Baixada Santista Light Rail

Baixada Santista LRT (VLT da Baixada Santista) is a light rail transit system which operates in 2 cities in the Baixada Santista, state of São Paulo.[3] It is operated by Consórcio BR Mobilidade.[2]

Baixada Santista Light Rail Transit
Vossloh Tramlink V4, train which operates in the system
Overview
Owner Empresa Metropolitana de Transportes Urbanos
Locale
Transit typeLight rail transit
Number of lines1
Number of stations15
Annual ridership7,000,000 passengers (2018)[1]
Websitewww.emtu.sp.gov.br
Operation
Began operation31 January 2016 (2016-01-31)
Operator(s)Consórcio BR Mobilidade[2]
Number of vehicles22
Train length44 m (144 ft)
Headway10 min
Technical
System length11.5 km (7.1 mi)
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
ElectrificationOverhead line
Average speed25 km/h (16 mph)
Top speed70 km/h (43 mph)

It is composed by only one line, which has 15 stations and 11.5 km (7.1 mi) of extension.[4] The system began operating on 31 January 2016. A second stretch of the system, composed by 14 stations and 8 km (5.0 mi) of extension, is in discussion.[5]

Currently, it attends only the cities of Santos and São Vicente, but the cities of Cubatão and Praia Grande are planning future branches of the system.[6][7]

History

The project of Baixada Santista LRT emerged as a way for the Government of São Paulo to reuse the tracks the central area of São Vicente and Santos inherited from FEPASA, which operated in this stretch the Intra Metropolitan Train between 1990 and 1999, and was used for cargo transportation until January 2008.

On 29 May 2013, the construction of the first stretch of the LRT began after a ceremony with Governor Geraldo Alckmin, of President of Legislative Assembly of São Paulo Samuel Moreira, and other authorities. Previously, Alesp had approved a bill that authorized the State Government to contract a loan with financial institutes controlled by the Union, by the cost of R$ 400 million (US$ 185.1 million, as of 2013), so it could be invested in the project of the system.[8]

On 22 May 2014, the first composition of the system arrived in the Port of Santos. The train, made in Valencia, is formed by 3 cars and has capacity up to 400 passengers.[9] On 6 June 2014, Governor Geraldo Alckmin opened the first 5 stations of the LRT system, besides it was not operational: Mascarenhas de Moraes, São Vicente, Antônio Emmerich, Nossa Senhora das Graças and José Monteiro.[10] The first test was made on 30 August 2014 in a stretch of 1 km (0.62 mi), between stations Nossa Senhora das Graças and José Monteiro. Some details and the reaction of the composition were observed by Brazilian and foreign technicians.[11]

On 18 November 2014, the LRT supervised operation began, which consisted of a trip of 10 minutes between stations Antônio Emmerich and Mascarenhas de Moraes. This operation was destinated to students of public and private institutions, groups previously registered and local residents.[12] On 27 April 2015, the precursor operation began, with no charge, between stations Mascarenhas de Moraes and João Ribeiro. In this mode of operation, two composition operated from Mondays to Fridays, between 1PM to 4PM, with average speed of 20 km/h (12 mph) in a stretch of more than 6 km (3.7 mi).[13]

The commercial operation of the system began on 31 January 2016, by charging a unit fare of R$3.80 (US$ 1.09). Between February and April 2016, the system operated daily between 9AM and 4PM.[14] On 10 April, the opening hours were extended, working between 7AM and 7PM, making possible the use of the system during peak hours by workers in Baixada Santista.[15] On 5 March 2017, the opening hours of the LRT were extended again, opening at 5:30AM and closing at 8PM.[16] 52 days later, the closing hour was extended to 11:30PM.[17]

On 15 June 2016, the LRT Operational Control Center (CCO) was opened, located next to Porto rail yard. In the CCO, it's made the control of the operation, of the energy systems, of the electronic movement of the passengers (boarding and exit) and of the security of stations and tracks. In Port rail yard is located the train park, with capacity for up to 33 LRTs, and area for maintenance, train washing equipment, wheel grinding area, depots, administration and energy sub-station.[18]

On 19 June 2016, the LRT began integration with 37 metropolitan bus lines as part of the Metropolitan Integrated System, aiming the restructure of the public transportation in Baixada Santista, providing the commuters more mobility with economy.

References
  1. "Relatório da Administração 2018" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Empresa Metropolitana de Transportes Urbanos de São Paulo. 2018: 2. Retrieved 22 December 2019. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. "Idosos e estudantes devem providenciar o BR CARD" (in Portuguese). BR Mobilidade. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  3. "Empreendimentos" (in Portuguese). Empresa Metropolitana de Transportes Urbano. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  4. "Santos VLT" (in Portuguese). UrbanRail.Net. 2017. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  5. Martins, Maurício (27 September 2019). "Segunda fase do VLT terá desapropriação em Santos" (in Portuguese). A Tribuna. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  6. "Prefeitura de Cubatão pleiteia extensão do VLT na cidade" (in Portuguese). A Tribuna. 4 June 2017. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  7. Marcos, Antonio (3 March 2019). "Extensão do VLT pode beneficiar quase 3 milhões de pessoas em Praia Grande e Litoral Sul" (in Portuguese). A Tribuna. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  8. "VLT entre Santos e São Vicente deve ficar pronto em 12 meses" (in Portuguese). Assembleia Legislativa do Estado de São Paulo. 29 May 2013. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  9. "Primeira composição do VLT chega na Baixada Santista" (in Portuguese). Diário do Litoral. 22 May 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  10. de Castro, João Paulo (6 June 2014). "Alckmin inaugura primeiras estações do VLT em São Vicente, SP" (in Portuguese). G1. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  11. "VLT passa por primeiro teste com viagem por ruas de São Vicente, SP" (in Portuguese). G1. 30 August 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  12. Lobo, Renato (18 November 2014). "[FOTOS] VLT da Baixada Santista inicia operação assistida" (in Portuguese). Via Trólebus. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  13. "VLT começa a operar sem cobrança de tarifas em São Vicente, SP" (in Portuguese). G1. 27 April 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  14. "VLT terá 13 pontos de venda de cartões de embarque na Baixada Santista a partir de 31/01" (in Portuguese). Empresa Metropolitana de Transportes Urbanos. 29 January 2016. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  15. "Funcionamento do VLT entre Santos e São Vicente tem horário estendido" (in Portuguese). Governo do Estado de São Paulo. 8 April 2016. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  16. "A partir deste domingo, VLT tem horário ampliado" (in Portuguese). A Tribuna. 5 March 2017. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  17. "VLT terá horário de funcionamento ampliado a partir de domingo" (in Portuguese). G1. 26 April 2017. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  18. Bazani, Adamo (15 June 2016). "VLT da Baixada Santis tem CCO inaugurado" (in Portuguese). Diário do Transporte. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
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