The Rio de Janeiro rail system enters a new phase this Saturday (30). After the transition period between the old concessionaire and the new operator, the Nova Via Mobilidade consortium officially takes over the assisted operation of the state rail network, in a model that expands the State Government's participation in the management of services and establishes new quality, maintenance and performance targets.
The change marks the beginning of a gradual recovery process for the railway infrastructure, considered one of the main priorities in the area of urban mobility. As part of the restructuring, the operation will adopt the brand Trens RJ, which will gradually replace the visual identity used until now.
Despite the change in management, passengers will not experience immediate changes to schedules, routes, or station operations. The expectation is that the changes will occur gradually over the coming months, monitored by technical teams from the State Secretariat of Transport and Urban Mobility and the new operator.
According to the state secretary of Transportation and Urban Mobility, Priscila Sakalem, the new phase aims to guarantee greater efficiency and safety for users.
“The railway system is entering a new phase, focusing on greater efficiency, safety, and quality for the more than 300 passengers who use the trains daily. It will be a process of stabilizing the railway and gradual recovery, based on current technical market benchmarks and performance targets,” he stated.
Planned investments
The government plan foresees investments exceeding R$ 600 million over the next five years. The resources will be primarily directed towards the recovery of operational infrastructure, including the replacement of rails, poles and sleepers, the revitalization of transformers, and the modernization of the overhead network.
The investments will be subject to independent auditing to monitor the progress of the works and the execution of the contracts.
The Transportation Department reports that, since the beginning of the transition period, more than R$ 160 million has already been invested in the rail network. Among the results highlighted are reduced intervals, decreased travel time, and the replacement of cables, a measure that has helped to reduce the impact of theft on the network.
New form of management
With the termination of the old concession, the system will now operate under a five-year Permit Contract. This model expands the State's participation in the railway's administration and provides for more rigorous monitoring mechanisms for operational performance.
One of the main changes involves the operator's remuneration. Unlike the previous model, payment will now be calculated based on the mileage traveled by the trains, and no longer on the number of passengers transported. The proposal aims to offer greater operational predictability and is already used in other modes of transport managed by the State.
Railway serves millions of people in Rio de Janeiro state.
Currently, the state rail network has approximately 270 kilometers of track, distributed across five branch lines, three extensions, and 104 stations. The system serves more than 300 passengers daily and connects various regions of the Rio de Janeiro Metropolitan Area.
The government is also considering expanding, in partnership with security forces, actions to combat cable theft and acts of vandalism, problems that have historically affected train circulation and the regularity of journeys.
The expectation is that the new operation will mark the beginning of a gradual recovery of the Rio de Janeiro railway, with structural improvements planned for the coming years and ongoing monitoring by the public authorities.
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