BRAZIL: The Inter-American Development Bank announced a US$481m loan to the state of São Paulo for improvements to metro Line 5 on March 10. The loan has a 25-year term, with a four and a half years grace period and a LIBOR-based interest rate.
The IDB funds will be used to renovate the fleet of eight six-car trains currently working the 9·4 km six-station 1 435 mm gauge line, opened in 2002, and to upgrade existing E&M equipment, including telecommunications and power supply.
The state of São Paulo will finance a 12 km 11-station extension of Line 5 from the existing terminus at Largo 13 to Chácara Klabin, providing interchange to Line 2. A fleet of 26 six-car trains, CBTC signalling and platform screen doors will also be required.
The extension will improve accessibility from southern districts to the central area, reducing travel time by around 54 min. The signalling upgrade is expected to reduce the headway from 5 min to 2 min.
CPTM is currently procuring new trains for São Paulo’s suburban network. IBRD is part-financing the purchase of nine eight-car trains for Line 11, bids for which were submitted in February.
CPTM has reportedly awarded a R$4·9bn contract to CAF to supply 36 trains, including maintenance for 20 years, for Line 8. CAF already has orders from CPTM for 48 suburban trainsets, which will be supplied from its R$150m plant at Hortolândia, which opened in January.
