The Minas Gerais Railway Strategic Plan (PEF), presented by the State Secretariat for Infrastructure and Mobility (Seinfra), should invest in 10 projects in the South of Minas Gerais for the implementation and operation of a new railway structure in Minas Gerais. Four of them will have priority for investment according to the plan criteria.
The proposals that are part of the plan were presented in February at a workshop promoted by the secretariat. In total, 60 proposals were presented involving regional rail passenger transport, cargo transport, tourist transport, urban bypasses and stretches, and logistics platforms throughout the state.
The proposals were listed according to the AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) Model for preliminary analysis. This model is used worldwide to prioritize projects according to priority criteria, such as implementation forecast, potential demand and complexity.
However, the proposals that will have priority in the South of Minas Gerais are the implementation of regional passenger transport lines between Divinópolis and Lavras, and between Lavras/Três Corações/Varginha.
Therefore, the implementation of the tourist passenger train between São Sebastião do Rio Verde and Passa Quatro and the integration of the Porto Seco do Sul de Minas, in Varginha, to the Varginha/Três Corações branch line of the Ferrovia Centro Atlântica are still on the list of priorities.
Although check below the projects in the South of Minas Gerais that are included in the railway plan and their priority ranking:
Railway for cargo transportation:
Reactivation of the railway between Itaú de Minas, São Sebastião do Paraíso and Ribeirão Preto (SP) – 7th in the ranking
Regional passenger transport:
Divinópolis/Lavras Line – 1st in the ranking
Lavras/Three Hearts/Varginha – 1st in the ranking
Varginha/Three Hearts/Soledade Cruzeiro (SP) – 4th in the ranking
Pocos de Caldas/Aguaí/Campinas (SP) – 7th in the ranking
Tourist passenger trains:
Line São Sebastião do Rio Verde to Passa Quatro – 1st in the ranking
Jacutinga Line (between Sapucaí and Mons. Dutra neighborhoods) – 4th in the ranking
Forgiveness Line to Lavras and Carrancas – 5th in the ranking
Line from Poços de Caldas to Águas da Prata (SP) – 6th in the ranking
Multimodal cargo terminals:
The PEF is sponsored by the National Association of Rail Transporters (ANTF) and the studies are being prepared by the Dom Cabral Foundation (FDC). According to the State Secretariat for Infrastructure and Mobility, seven more meetings are planned to present and monitor the next stages of the studies. There is still no forecast for when the projects will be implemented. Click here to see the full list.
Works resumed after delay
Before the works to reactivate the train between São Sebastião do Rio Verde (MG) and São Lourenço (MG) were resumed after having to be stopped due to the rainy season. According to the city hall, around 80% of the work has already been completed.
The section that will be restored to the city of São Lourenço is 20 kilometers long. The renovation of the tracks began in November 2018.
Therefore, the resources for revitalizing the railway come from a R$7.5 million agreement between the Minas Gerais Development Company and the City of São Sebastião do Rio Verde. The city must also pay R$343 thousand. The agreement was signed in July 2018 and construction began five months later.
Especially after the track renovations, which were scheduled to be completed in December of last year, the city government will still need to hold a tender to choose the concessionaire company that will operate the Maria Fumaça.
However, the restoration of the tracks will enhance heritage sites such as a bridge built in the 19th century. The new railway line should diversify the options for tourists, who already have the Trem das Águas in São Lourenço.
ADDITIONAL NOTE FROM ABIFER:
Although the State Deputy (MG), João Leite, will make a presentation on the Strategic Railway Plan of the State of Minas Gerais (launched by the Secretary of Infrastructure and Mobility of Minas Gerais, Marco Aurélio Barcelos), next Friday, 03/20/2020, at 10 am, in the FIESP auditorium (Av. Paulista, 1313 - 10th floor).
In short, Prof. Roberto Willians de Santana, general director of the Eng° Silva Freire State Technical School of Transport, will also be present.