RAILROAD PARANAGUÁ - CURITIBA

The construction of the railroad officially began in February 1880 and it was considered an impractical enterprise by many European engineers at that time. The work began in three different fronts simultaneously: between Paranaguá and Morretes (42 km), between  Morretes and Roça Nova (38 km) and between Roça Nova and Curitiba (30 km).
 

The goal was to develop the relationship between the coastal towns and the capital of Paraná state, aiming the social development of the coast. Furthermore, it was essential to link the Paranaguá port to the southern states of Brazil, to let the states grain production flow  and, thus, to ensure support to economic development in the region.
 

More than 9,000 men were recruited to work in the construction of the railroad, they  earned between 2,000 to 3,000 réis per day. Almost all of them lived in Curitiba and the coast, and were immigrants who worked in the crops.

The effort and boldness of workers, engineers and other professionals resulted in one of the most daring  engineering constructions of the  world. After five years, the railroad was inaugurated on February 2, 1885. Federal and local authorities, journalists and other guests participated of the inaugural trip between Curitiba and Paranaguá, which took nine hours to reach the Capital, more than 5,000 people were waiting for the train.
 

Along its 110 km of extension, the railroad keeps hundreds of engineering work of arts: there are 13 active tunnels and a disactivated one, 30 bridges and numerous big  viaducts. Among them are outstanding the São João Bridge, 55 meters high, and the Carvalho Viaduct, which connects  tunnels 4 and 5, supported by five mortar pillars placed on the slopes of the mountain rock - the passage through this stretch causes the sensation of a journey through the  air, as if the train was floating. It was the first engineering work with these features to be built in the world.
 

Few destinations in Brazil have the historical background of this Serra Verde Express journey. Company is committed to keep it operating in a sustainable way, with respect to the Mountain Range of Paraná that surrounds all the way and also to people who make possible their existence: tourists, company’s employees and other tourism professionals.

CONCESSION OF PARANAGUÁ - CURITIBA RAILROAD

In 1996, the Network Rail S / A (RFFSA) ended its operations in the Paranaguá - Curitiba  railroada and began the privatization process for concession. Although the process of touristic train has been the first to start, completion took place after the end of the bidding for the concession of the train loads.
 

The contract was signed by the Serra Verde Express on March 1st, 1997. However, due to the deep need of wagons restoration, the first trip occurred only on May 1st of the same year, with four wagons completely recomposed in operation. Over the years, other cars have been restored and, at the beginning of next year, Serra Verde Express could operate with maximum composition.
 

Beginning of the concession:

          March 1st, 1997

Included Items:

          03 Litorinas

          01 Line railcar

          18 Passenger cars

          01 Baggage car

          800 m² garage

          Curitiba Railroad Station

          Eng. Lange Station

          14m² Morretes Railroad Station

SHARED LINE

The railroad network between Curitiba and Paranaguá is divided between  two distinct companies: Serra Verde Express, responsible for tourism transport of passengers, who has the concession to work with two downhill tracks (one for the train and the other for the litorina) and two uphill in  pre-determined time for the everyday ride – being therefore the only regular  touristic train of Brazil,  that has daily attendance at scheduled times of departure and arrival in both direction (downhill and uphill the mountain). The second company is America Latina Logistica (ALL), that is  responsible for the cargo operation, maintenance, control of the OCC (Operations Control Center) and cession  of locomotives for the touristic train traction – Serra Verde Express, on the other hand, is fully responsible for the Litorina, a self-powered railcar.
 

Because of this service Serra Verde Express pays a contractual arrangement of 39.37% of  each of its passengers fare to ALL.

CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS

Besides the economic obligations (monthly, Serra Verde Express pays to RFFSA R$150,000.00), also the company has to preserve the patrimony enclosed in the concession and to carry through the maintenance of the cars and litorinas. The RFFSA fiscalizes the patrimony and the entire operation is under the Ministry of Transportation and the National Agency for Land Transport (ANTT).

Opinions ab out Passeio de trem Curitiba – Morretes