VLI makes purchase of railcars, locomotives to improve transportation to São Luís Port

VLI has finalized the purchase of 168 Hopper HTT railcars and three locomotives for operation on the North-South Railway, which will be utilized for transporting agricultural commodities to São Luís Port. This deal involves R$ 200 million, marking another significant contribution by VLI to the national railway industry. The railcars will be manufactured by Greenbrier Maxion, based in Hortolândia (SP), and are expected to be delivered later this year. The locomotives, ES43BBi model, were acquired from Wabtec, a manufacturer located in Contagem in the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte (MG). Delivery is anticipated by December 2024.

“This acquisition of a new batch of rolling stock meets the demand of Brazilian agribusiness and generates capacity for transporting other resources along the northern stretch of the North-South Railway, such as cellulose, fuels, and fertilizers,” states Fábio Marchiori, Director of Finance, Supply Chain, and Services at VLI.

The Hopper HTT railcars, developed and produced by Greenbrier Maxion, boast three key differentiators: reduced length without volume loss, decreased tare weight, and extended service life. These optimizations contribute to an increase in cargo capacity per train. Another notable feature is the rapid unloading system and special interior coating, which prevents the load from adhering to the railcar’s interior. Furthermore, the new units are equipped with the Motion Control truck system, offering high performance and reduced component wear, leading to lower fuel consumption and enhanced safety.

In April of this year, the company announced the acquisition of 78 railcars for operation on the same route, coinciding with the official launch of a fertilizer return flow in partnership with the Itaqui Port Operator Company (COPI). This operation, requiring approximately R$ 400 million in investments, connects COPI’s terminal in Maranhão to VLI’s Palmeirante Integrated Terminal in Tocantins.

VLI holds the concession for the northern stretch of the North-South Railway, forming part of the company’s Northern corridor. Over the past year, cargo movement on this route has increased by 15% compared to 2021, rising from 12.7 to 15 million tons.

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