BRASILIA’s Federal District metro operator Metro-DF has set out a three to five-year funding plan with a total cost of Reais 2.5bn ($US 500m). The plan provides for additional rolling stock and the installation of automatic train operation (ATO).
Metro-DF suggests that spending by federal government, Brasilia’s federal district (GDF) and from the operators own reserves could be used to leverage investment in the 42km network from Brazil’s Federal Economic Bank (CEF) and the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES).
While some of the funding is already in place, a significant amount remains outstanding.
The GDF has already requested a total of Reais 1.3bn from the Ministry of Cities. The majority of this, around Reais 900m, would be used to purchase 15 new trains for the two-line network.
Expansion of Metro-DF’s fleet to 47 trains will allow frequencies to remain unchanged as the network expands. The current fleet of 32 Alstom-built four-car trains was delivered in 1999 and 2010.
Metro-DF says approximately Reais 400m will be needed to convert its network to ATO. Funding for this has already been requested from federal government.
Around Reais 1.2bn will be needed to construct two extensions, both of which are at the planning stage and are partially funded. Last month Metro-DF called for expressions of interest in a tender for the construction of a 2.3km extension of the Green Line from its current terminus at Ceilandia, with two new stations. Passenger numbers are expected to increase to 12,000 per day on this route once the extension is complete.
The extension of the Orange Line from its current terminus of Samambaia is at the final bidding stage. The preferred bidder will be responsible for the construction of 3.6km of new line and two stations, with work scheduled to be completed in 2028.
Feasibility studies are also underway for the completion of two stations on the existing network which were planned but never completed. Total construction costs for Onoyama (Green Line) and 104 South (joint Green/Orange Line) stations are estimated at Reais 50m.
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