C2 Mobilidade awarded $US2.86bn São Paulo InterCity Train Contract

(Representative Image)

Sao Paulo, Brazil (Urban Transport News): The C2 Mobilidade Sobre Trilhos consortium has successfully won the public-private partnership (PPP) contract for the North Axis of the InterCity Train (TIC) project in São Paulo, Brazil. This project, the first of its kind in Brazil, focuses on upgrading the 101km São Paulo - Campinas line for express passenger services. C2 Mobilidade Sobre Trilhos was the sole bidder for the concession contract, which was awarded by the state of São Paulo through an auction held at the B3 stock exchange on February 29.

The consortium, consisting of Comporte Participações, Guide Investimentos, and CRRC Hong Kong (responsible for supplying rolling stock), will be in charge of upgrading infrastructure, operations, and maintenance for 30 years. They will retain revenue from ticket sales. The total investment for the project is estimated at Reais 14.2 billion ($US 2.86 billion), with the São Paulo state government providing Reais 8.98 billion and Brazil's National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) approving funding of Reais 6.4 billion to support public investment.

The North Axis upgrade is anticipated to be completed in 2031. Express TIC services will cover the 101km distance between Palmeiras-Barra Funda station in São Paulo and a new station in Campinas in 1 hour and 4 minutes, with one intermediate stop at Jundiaí. The fleet will consist of 15 1600-mm gauge TIC EMUs, each accommodating up to 860 passengers, and operating at speeds of up to 140km/h.

The project also includes the operation of the InterMetropolitan Train (TIM) service from 2029, covering 44km from Jundiaí to Campinas with intermediate stops in Louveira, Vinhedo, and Valinhos. Seven TIM EMUs will each have a capacity for up to 2048 passengers. As the TIC concessionaire, C2 will also operate Line 7/Ruby of the São Paulo Metropolitan Trains (CPTM) commuter network, serving 17 stations over the 57km from Palmeiras-Barra Funda to Jundiaí. The Line 7 fleet of 30 EMUs will be transferred to TIC.

The combined operation of TIC, TIM, and Line 7 is expected to carry a total of 550,000 passengers in the first year, with a projected increase over the term of the concession. The São Paulo state government highlights that the North Axis project will benefit 15 million people in 11 municipalities and generate over 10,500 direct, indirect, and induced jobs.

São Paulo state governor, Tarcísio de Freitas, emphasized the significance of the project, describing it as emblematic, innovative, and cutting-edge, contributing to mobility improvements and ushering in a new cycle of investments in railway infrastructure and passenger transport.