Transport in Brazil explained

Transport infrastructure in Brazil is characterized by strong regional differences and lack of development of the national rail network.[1] Brazil's fast-growing economy, and especially the growth in exports, will place increasing demands on the transport networks.[2] However, sizeable new investments that are expected to address some of the issues are either planned or in progress.[2] [3] It is common to travel domestically by air because the price is low.[4] Brazil has the second highest number of airports in the world, after the USA.[5]

Railways

See main article: Rail transport in Brazil.

The Brazilian railway network has an extension of about 30000km (20,000miles). It is basically used for transporting ores.[5] Usually, the railway sector was treated in a secondary way in Brazil, due to logistical, economic or political difficulties to install more railways.

The Brazilian railroad system had a great expansion between 1875 and 1920. The heyday of the railway modal was interrupted during the Getúlio Vargas government, which prioritized the road modal. In the 1940s, the railway network was already facing several problems, from low-powered locomotives to uneconomical layouts. In 1957, a state-owned company was created, the National Railroad Network (RFFSA), which started to manage 18 railroads in the Union. Several deficit railways were closed under the promise of state investment in new projects, which did not happen. The actions were centralized in the government until the opening of the market in 1990. So, the National Privatization Plan was instituted, with dozens of concessions being made. However, they ended up concentrating the railways, mainly, in three large business groups, América Latina Logística (ALL), Vale S.A. and MRS Logística. The refurbishment generated an increase in productivity (cargoes transported increased by 30% with the same railway line). However, the main problem was that the reform not only gave away the railway line, but also geographical exclusivity. This resulted in the non-creation of competitive incentives for the expansion and renewal of the existing network. With the State maintaining the opening of new railways a difficult, slow and bureaucratic process, as it maintains the total monopoly of power over this sector, the railways did not expand any further in the country, and the sector was very outdated.[6] [7]

In 2021, a New Framework for Railways was created, allowing the construction of railways by authorization, as occurs in the exploration of infrastructure in sectors such as telecommunications, electricity and ports. It's also possible to authorize the exploration of stretches not implemented, idle, or in the process of being returned or deactivated. With the change of rules in the sector, in December 2021, there were already requests to open 15000km (9,000miles) of new tracks, in 64 requests for implementation of new railways. Nine new railroads had already been authorized by the Federal Government, in 3506km (2,179miles) of new tracks.[8] [9] [10]

Broad gauge

4,932 km gauge (939 km electrified)

Narrow gauge

23,341 km gauge (24 km electrified)

Dual gauge

396 km 1000 mm and 1600 mm gauges (three rails)

Standard gauge

194 km gauge (2014)

Metros and light rail transit (combined)

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Railway links with adjacent countries

International rail links exist between Brazil and Argentina, Bolivia and Uruguay.

Tramways

Brazil had a hundred tramway systems.[27] Currently, there are vintage tramways operating in Belém, Campinas, Campos do Jordão, Itatinga, Rio de Janeiro and Santos.[28] [29] [30] [31] [32] [33]

Highways

See main article: Brazilian Highway System.

Brazil has more than 1720700km (1,069,200miles) of roads, of which 213452km (132,633miles) are paved (12,4%), and about 17000km (11,000miles) are divided highways, 6300km (3,900miles) only in the State of São Paulo. Currently it is possible to travel from Rio Grande, in the extreme south of the country, to Brasília (2580km (1,600miles)) or Casimiro de Abreu, in the state of Rio de Janeiro (2045km (1,271miles)), only on divided highways. The total of paved roads increased from 35,496 km (22,056 mi) in 1967 to 215,000 km (133,595 mi) in 2018.[34] The two most important highways in the country are BR-101 and BR-116.[35]

