Rio starts tests for first light rail line

With the first two lines serving the central area of Rio de Janeiro to be delivered to the population as of April, before the Olympic Games, Rio local government is now considering expanding its Light Rail Vehicle (LRV) project to the southern districts. The plans were announced by Mayor Eduardo Paes Sunday (Feb. 28), after the first test trip between the port area and the city center, as part of the first stage in the project due to become operational in April. It will link the coach station and the domestic Santos Dumont Airport, stopping at 18 passenger stations.

This Monday (29), the local government is publishing a call for Expression of Interest in the expansion project. “It's a call for potential bidders to qualify for the expansion project. A tender should take place by the end of the year,” said Pedro Paulo Carvalho, Secretary of Government Coordination. He said the preliminary plan is a 23-kilometer connection between the districts Botafogo and Gávea.

The initial expansion designs are expected to require investments of $1 million. “These costs can later be deducted from the bid,” said the secretary, who expects the project should take two years to complete once the execution phase begins.

With each train holding 420 passengers, the LRV service will be able to carry a daily 300,000 passengers at full operation. It will also provide integration with other transport modes including overground trains, subway, ferries, buses, cable cars, as well as taking passengers to the coach station, airport, and cruise terminal.

According to Eduardo Paes, the LRV project will make up for the termination of Rio's tram lines five decades ago. “I hope the LRV can be the beginning of a new era for mobility,” he said.

Translated by Mayra Borges