The Senate approved, on Tuesday (12), a bill which changes Brazilian railroad structure. The bill also turns Valec Engineering, Constructions and Railway into a public company, which will manage some national railways.

The rapporteur of the bill in the Senate, senator Valdir Raupp (PMDB-RO), highlighted the benefits that the it might generate, among them the extension of the North-South railway to the city of Panorama (SP); the connection between railways and ports in Santa Catarina; and the possibility of building high speed trains between the most populous Brazilian cities.

Raupp showed satisfaction about the railways that will be controlled by Valec: EF-167, from Panorama (SP) to Porto Murtinho (MS), covering a distance of 750 kilometers; EF-334, connecting Ilhéus (BA) to Alvorada (TO), totaling 1.5 thousand kilometers; and EF-354, 4.4 thousand kilometers long, located between Rio de Janeiro’s coast and the border with Peru.

The rapporteur highlighted the new configuration of the connection to the Pacific Ocean. According to his proposal, this connection would have a common section, starting from the border with Peru and including the towns of Cruzeiro do Sul (AC), Rio Branco (AC), Vilhena (RO) and Lucas do Rio Verde (MT), where it would have a point of bifurcation – one rout would be incorporated to EF-334, heading to Ilhéus; the other would go all the way to the north coast of the state of Rio de Janeiro.

Raupp also modified the 6th article of the bill. With the modification, Valec will be allowed to build and use the railways.

Senators Alvaro Dias (PSDB-PR) and Heráclito Fortes (DEM-PI) opposed the bill, saying that it will never progress. Senator Gim Argello (PTB-DF) supported Raupp’s idea of including Brasilia in EF-354, while senator Flexa Riberio (PSDB-PA) praised the inclusion of Barcarena (PA) among the towns benefited by the North-South Railway.