Although Brazil has the largest duplicated road network in Latin America, it's considered insufficient for the country's needs: in 2021, it was calculated that the ideal amount of duplicated roads would be something around from 35000km (22,000miles) to 42000km (26,000miles). The main road axes also have problems because they often have inadequate geometry and constructive characteristics that don't allow quality long-distance flow (non-interference from local traffic and high speed). The Brazilian Federal Government has never implemented a National Highway Plan at the same level as developed countries such as the USA, Japan or European countries, which specifically aimed at inter-regional travel, and which should preferably be served by highways (which would differ from the common duplicated highways by geometric pattern, access control without access to neighboring lots, zero level crossings and returns, prohibition of circulation of non-motorized vehicles such as cyclists, animal traction or human propulsion, as per the Vienna Convention). The Brazilian State, despite some planning efforts, has been guided by a reactive action to the increase in demand (only duplicating some roads with old and inadequate layout) and not by a purposeful vision, directing occupation and economic density in the territory. Another problem is the lack of directing the Union Budget towards infrastructure works: in Brazil there is no law that guarantees funds from the Federal Budget for works on highways and other modes of transport (unlike what happens in sectors such as Education and Health), depending exclusively on the goodwill of the rulers. In the US, for example, the gasoline tax can only be used for transport infrastructure works. Brazil even invested 1.5% of the country's budget in infrastructure in the 1970s, being the time when the most investment was made in highways; but in the 1990s, only 0.1% of the budget was invested in this sector, maintaining an average of 0.5% in the 2000s and 2010, insufficient amounts for the construction of an adequate road network. For comparative purposes, the average investment of the USA and the European Union was 1% between 1995 and 2013, even though they already have a much more advanced road infrastructure than Brazil.[36] [37]

The country has a medium rate of car ownership of 471 per 1000 people,[38] however in comparison to the other developing economies of the BRIC group Brazil exceeds India and China.

The country still has several states where paved access to 100% of the state's municipalities has not yet been reached. Some states have 100% of cities with asphalt access, such as Santa Catarina, which reached this goal in 2014;[39] Paraíba, which reached this goal in 2017,[40] and Alagoas, which reached this goal in 2021 [41] In states like Rio Grande do Sul, in 2020, there were still 54 cities without asphalt access.[42] In Paraná, in 2021, there were still 4 cities without asphalt access.[43] In Minas Gerais, in 2016, there were still 5 cities without asphalt access.[44]

Waterways

50,000 km navigable (most in areas remote from industry or population) (2012)

Among the main Brazilian waterways, two stand out: Hidrovia Tietê-Paraná (which has a length of 2,400 km, 1,600 on the Paraná River and 800 km on the Tietê River, draining agricultural production from the states of Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Goiás and part of Rondônia, Tocantins and Minas Gerais) and Hidrovia do Solimões-Amazonas (it has two sections: Solimões, which extends from Tabatinga to Manaus, with approximately 1600 km, and Amazonas, which extends from Manaus to Belém, with 1650 km. Almost entirely passenger transport from the Amazon plain is done by this waterway, in addition to practically all cargo transportation that is directed to the major regional centers of Belém and Manaus). In Brazil, this transport is still underutilized: the most important waterway stretches, from an economic point of view, are found in the Southeast and South of the country. Its full use still depends on the construction of locks, major dredging works and, mainly, of ports that allow intermodal integration.[45] [46] [47]

Pipelines

Seaports and harbors

The busiest port in the country, and the 2nd busiest in all of Latin America, losing only to the Port of Colón, is the Port of Santos. Other high-movement ports are the Port of Rio de Janeiro, Port of Paranaguá, Port of Itajaí, Port of Rio Grande, Port of São Francisco do Sul and Suape Port.[48]

Atlantic Ocean

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Amazon river

Paraguay River (international water way)

Merchant marine

770 ships ((or over) totaling /

ships by type: (1999, 2019 and 2021 est.)[49]

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Airports

See also: List of airports in Brazil and List of the busiest airports in Brazil.

The country has the second largest number of airports in the world, behind only the United States. São Paulo/Guarulhos, is the largest and busiest in the country. Brazil has 37 international airports,[50] such as those in Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, Belo Horizonte, Porto Alegre, Florianópolis, Cuiabá, Salvador, Recife, Fortaleza, Belém and Manaus, among others.

Most international flights must go to São Paulo–Guarulhos International Airport or Rio de Janeiro–Galeão International Airport. Belo Horizonte is the main international airport outside Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. A few go to Brasília, Recife, Natal, and just recently Fortaleza has accepted international flights.

As of 2020, Brazil had the eighth largest passenger air market in the world.[51]

Airports - with paved runways

Airports - with unpaved runways

Main airlines

See main article: List of airlines of Brazil.

