Transnordestina railway expected to reach Port of Pecém in 2027, says concession executive

The Transnordestina Railway, managed by the concessionaire TLSN (Transnordestina Logística S.A.), is expected to reach the Port of Pecém (CE) in the second half of 2027, marking a new chapter for cargo transport in Brazil’s Northeast. The first phase of commissioned operations is scheduled to begin later this October, with test runs of soybeans, corn, soybean meal, and limestone between Bela Vista do Piauí (PI) and Iguatu (CE).

Alex Augusto Sanches Trevisan, Commercial and Terminal Director at Transnordestina, told Transporte Moderno during the 2025 SAE Brazil Congress that the goal of this phase is to test the infrastructure, rolling stock, and cargo flow in preparation for full-scale operations. “The commissioning will take place at the Bela Vista and Iguatu terminals, primarily serving feed and poultry operations in a region with a significant dairy herd,” Trevisan explained.

The 1,750-kilometer railway will feature six terminals, with two already under construction and the remaining four to be defined. Among them are Eliseu Martins, in Piauí — confirmed for operation and serving regional grain demand; Trindade, in Pernambuco — focused on the gypsum hub, handling agricultural gypsum and gypsum rock; Xerémubim, in Ceará — a private project currently in the licensing stage; and the NELOG Port Terminal in Pecém (PSEM), which will handle minerals, grains, fertilizers, and general cargo.

Trevisan noted that “the railway will also be able to transport other commodities, such as fuel, fruit, and corn derivatives, increasing total cargo volumes and making rail transport more competitive within Brazil’s logistics network.”

R$15 billion in investments
The Transnordestina project involves R$15 billion in investments, including R$4.4 billion from the federal government. Part of the financing comes from the Northeast Development Fund (FDNE), which plans to disburse up to R$1 billion per year through 2027, ensuring completion of the first phase and the railway’s arrival at the Port of Pecém.

According to Eduardo Tavares, secretary for financial funds and instruments at the Ministry of Integration and Regional Development (MIDR), reaching Pecém will “create a new logistics scale, enabling further expansion opportunities, such as integration with the Port of Suape in Pernambuco and the North-South Railway.”

The Transnordestina is expected to transform regional logistics by reducing transport costs and travel times for producers of grains, gypsum, fruit, and petroleum derivatives. The project is estimated to generate an annual economic growth of approximately R$7 billion across the semi-arid Northeast, working in synergy with irrigation and water security projects, such as the São Francisco River Transposition.

With its arrival at the Port of Pecém, Transnordestina is poised to become a strategic corridor for the export of Northeastern products, thereby strengthening local agribusiness, attracting investment, and consolidating rail as a competitive alternative to road transport.

Source: Transporte Moderno

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