BRAZIL’s National Land Transport Agency (ANTT) has announced public hearings for the renewal of Vale’s concessions to operate the Carajás Railway (EFC) and Vitoria-Minas Railway (EFVM).

THE municipal government of Sorocaba, Brazil, issued a public call for proposals on August 7 seeking companies interested in conducting preliminary reports for the implementation, operation and maintenance of a light rail line in the city.

BRAZIL’s federal government has decided to implement all of the recommendations made by the Court of Auditors of the Union (TCU) regarding the concession for the North-South Railway (FNS), which will now be auctioned on November 1.

THE Brazilian National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) has approved a loan of Reais 2.89bn ($US 760.2m) to Rumo North and Rumo South, subsidiaries of the Cosan Group, for rail and port operations.

THE latest stage of the rollout of Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) on São Paulo’s metro should be installed in 2019, secretary of metropolitan transportation, Mr Clodoaldo Pelissioni, has said.

BRAZIL’s Investment Partnership Programme (PPI) Council confirmed on July 6 the inclusion of two new railways in the government's concessions programme: the Rio - Vitoria line and the northern section of the North-South Railway (FNS).

THE Brazilian state of Ceará has awarded Spanish company Sacyr Engineering and Infrastructure and Brazilian construction company Ferrera Guedes a contract worth Reais 1.47bn ($US 382m) to build Phase 1 of the Eastern Line of the Fortaleza Metro over four years.

THE Brazilian government announced on July 3 that Vale and MRS Logistics will invest in the construction of two new railways in exchange for the early renewal of other concessions currently held by these companies which expire in the next decade.

THE government of the state of Mato Grosso in the centre-west region of Brazil has announced a tender to resume the light rail project in Cuiabá, which was originally due to open in time for the 2014 football World Cup.