BRAZILIAN operator Vale has concluded a deal worth Reais 1bn ($US 196m) with Wabtec to deploy its I-ETMS positive train control (PTC) system on the Carajás Railway (EFC) and the Vitória a Minas Railway (EFVM).
EFC is a 892km line from linking the cities of Parauapebas, Pará and São Luís Maranhão in north/northeastern Brazil, while EFVM runs for 905km from Espírito Santo to Belo Horizonte in the southeast of the country. Vale operates freight services on both routes and Wabtec says these are the country’s only two main lines where regular passenger services operate.
The lines are already among the safest railways in Brazil according to the criteria established by Brazil’s National Land Transportation Agency (ANTT). The introduction of PTC will enable real-time operational management, automatic intervention under risk conditions, and mitigation of critical operational events.
The project will be implemented in phases over the next five years and includes integration with onboard systems and existing infrastructure, ensuring an efficient and safe transition to the new operational standard.
“The continuous strengthening of our safety culture and operational excellence is one of the pillars of Vale’s future strategy,” says Carlos Medeiros, Vale’s executive vice-president of operations.
“The adoption of this railway management technology reinforces our commitment to using innovation as a lever for an increasingly safer, more modern, and efficient operation across our integrated logistics chain.”
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