Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

Projects designed to modernize Brazilian cities for the 2014 soccer event, which included new metro lines, monorails and dedicated bus lines, are being scaled back, delayed or cancelled due to legal challenges, corruption and a lack of planning.

Will execute just under 90% of the contract and supply the major part of the metro trains. The bogies will be supplied by CAF Brazil.

It will generate 250 new jobs directly dedicated to railway vehicle production, including aluminum car body, bogie and final assembly activities. In addition, approximately 500 indirect jobs will be created based on increased activity in Bombardier's local supplier base.

The company announced the pending acquisition earlier this month and will assume control and management of Freios Controil effective Jan. 1, 2012. Both companies are located in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

The metros will be developed and manufactured in Alstom's Brazilian plant in Lapa, where the company employs 850 people. Delivery will take place by mid-2012.

A councilmember for Montgomery County, Md., visited Brazil and learned about a successful BRT program in the city of Curitiba. He plans to take lessons learned back to Maryland for possible application there.

Brazil-based Trends Engenharia e Infraestrutura will supply the material and perform the installation of Ansaldo STS USA's wayside design.