High cost and low competitivity were the main problems that were connected with the High Speed Train (HST) project, during a debate which was held yesterday at the head office of the Commercial Federation of the State of São Paulo (Fecomercio), in the capital of the State of São Paulo.
This discussion, which is on the agenda of the meeting of the Cities Development Council of Fecomercio, has had the participation of transport specialists, most of whom in favor of rail transport, but also skeptical about the feasibility of the project for a bullet-train connection between Campinas, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
Transport Consultant Cláudio Senna Frederico, a former Secretary of Metropolitan Transport of São Paulo, has highlighted the problem of the cost incurred by this work, “one of the most expensive projects in the country”, and also cast into doubt the real need for a High Speed Train (HST). “Before making a political decision in favor of the bullet train, and then find reasons that back up its implementation, the Governors should first ask themselves the following question: what is the real priority for transport between Brazilian cities? And in the case of transport between Rio and São Paulo, which is the best proposal?” suggests the consultant. In the opinion of Mr. Frederico, “there is nothing in the HST project that would justify the priority investments that the Government plans to make, totaling a massive R$ 33.1 billion (€ 14.65 billion)”.
To back up his conclusions, he projects the results of a comparative study of different forms of transport between San Francisco and Los Angeles, in the United States. “The survey showed that the most economical form of transport is still the aeroplane, followed by the train and then the motorway. However, the volume of future investment is much higher in the case of the train”, Mr. Frederico warns.
The recent analysis that the stretch between São Paulo and Campinas, of the Brazilian bullet-train project, would have more passengers and hence greater feasibility does not in any way surprise the specialist. “I would bet on a train connection between Campinas and São Paulo, or between São José dos Campos and Guarulhos, but in this case the HST would not be necessary. A modern fast train, travelling at a speed of 180 km/h, would be sufficient”, he concludes.
City Transport
Rogério Belda, representative of the National Public Transport Association (ANTP), addressed the problem of the connection between the HST and the city transport systems: “What is the advantage of travelling at 300 km/h, reaching the destination in a jiffy, and then getting bogged down by city traffic jams?” Mr. Belda feels that the high-speed trains must have a much more intense and a much stronger integration with the public transport systems of the cities. “One can not put a bullet train station in the heart of town. This terminal shall be on the outskirts of the city, different from what is being planned”, observes Mr. Belda.
Other forms of criticism of the HST have also been raised by those present. For example, there was questioning of this not being another “ready meal” project, where the Brazilians would only participate in the work, without any transfer of technology to the country. Another point raised was the disparity between the decision to implement a modern passenger train, while the current rail network in Brazil is largely precarious and strangled.
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12/01 | News
