Paes inaugurates light rail tram in the city center.

Paulo Virgílio

Half a century after its extinction in practically the entire city – only those serving the Santa Teresa neighborhood survived – the tram returns to Rio de Janeiro, in a modern and technologically advanced version.

Inaugurated this Sunday (5) by Mayor Eduardo Paes, the Light Rail Vehicle (VLT) will operate progressively on its first line, which connects Novo Rio Bus Station to Santos Dumont Airport, until the 30th, so that the population gets used to the circulation of trams in the port area and in the city center.

The Rodoviária-Santos Dumont line has 18 kilometers of track, 17 stops, and one station. During the first month, an adaptation period, there will be no fare charged, and the light rail will transport passengers from Monday to Friday, from 12 pm to 15 pm, with boarding and disembarking at eight stops in both directions: Parada dos Museus (at Praça Mauá), São Bento, Candelária, Sete de Setembro, Carioca, Cinelândia, Antônio Carlos, and Santos Dumont.

The forecast is that the entire first line will be in commercial operation on July 1st. The fare, R$ 3,80, is the same as for buses. Users of other modes of transport can use the Bilhete Único Carioca (Rio de Janeiro's integrated transport card) to complete their journey on the VLT (light rail), provided this is done within a two-hour period. As there will be no fare collector, the user must validate their ticket in the equipment installed in each train.

“On World Environment Day, this is a vehicle that represents the future of the city: non-polluting, silent, it takes cars off the streets, in other words, it's everything we want that's most modern for Rio de Janeiro,” said Mayor Eduardo Paes in a press interview before boarding the train named after the writer João do Rio (1881-1921) at the Utopia AquaRio stop. 

According to the mayor, the light rail system is a mobility effort inspired by the Olympics, but it is not part of the city's commitments for hosting the games. "The light rail system integrates all modes of transportation in the city and changes the face of downtown Rio. It's an effort to reclaim the city center as an area where people come, frequent, enjoy, and where, in the future, they may also live."

Paes said he hopes tourists will take advantage of the light rail to explore the city's historic downtown area. “There's a route here of beautiful cultural centers, buildings, and churches. Brazil's formation began in downtown Rio: the Portuguese royal family arrived here. For those coming from São Paulo via the air shuttle, the light rail arriving at Santos Dumont Airport will allow them to intensely enjoy the city center.”

At the next stop, the Museums stop, Paes got off the train and unveiled the commemorative plaque for the inauguration, alongside samba singer Tia Surica, from the Old Guard of Portela. Afterwards, he boarded another train, named after the legendary samba pioneer Tia Ciata (1854-1924).

At the Carioca parade, to the sound of the Portela samba school's drums, the mayor inaugurated the public promenade on Avenida Rio Branco, a new leisure area spanning 14 square meters (m²) and 600 meters in length, closed to traffic except for the VLT (light rail). The area now features 35 trees, 1.620 m² of green spaces, as well as bicycle racks, benches, and new public lighting.

Adaptation 

During the adaptation period, the city government's main concern is the complete safety of passengers and the coexistence between pedestrians, vehicles, and the light rail vehicle (LRV). "Pedestrians need to be attentive, as the train is silent. Trains will run at very short intervals. Pedestrians, when crossing the street, must now remember the presence of the LRV, just as drivers must respect intersections," said the Municipal Secretary of Transportation, Rafael Picciani.

The secretary recalled that, since March, an educational campaign has been underway, in partnership with the consortium operating the Light Rail Vehicle, under the name of Keep an eye on the light rail.The campaign occupies streets, social media, mobile media, and radio, and includes the distribution of 50 stickers, 250 leaflets, as well as the installation of 22 billboards and... displays along the city center and the port area.

According to Picciani, initially, there will be motorcycle escorts ahead of the trains to reinforce pedestrian awareness. "However, the population will soon have the light rail running 24 hours a day, with very short intervals, and needs to get used to it," warned the secretary.

Powered by electricity, Rio de Janeiro's light rail system eliminates the need for overhead wiring, unlike similar vehicles operating in cities around the world. This innovative technology, already used in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, involves capturing energy through a third rail installed between the train's running tracks.

By the end of the year, the second line, connecting the ferry station at Praça Quinze to Central do Brasil, should be operational. The third line, which will run along Avenida Marechal Floriano from Central to the junction with the first line at Avenida Rio Branco, should be implemented in 2017.

The implementation of the system cost R$ 1,157 billion, with R$ 532 million in federal funds from the Growth Acceleration Program (PAC) for Mobility, and R$ 625 million through a public-private partnership (PPP) with the Rio de Janeiro city government.

A specialist in the history of Rio de Janeiro and present on the inaugural trip, Professor Milton Teixeira believes that the VLT (light rail) restores to the people of Rio the pleasure of observing the city center.

“It’s all glass-enclosed, allowing the user to enjoy the scenery. And you’ll be able to do what João do Rio, who gives his name to this train, has been advocating for 110 years: to travel carefree through the city, appreciating its beauty, getting to know the places. Because you can only love what you know,” said the historian.