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High-speed rail in Brazil

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TAV Brasil
TAV Brasil map. Stretch Rio/São Paulo/Campinas
Overview
Service typeInter-city tilting train
StatusPlanned
LocaleSoutheastern Brazil
Current operator(s)TAV Brasil
Ridership33 million (estimate)
Route
TerminiCampinas
Rio de Janeiro
Stops10
Distance travelled510.8 km (317.4 mi)
Average journey time2 hours and 33 minutes
Train number(s)42 (2014) – 84 (2024)
On-board services
Class(es)Business and first class
Disabled accessFully accessible
Seating arrangementsAirline-style coach seating
Catering facilitiesOn-board café, and at-seat meals in first class
Baggage facilitiesChecked baggage available at selected stations
Technical
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Operating speed350 km/h (220 mph) maximum
300 km/h (190 mph) average

The TAV (Portuguese: Trem de Alta Velocidade, meaning high-speed train) is Brazil's first planned high-speed rail service. The first line is proposed to run between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. It will travel 403 kilometres (250 mi) between Barão de Mauá station and Campo de Marte Airport. The journey will take 85 minutes, reaching a maximum speed of 350 kilometres per hour (220 mph).[1]

The entire TAV project was originally budgeted at $231 billion,[1] supported by private and international investors rather than the federal government.[2] There have been several attempts to finance and launch the project, but construction has not started.[3]

Project history

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A feasibility study projected demand of almost 33 million passengers by 2015. This estimate however is highly criticized for being too generous.[4]

The plans include linking the São Paulo International Airport, in Guarulhos, Greater São Paulo, the Viracopos International Airport, in Campinas, and the Galeão International Airport, in Rio de Janeiro. The route will include 134 km (85 mi) of track passing through 105 tunnels and viaducts. In Guarulhos, São Paulo, there will be a tunnel of 15 km (9.3 mi) in length.

Apart from the Inter-American Development Bank, five other international institutions have already tabled the possibility of investing in the Brazilian super train. BNDES, in particular, has proposed financing the project.[5] An estimated 200,000 jobs are expected to be generated by the project once it gets underway.[6]

The winning bidders will join the government as venture partners through a public company, called ETAV. In July 2000, the CND (National Council for Privatization), following the ruling of the TCU (Court of Audit), authorized the release of the feasibility study for the project.[7]

The consortium that won the bidding for the high-speed train will, according to the original plan, have six years to complete the stretch between Rio and Campinas. According to ANTT (National Agency of Land Transport), however, the winning bidder could complete certain stretches ready for operation beforehand. It was hoped that the complete linkage between Campinas to Rio, via São Paulo, would be complete and in operation for the 2016 Summer Olympics but, due to delays, the project was expected to be completed by 2020.[1][8] Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the project has been delayed and is now expected to be completed in 2029. [9]

The ETAV, with headquarters in Brasília, aims to plan and promote the development of high-speed rail integrated with other modes of transportation in the country. ETAV's assignments include feasibility studies, technical-economic engineering, research, innovation and technology, absorb and transfer technology, supporting capacity development of national industry, overseeing the execution of the works of infrastructure and the implementation of the operation of transport high-speed railway. The new company will be organized in the form of a privately held corporation and has its capital represented by common shares - of which at least 50% will be owned by a Union.[10]

Railroad Specification

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The parameters of the planned railroad are: Gauge: 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in); Maximum Projected Speed: 350 km/h; Maximum Gradient (gradient) of the project: 3.5%; Minimum Horizontal Radius: 7228 m; Minimum Vertical Radius: 42.875 m; Axle Load per Train: 17 t; Crossing Loop/Minimum Platform Length at Each Station: 500 m/400 m (for train sets up to 16 cars). The extension and their paths are divided by 90.9 km or 56.4 mi (18%) of Tunnel, 107.8 km or 66.9 mi (21%) of bridges and viaducts, and 312.1 km or 193.9 mi (61%) of the surface.[11]

TAV by Route

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TAV Campinas/São Paulo/Rio

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Rio-São Paulo TAV
Rio de Janeiro
Volta Redonda
Resende
Aparecida
Taubaté
São José dos Campos
Jacareí
Guarulhos
São Paulo

The first planned line will link the Brazilian cities of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. There will be seven stations on the route, including the cities of Campinas, Jundiaí, São José dos Campos, and Aparecida in the State of São Paulo and the cities of Resende, Barra Mansa in the State of Rio de Janeiro. The project will include the main airports of Campinas, São Paulo, and Rio.

TAV Brasília/Goiânia

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In 2009, the construction of the TAV High-speed railway between Brasília/Anápolis/Goiânia was announced, known as the Expresso Pequi. In 2017, South Korean rail operator AREX proposed a line with a maximum speed of 250 km/h (160 mph) between the two cities.[12]

TAV Ribeirão Preto/Uberlândia

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There are also plans for a high-speed railway between Uberlândia and Ribeirão Preto, which will be funded by the federal government.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Trevisani, Paulo; Winterstein, Paulo (August 12, 2013). "Brazil Delays High-Speed Train Project". Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on March 13, 2016. Retrieved March 13, 2017.(subscription required)
  2. ^ "TAV Brazil Information". Archived from the original on 2010-07-04. Retrieved 2010-07-22.
  3. ^ Lo, Chris (2012-08-29). "Back to life: Brazil's revived high-speed dream". Railway Technology. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  4. ^ "Fourth Time Unlucky". The Economist. April 24, 2012. Archived from the original on December 5, 2017. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  5. ^ "BNDES offers loan for Brazilian HSL - International Railway Journal". 2010-11-14. Archived from the original on 2010-11-24. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
  6. ^ "Rio-São Paulo Supertrain facts". Archived from the original on 2011-10-16. Retrieved 2010-07-14.
  7. ^ "Railway Gazette: Rio – São Paulo high speed rail bidding ready to start". Retrieved 2010-07-20.
  8. ^ "TAV Brazil and the FIFA 2014 World Cup". Archived from the original on 2011-07-11. Retrieved 2010-07-14.
  9. ^ "Trem de alta velocidade no Brasil: realidade ou futuro? - Massa". Massa - Pesagem e Automação Industrial (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2021-10-04. Archived from the original on 2023-03-09. Retrieved 2022-09-07.
  10. ^ "ETAV headquartered in Brasília, Federal District". Archived from the original on 2010-07-16. Retrieved 2010-07-14.
  11. ^ "TAV Brasil – Tracing". Archived from the original on 2009-09-18. Retrieved 2010-07-14.
  12. ^ "Korean group considers Brazilian passenger project". International Rail Journal. 17 May 2017. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
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