Heliports

See also

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Logistics in Brazil - DHL Logistik. dead. https://archive.today/20120724063352/http://www.dhl-discoverlogistics.com/cms/en/course/trends/america/brazil.jsp. 2012-07-24.
  2. Web site: Welcome to Invest in Canada | Bienvenue au site Investir au Canada . 2012-09-22 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120922065731/http://www.ic.gc.ca/scdt/bizmap/interface2.nsf/vDownload/ISA_3976/$file/X_9317614.PDF . 2012-09-22 .
  3. http://www.bsdlive.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=3130466 Home page | The world's leading construction web site
  4. Web site: Travelling in Brazil - Transportation: Air, bus, car.... 2020-10-13. www.aboutbrasil.com. 2020-11-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20201127015431/http://www.aboutbrasil.com/modules/brazil-brasil/travel_about_brazil.php?hoofd=1&sub=1&art=10. dead.
  5. Brazil. 26 December 2021. 2021.
  6. Web site: Por que o Brasil quase não tem ferrovias e como mudar isso. 2021-12-30. 2021-12-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20211230003913/https://ideiasradicais.com.br/por-que-o-brasil-quase-nao-tem-ferrovias-e-como-mudar-isso/. dead.
  7. Web site: Por que o Brasil não investe em ferrovias? E por que deveria investir. 8 May 2018.
  8. Web site: Sancionado novo marco legal do transporte ferroviário.
  9. Web site: Governo Federal abre Setembro Ferroviário com 10 pedidos para novas ferrovias e previsão de R$ 53 bilhões em novos investimentos.
  10. Web site: Em dia de sanção do novo Marco Legal das Ferrovias, Pro Trilhos alcança 64 requerimentos e ultrapassa R$ 180 bilhões em investimentos projetados.
  11. Web site: 21 December 2020. Extensão das linhas principais e ramais por concessionária. 26 December 2021. Confederação Nacional do Transporte.
  12. Web site: VLT do Cariri. 26 December 2021. Metrô de Fortaleza. pt-BR.
  13. Web site: VLT de Sobral. 26 December 2021. Metrô de Fortaleza. pt-BR.
  14. Web site: 20 July 2020. Malha Viária: Belo Horizonte. dead. 26 December 2021. Companhia Brasileira de Trens Urbanos - CBTU. pt. 7 February 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190207072302/https://www.cbtu.gov.br/index.php/pt/sistemas-cbtu/belo-horizonte.
  15. Web site: 1 June 2021. Malha Viária: João Pessoa. 26 December 2021. Companhia Brasileira de Trens Urbanos - CBTU. pt.
  16. Web site: 20 July 2020. Malha Viária: Maceió. 26 December 2021. Companhia Brasileira de Trens Urbanos - CBTU. pt.
  17. Web site: Quem Somos. 26 December 2021. CCR Metrô Bahia. pt.
  18. Web site: 20 October 2021. Estrutura Raio-x. 26 December 2021. Companhia do Metropolitano do Distrito Federal. pt.
  19. Web site: Estações e Sistema. 26 December 2021. Empresa de Trens Urbanos de Porto Alegre - Trensurb. pt.
  20. Web site: Sistema metroviário. 26 December 2021. Metrô de Fortaleza. pt-BR.
  21. Web site: March 2019. Malha Viária: Natal. 26 December 2021. Companhia Brasileira de Trens Urbanos - CBTU. pt.
  22. Web site: Malha Viária: Recife. 26 December 2021. Companhia Brasileira de Trens Urbanos - CBTU. pt.
  23. Web site: Corporate Profile. dead. 26 December 2021. MetroRio. pt. 26 December 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211226232723/http://metrorio.ri.invepar.com.br/en/corporate-profile/.
  24. Web site: Veículo Leve Sobre Trilhos - VLT. 26 December 2021. Prefeitura da Cidade do Rio de Janeiro. pt.
  25. Web site: QUEM SOMOS. dead. 26 December 2021. MetroSP. pt. 27 April 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180427193252/http://www.metro.sp.gov.br/metro/institucional/quem-somos/index.aspx.
  26. Web site: Empreendimentos - VLT da Baixada Santista - Veículo Leve sobre Trilhos. 26 December 2021. Empresa Metropolitana de Transportes Urbanos de São Paulo - EMTU/SP. pt.
  27. Web site: INTRODUCTION. www.tramz.com. 2007-01-16. 2008-07-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20080723172125/http://www.tramz.com/br/tto/1.html. dead.
