Alstom announces new contract for expansion of Rio de Janeiro's tramway
Alstom announces new contract for expansion of Rio de Janeiro's tramway
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Expansion of the system in Rio de Janeiro will increase sustainable mobility in the capital and pave the way for future expansions
July 12, 2022 – Alstom signed a contract for the 700-metre double-track expansion of the VLT (tramway) system in Rio de Janeiro, which will offer an integrated terminal connection to a new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system and interconnection with the bus station in the city. The scope of the project includes the extension of the VLT system by about 700 metres in double track, supply of a terminal station (Terminal Gentileza) with four platforms, in addition to the supply of the APS system for the entire stretch (1.4 kilometres), a rectifier substation and adaptation of an existing one and supply for all the signalling along the stretch. The expansion should allow an increase of approximately 40% in the number of passengers, in addition to opening the way for future expansions of the system in the São Cristóvão region, a traditional neighborhood in the north of Rio de Janeiro.
With an intelligent mobility concept, the tram in Rio de Janeiro is powered by APS, a system owned by Alstom that supplies electricity from the ground. It is a system composed of two shoes located at the bottom of the train, and when the vehicle passes through the place where Power Box equipment is installed (about 1,100) the corresponding APS rail segments are energised and the consequent power supply is released to the vehicle. There is also a set of supercapacitors that store and supply energy to the vehicle in places without energising rails or in case of a localised failure, up to the next power point, which eliminates the need for external wires and, consequently, enhances the architecture and city landscape. “The tram allows the city to develop sustainable mobility, in addition to rethinking and modernising urban areas and preserving its architectural heritage,” explains Pierre Bercaire, General Director of Alstom Brasil.
“Alstom celebrates the contributions of the tram to the capital of Rio, knowing that thousands of passengers have their lives improved daily, thanks to this transport system. During this period, we assumed a commitment to the city of Rio de Janeiro and worked to maintain this innovative operation, which generates benefits for people, both residents and tourists who circulate through the city.”
In addition to reducing the environmental impact of the system, the VLT in Rio de Janeiro uses completely renewable energy, with zero CO2 emissions. For Bercaire, the VLT brought more mobility options to the city's population. “Alstom celebrates the contributions of the tram to the capital of Rio, knowing that thousands of passengers have their lives improved daily, thanks to this transport system. During this period, we assumed a commitment to the city of Rio de Janeiro and worked to maintain this innovative operation, which generates benefits for people, both residents and tourists who circulate through the city,” he comments.
The announcement of the new contract takes place at the same time that the VLT in Rio de Janeiro completes six years of operation. Manufactured by Alstom in Taubaté (SP), the Alstom Citadis model for the Rio de Janeiro tramway has already transported more than 88 million people in more than 1 million trips, in a total of 5.5 million kilometres traveled downtown and the Porto Maravilha region, integrating with the city's mobility with subway, suburban trains, buses, ships, ferries and Santos Dumont airport.
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1.4kmAPS ground feeding system
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40%approximate increase in the number of passengers
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88Mpeople transported in more than 1 million trips
Inaugurated for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics (2016), the system is divided between three lines (with 29 stops) and has a fleet of 32 trains with a capacity for 420 passengers each.
Present in Brazil for 67 years, Alstom has been participating in the development of the country's infrastructure, contributing to social progress with respect for the environment.
Dedicated to the rail transport sector, its contribution can be seen in products and services in the main transport operations in the country, such as the São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Porto Alegre, Fortaleza, Recife and Brasília subways, in addition to the VLT in Rio de Janeiro and the implementation of technological solutions for freight transport operators.
