September 12, 2006 was a great day for the city of Jaguariúna  (state of São Paulo); for the first time after decades a train  reached the old station in the downtown area! See text below.  Photo Carlos R. Almeida, Jaguariúna, Brasil

FLB is organising a study trip in the autumn of 2007 and the region visited will be southern Brasil. The following railways will be visited: Campinas - Jaguariúna; tramways in São Paulo, Itatinga and Santos; Campos de Jordão; Serra Verde Express Curitiba - Morretes; Paranapiacaba; Marcelino Ramos - Piratuba; Trem do Vinho; Rio Negrinho - Rio Natal; Tubarão; also the suburban trains of São Paulo and Porto Alegre, funicular Monte Serrat and more. The trips starts on November 02, 2007 and takes 3 weeks. The detailed programme and the price will be fixed shortly; it can already be requested from at info@fahrplancenter.com or info@cometreisen.ch . It will be sent as soon as it is completed.
 

About 30 years ago FEPASA, the state railway of São Paulo, rebuilt the former Mogiana line from Campinas towards the north on a completely new alignment in order to lift the tracks in the populated areas of Campinas and its northern neighbouring towns. At that time the measure was greatly applauded; and the city of Jaguariúna even proceeded to remove the viaduct over Avenida Marginal. When some years later the ABPF (Brazilian Association for the preservation of railway history) started to operate steam trains from the Anhumas station in Campinas, the route plates always indicated Jaguariúna as final destination, but in fact the trains stopped at Carlos Gomez, a station 1,5 km south of Jaguariúna. There was little hope to ever reach the "true" Jaguariúna station. With the general opinion about railways changing - they are not seen as a mere obstacle anymore - it happened that the city of Jaguariúna spent BRR1,8 Million to rebuild the entire 600 m long viaduct in a modern style and to re-establish the track to the old station. The water tower and the turntable were fixed as well. Of course, this serves the ABPF steam trains which run every weekend between Campinas/Anhumas and Jaguariúna, but the city intends to go beyond this: As there are many people working close to Anhumas station, the city thinks of introducing daily local passenger traffic, possibly managed by the ABPF, in order to ease road traffic. But until this happens, the "Maria-Fumaça" is the queen of the track… On September 12 the first trip took place (see picture) and as from October 6, 2006 all trains will run as far as the old Jaguariúna station. The steam trains are very popular; full trains with 8 to 12 coaches are usual.

ABPF continues

After a successful trial period ABPF was granted the definite license to operate the steam train Marcelino Ramos - Piratuba. The first 24 months of each new operation are being monitored very closely by the federal regulator ANTT. Rolling stock and track must be in good condition, insurance coverage has to be proven and operations must be reliable. When all conditions are fulfilled the definitive operation license will be granted. In this case, the license entitles ABPF "to operate a non-daily passenger train between Marcelino Ramos and Piratuba". This service originates from a FLB recommendation not to close the Marcelino Ramos - União da Vitória line (Contestado line), but to keep it open for traffic.

And one more ABPF operation!

At Paranapiacaba, the top end of the famous incline between São Paulo and Santos, a little tourist train consisting of a steam locomotive and a coach started its operation in mid-2006. The trips visit the track yard of the Paranapiacaba station with its landmark clock tower and run each weekend. As the New Serra incline may be converted to a belt conveyer to carry iron ore to Santos, the cable operation on the uppermost section may be threatened. Be sure to visit this place soon. It can be reached by the electric suburban line D of CPTM from São Paulo as far as Rio Grande da Serra, and from there by bus.

Mariana - Ouro Preto

This tourist train operated by FCA has become very popular. Despite the fact that the steam locomotive had to be withdrawn from service for a couple of weeks in order to perform some repair work and a diesel engine from FCA replaced it as motive power, the service obviously wasn’t less attractive. The second steam locomotive is still being worked on at Tubarão and only when this one is transferred to Ouro Preto an all-year-round steam season will be possible.

Morretes - Antonina

On the weekend of September 16/17, 2006 the official reopening of the Morretes - Antonina line for passenger traffic was celebrated. The Paraná division of ABPF is in charge of the operation featuring trips with a 1938 MAN diesel railcar ("Litorina"). Travel time from the highland town of Morretes to the port of Morretes is about 45 minutes. Trains run each Saturday and Sunday and on all local and national holidays with departures from Morretes at 11h30 and 15h30 whilst they depart from Antonina at 09h30 and 13h30. Single fare is BRR11 and return fare BRR17. It may well be that on days with heavy demand a trailer will be added to the railcar or even a train with locomotive and coaches will operate. The trial period for this service lasts until the end of 2008 and then the definite license will be granted by the regulator ANTT.

Trem do Cariri

The contracts for the modernisation of the 13 km long line Crato - Juázeiro do Norte were signed on September 19. With about 320’000 inhabitants it is the second biggest metropolitan area in the state of Ceará, after Fortaleza. The plans to extend the line for passenger traffic started some time ago. The budget is BRR13,5 Millions of which BRR12 Millions are already available. The major part is funded by the state of Ceará, but also the cities contribute financially. The  line mentioned is not being used by freight trains and the passengers shall be carried in railcars. Calls for bids have already been issued.

In a second step also the lines Juázeiro do Norte - Missão Velha (this one used by CFN freight trains) and Juázeiro do Norte - Barbalha should be prepared for passenger trains. On the line to Barbalha missing rail must be replaced.

Now also on Sundays

The suburban trains of Maceió and Salvador have extended their service to Sundays and holidays.

In Maceió, the first of those trips were scheduled on the state of Alagoas anniversary days and they proved to be a full success. With only one daily round-trip more than 2’000 passengers were carried per day! It was "discovered" that the people of the inland towns like Satuba and Rio Largo prefer to travel by train to the beaches of Maceió on Sundays as the train fare is BRR0,70 and the bus fare over BRR2. For the time being, trains run on regional holidays and on Sundays during school holidays leaving from Lourenço de Albuquerque at 07h00 and at 16h00 from Maceió.

After some trips on holidays, there is now scheduled Sunday and holiday traffic on the Salvador suburban line to Paripe. Trips run about hourly from 07h00 until 19h00 and a more dense traffic will be offered as from 2007 when 3 second-hand EMU’s from São Paulo and 5 renovated trains of its own rolling stock will be available. 
   

The (re-)openings continue!
 
In Mexico repair work started on the line from Oaxaca to Puebla. Although there is no potential for freight, the line has to be repaired and reopened for passenger traffic (at least its southern section) as the villages along the line remain without connection to the outside world as long as the train does not run. The work is in part financed by the federal government of Mexico.