  28. Web site: The Tramways of Belém. www.tramz.com. 2007-08-01. 2009-05-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20090502084627/http://www.tramz.com/br/be/be50.html. dead.
  29. Web site: The Tramways of Campinas. www.tramz.com. 2007-08-01. 2009-09-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20090918072908/http://www.tramz.com/br/cp/pp.html. dead.
  30. Web site: Campos do Jordão. www.tramz.com. 2007-08-01. 2009-03-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20090304204649/http://www.tramz.com/br/cj/cj.html. dead.
  31. Web site: CODESP hydroelectric complex (Brazil). www.tramz.com. 2007-08-01. 2010-05-31. https://web.archive.org/web/20100531010436/http://www.tramz.com/br/it/it.html. dead.
  32. Web site: THE SANTA TERESA TRAMWAY. www.tramz.com. 2007-08-01. 2009-05-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20090504060014/http://www.tramz.com/br/rj/st/st.html. dead.
  33. Web site: THE SCOTTISH TRAMS OF SANTOS. www.tramz.com. 2007-08-01. 2010-05-31. https://web.archive.org/web/20100531011107/http://www.tramz.com/br/ss/st.html. dead.
  34. Web site: Anuário CNT do Transporte 2021. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://anuariodotransporte.cnt.org.br/2021/File/PrincipaisDados.pdf . 2022-10-09 . live. 26 December 2021. CNT. 11.
  35. Web site: Anuário CNT do transporte 2018.
  36. Web site: Proposta para uma rede brasileira de autoestradas. Silvio Barbosa da Silva Júnior. 29 December 2021.
  37. Web site: INFRAESTRUTURA RODOVIÁRIA NO BRASIL: PARA ONDE VAMOS?. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.bain.com/contentassets/7e48e0824a0e4f2ba4542d36c130cef1/infraestrutura-rodoviaria-no-brasil-para-onde-vamos_pt.pdf . 2022-10-09 . live. Fernando Martins, Ricardo Lourenço e Ignacia Oliver. 29 December 2021.
  38. Web site: Taxa de motorização no Brasil: veja o aumento em 20 anos. 26 December 2021. pt.
  39. Web site: Santa Catarina tem, agora, acesso asfaltado a todas as 295 cidades. Governo de Santa Catarina. 30 December 2021. 30 December 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211230125049/https://www.sc.gov.br/noticias/temas/transportes-e-estradas/santa-catarina-tem-agora-acesso-asfaltado-a-todas-as-295-cidades. dead.
  40. Web site: Ricardo entrega estrada de Carrapateira e decreta fim do isolamento asfáltico na Paraíba. Governo da Paraíba. 30 December 2021. 30 December 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211230132642/https://sine.pb.gov.br/der/noticias/ricardo-entrega-estrada-de-carrapateira-e-decreta-fim-do-isolamento-asfaltico-na-paraiba. dead.
  41. Web site: Com entrega de rodovia em Pindoba, Alagoas bate meta de asfaltar 100% dos acessos aos municípios. Correio dos Municipios. 30 December 2021. 30 December 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211230132633/https://www.correiodosmunicipios-al.com.br/2021/08/com-entrega-de-rodovia-em-pindoba-alagoas-bate-meta-de-asfaltar-100-dos-acessos-aos-municipios/. dead.
  42. Web site: No RS, 54 municípios ainda não têm acesso asfáltico e sofrem com poeira, buracos e dificuldades econômicas. RBS. 30 December 2021.
  43. Web site: Quatro cidades do Paraná não têm acessos por rodovias estaduais asfaltadas; moradores enfrentam lama e transtornos. G1 Globo. 30 December 2021.
  44. Web site: Moradores de cidades sem ligação asfáltica vivem isolados por lama e poeira. Estadão. 30 December 2021.
  45. Web site: Hidrovias como alternativa para o transporte de etanol.
  46. Web site: Hidrovia Tietê Paraná.
  47. Web site: Hidrovia do Solimões.
  48. Web site: Port Activity of Latin America and the Caribbean 2018.
  49. Web site: Frota registrada na navegação de cabotagem e de longo curso por tipo de embarcação. 26 December 2021. Confederação Nacional do Transporte.
  50. Web site: 12 July 2018. Lista de aeroportos Internacionais - 2018. 26 December 2021. Confederação Nacional do Transporte - Anuário 2021. pt. xlsx.
  51. World Bank Datebase, http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/IS.AIR.PSGR