METRO Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

BYD signs contract to begin building cross-sea monorail in Brazil

The 12-mile seaside route will be partially built above the sea to connect Salvador’s central business district to São João Island.

February 15, 2019
BYD signs contract to begin building cross-sea monorail in Brazil

A SkyRail, which features an automated driving system, is currently operational in the western Chinese city of Yinchuan. Photo: BYD

2 min to read


A SkyRail, which features an automated driving system, is currently operational in the western Chinese city of Yinchuan. Photo: BYD

BYD announced it has signed a deal to build its SkyRail in Salvador, Brazil. The project will be the first of its kind for BYD in Latin America and will become part of the city’s Light Vehicle Transport System (VLT), which is slated to begin construction within six months, and be fully operational by 2021.

The 12-mile seaside route will be partially built above the sea to connect Salvador’s central business district to São João Island, with a capacity of 150,000 passengers per day. It will connect with the existing subway, providing seamless transportation for the city of 2.9 million residents.

A BYD-led consortium, consisting of BYD Brazil and Metrogreen, first won the bid for the contract in May 2018. The consortium will be responsible for the implementation and operation of the system, with the work to be carried out through a public-private partnership.

Ad Loading...
The SkyRail is quiet and carbon-free, and its elevated construction does not affect normal pedestrian and traffic flow, providing a non-disruptive addition to Salvador’s urban landscape. Photo: BYD

The engineering of the SkyRail such as its strong climbing capacity makes the vehicle capable of negotiating the difficult local terrain where a distance of quarter mile requires an increase of 87 yards. The SkyRail is quiet and carbon-free, and its elevated construction does not affect normal pedestrian and traffic flow, providing a non-disruptive addition to Salvador’s urban landscape.

Parks and resorts are planned to be built under the SkyRail line, and community facilities, such as police stations and service centers will be added in the monorail stations.

Launched in October 2016 after five years of research and development, the SkyRail, which features an automated driving system, is currently operational in the western Chinese city of Yinchuan.

More Rail

Graphic from Amtrak promoting the B&P Tunnel Replacement and Frederick Douglass Tunnel project, featuring the Amtrak logo, project title and an illustration of a high-speed train near the West Baltimore MARC Station.
Railby News/Media ReleaseMarch 17, 2026

Amtrak Announces Community Grants for Projects Near Baltimore’s New Frederick Douglass Tunnel

Amtrak will open grant applications March 23 for community projects near the Frederick Douglass Tunnel alignment in Baltimore as part of a $50 million investment tied to the B&P Tunnel Replacement Program.

Read More →
Amtrak train with logo
Railby StaffMarch 16, 2026

Amtrak Marks Restoration of Two South Carolina Stations

The Denmark Station $2.3 million construction investment project includes a new 280-foot concrete boarding platform, built eight inches above the top of rail, for improved accessibility for passengers with disabilities and families with small children and much more.

Read More →
A view looking down the rail across the new Portal North Bridge.
Railby Staff and News ReportsMarch 13, 2026

NJ Transit, Amtrak Prepare to Open First Track on New Portal North Bridge

The new bridge will begin carrying passenger trains on March 16, replacing a 116-year-old swing bridge that has long caused delays.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Caltrain trains on tracks
Railby StaffMarch 6, 2026

Caltrain Adopts Corridor-Wide Right-of-Way Safety Strategy

Caltrain and its partners have implemented safety improvements at specific locations in response to known risk conditions, operational needs, and available funding since the agency’s founding.

Read More →
A photo of rail tracks in Ottawa, Canada

Building a National Framework for Transit Safety and Consistency

On a recent episode of METROspectives, METRO Magazine’s Executive Editor Alex Roman sat down with Ana-Maria Tomlinson, Director of Strategic & Cross-Sector Programs at the CSA Group, to explore a bold initiative aimed at addressing those challenges: the development of a National Code for Transit and Passenger Rail Systems in Canada.

Read More →
Stairs in a New York rail station with text reading "USDOT Invests $686 Million to Modernize Aging Rail Stations."
Railby StaffMarch 2, 2026

FTA Invests $686M to Modernize Aging Rail Stations

Competitive FTA grants will support accessibility upgrades, family-friendly improvements, and cost-efficient capital projects at some of the nation’s oldest and busiest transit hubs.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A purple MBTA train at a Mansfield Station platform.
Railby StaffFebruary 27, 2026

MBTA Updates Rail Modernization Plan to Expand Reliability and Accessibility

The strategy outlines near- and long-term upgrades to ease congestion, support housing growth, and advance statewide climate goals.

Read More →
LA Metro underground station with vehicle
Railby StaffFebruary 27, 2026

LA Metro Sets D Line Subway Extension Launch Date

The 3.92-mile addition will soon take riders west beyond its current Wilshire and Western station in Koreatown, continuing under Wilshire Boulevard through neighborhoods and communities including Hancock Park, Windsor Square, the Fairfax District, and Carthay Circle into Beverly Hills.

Read More →
MBTA railcars
Railby StaffFebruary 26, 2026

Boston's MBTA Marks Progress in Regional Rail Modernization

The procurement advances the agency's broader efforts to modernize its rail fleet and position Regional Rail for long-term improvement.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
An Amtrak Acela
Railby StaffFebruary 26, 2026

Amtrak Sets New Course for Long-Distance Fleet Renewal

Under the plan, all long-distance routes will transition to a universal single-level fleet, replacing today’s mix of bi-level and single-level equipment.

Read More →