracting both basic and executive projects of Track 13-Jade, São Paulo Metropolitan Train Company (CPTM – Companhia Paulista de Trens Metropolitanos) foresees that the bid for a train track connecting the City of São Paulo to Cumbica Airport, in Guarulhos, shall occur up to the end of this year. According to CPTM’s press office, since there are no legal or bureaucratic barriers, the project’s first phase shall be delivered by the end of 2014.

CPTM’s new track has an estimated budget of US$700.11 million and will connect Engenheiro Goulart station, part of Track 12-Saphire in São Paulo’s East area, to the airport. The construction of 11 km of tracks in the first phase is expected. During the second step, which is not scheduled yet, trains of the new track will share the way of Track 12-Saphire from Engenheiro Goulart to Brás, downtown.

From the total cost foreseen to the works, it is estimated US$525.08 million for the costs with rails construction, permanent tracks, elevated ways and stations, and US$175.02 million for purchasing eight trains and the signaling system. Basic and executive projects cost US$13.10 million and they had as a winner the Consultor EPC consortium, leaded by Engevix Engenharia S.A.

CPTM’s expansion to Cumbica Airport put on hold the project of a Medium-Speed Train to connect the airport to São Paulo. According to the Company, the project was put aside because of the High-Speed Train (HST), which is in its early stages and with the first step of the bid expected to October. The train is planned to connect Campinas, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.