The federal government is close to starting the gradual resumption of 11,100 kilometers of abandoned tracks in the national railway network. Today, the equivalent of 36% of the country’s railways are abandoned and the current concessionaires will have to compensate the public coffers so that they can renew their contracts.
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More than Half
Data from the National Land Transportation Agency (ANTT), which were compiled by an audit completed by the Federal Court of Auditors (TCU), reveal that, if the situation of total abandonment is added to the stretches of very low use, the conclusion is that more than half (57%) of the national network has a traffic level below one pair of trains (round trip) per day.
Only 17%
Today, railways account for only 17% of the national logistics matrix, while highways support 66% of everything that circulates throughout the country.
Use by the PCC
In early October, the São Paulo Civil Police intercepted a shipment of 216 kg of cocaine in a pulp truck. The seizure occurred near the Jundiaí train station. The operation reinforced suspicions that the First Capital Command (PCC) uses a rail route to avoid road inspections and transport drugs from the interior of São Paulo to the Port of Santos, from where they are sent to Europe.
Analysis:
The abandonment of over one-third of Brazil’s national railway network is a clear consequence of decades of public policies that have favored road transportation at the expense of a once-thriving rail logistics model. This shift began in the 1960s when large highways were prioritized for construction throughout the interior of Brazil, effectively relegating railways to a secondary role in the country’s logistics framework. The outcome of this long-standing trend has been the progressive neglect of the railway infrastructure, leading to a substantial decline in its operational viability and contributing to the financial burdens faced by the aging rail network.
This situation is not only an infrastructural concern but also a significant security issue, as abandoned railways have become attractive routes for criminal organizations. The lack of oversight and maintenance on these tracks has enabled drug trafficking groups to exploit them for illegal activities, including drug transportation. Furthermore, if the government really aims to reactivate and expand the national rail network, it will be necessary to considerably expand the currently neglected the Federal Railroad Police (PFF).
Sources: A Folha de SP [1], [2]; Revista Oeste.
