Governments make feasible the train to Luziânia and Brasília

Aiming at making the passenger transportation on rails feasible between Brasília and Luziânia, ministries, governors and congresspersons signed this Thursday (15) a cooperation agreement for Estudos de Viabilidade Técnica, Econômica e Socioambiental (EVTEA – Technical, Economic and Environmental Feasibility Survey), an important step for the works to start.

The solemnity took place before a packed house at Ministry of Integration Conference Hall, in Brasília. Railroad’s technical committee coordination relies on Superintendência do Desenvolvimento do Centro-Oeste (Sudeco – Superintendency for the Development of the Midwest). Today, the railroad is used only for freight transport. This change shall benefit about 500 thousand inhabitants of the area. According to Sudeco’s managing director, Marcelo Dourado, the forecasted surveys are essential for the Invitation to bid, enabling the track to be made and to start its operation, which intends to reduce car traffic in the Federal District and its surroundings. “The railroad will be built,” celebrates Dourado.

The document was signed by the Ministry of National Integration, Fernando Coelho, the Ministry of Transport, Paulo Sérgio Oliveira Passos; the Governor of the Federal District, Agnelo Queiroz; the Governor of Goiás, Marconi Perillo; the Managing Director of Sudeco, Marcelo Dourado; the General Director of ANTT, Bernardo Figueiredo; and the managing director of Departamento Nacional de Infraestrutura de Transportes (DNIT – National Transport Infrastructure Department), Jorge Ernesto Pinto Fraxe.

When Governor Marconi Perillo was lecturing in a room completely full of common people and leaders of the Entorno (Surroundings), he said that the railroad feasibility for passengers’ transportation means to him more than a personal dream that comes true. “It is the rescue of a commitment I have made in several occasions during my visit to Luziânia, Valparaíso, Cidade Ocidental and Novo Gama in my election campaign.”

Marconi said that he will put all his efforts, together with the governor Agnelo Queiroz and other actors involved in this project, to anticipate some steps by seeking to accelerate the schedule of the invitation to bid, works and track’s big opening. He also reminded that in 2012, the government of Goiás shall start several interventions in the Surrounding highways to improve the area’s transportation.

The Federal District has more than 1.3 million of cars, an average of a car for every two people, and Brasília receive a good share of this vehicles flow. Brasilia’s large avenues cannot hold the heavy traffic anymore.

In the neighborhood of the Federal District, every morning, thousands of people wait in long lines, trapped in a slow traffic. According to Sudeco’s survey, 10 years ago, a person who spent 15 or 20 minutes to arrive to his/her place of work now spends about two hours.

One of the ways for solving this issue is the railroad connecting Luziânia to the Federal District, precisely located at Rodoferroviária (road and rail). This region is called Entorno Sul (South Surroundings). About 600 Thousand people live around this area. For now, the railroad is used for freight, but it can be used for a mix transportation of freight and passengers.

The railroad, composed of a metric gauge, comprises a light vehicle with perfection – known as LRV –, which speeds between 80 to 100 km/hour. The current track just needs some remodeling and adaptations, especially for implement passenger’s stations. It is expected that by the end of 2012, the track could be in operation. With an option of good quality and cheaper transportation, it is expected 80 to 100 less cars around the area. During each trip, the train is able to transport about 1,400 people.

Fonte: Diário da Manhã