Rapid transit in Brazil

Rapid transit in Brazil is characterized by rail-based systems for regional passenger flow and mass transit, such as light rail, subways, and urban train networks. These systems are concentrated primarily in the Brazilian Southeast and Northeast regions, home to its major urban centers. The São Paulo Metro is the 3rd largest in Latin America, featuring eight lines spanning 116.2 kilometers; it serves as the third most important mode of transport for the metropolis's 11.4 million residents, having been the public transport system that saw the most growth in the city between 2007 and 2017.

Most public transport rail systems in Brazil operate on electric power supplied via overhead lines, such as the Belo Horizonte Metro and the Baixada Santista Light Rail, or through an energized third rail or APS technology, as seen with the Rio de Janeiro Light Rail. Some networks, primarily located in the Northeast, are not electric but diesel-powered, such as the Teresina Metro and the urban trains operated by CBTU in the region.

The cities with a metro system are São Paulo, Belo Horizonte, Rio de Janeiro, Porto Alegre, Salvador, Fortaleza, Recife, and Brasília, built between 1974 and 2014. There are also regions with light rail or urban rail systems, such as Sobral, Crato, Juazeiro do Norte, Rio de Janeiro, Baixada Santista, João Pessoa, Natal, and Maceió. There also was one suburban rail system in Pindamonhangaba, operated by the Campos do Jordão Railway, but it has had its operations paused since 2021.

Current expansion projects

Belo Horizonte Metro Following the concession of the metro system to the Comporte Group, and utilizing federal and state investment, construction resumed on Line 2 of the Belo Horizonte Metro, which is set to connect the Nova Suíça to Barreiro.

The expansion of Line 1 to the Novo Eldorado station was completed in February 2026, and the federal government announced investments for the construction of the Beatriz and Parque São João stations in Contagem Municipality. The Nova Suíça and Amazonas stations on Line 2 opened in July and are currently in partial operation.

São Paulo Metro Line 2-Green is being expanded by 8 new stations over an 8.4-kilometer stretch, creating approximately 3,500 direct jobs and serving 320,000 passengers per workday. The expansion will make the Green Line the longest in the system, spanning 23 kilometers.

For Monorail Line 15-Silver, one of the few active monorail lines in the country, the construction of the Jacu-Pêssego, Ipiranga, and Boa Esperança stations is planned along a one-kilometer stretch. The deadline for the line to begin operations has been pushed back to 2029, contrasting with the initial forecast of 2027. The future Ipiranga station has already reached the concrete-pouring stage for the main structure's first floor, while the interior areas of the other two planned stations have begun receiving structural finishes and component assembly.

List of metro and monorail systems in Brazil Operational City System Start of operations System length Lines Stations Gauge OperatorBelo HorizonteBelo Horizonte Metro198632 km (18.5 mi)222 Metrô BHBrasíliaFederal District Metro2001 227 Companhia do Metropolitano do Distrito Federal (Metrô-DF)Porto AlegrePorto Alegre Metro1985 122 Empresa de Trens Urbanos de Porto Alegre (TRENSURB)RecifeRecife Metro1985 337 Companhia Brasileira de Trens Urbanos (CBTU)Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro Metro197958 km (36 mi) 341 Concessão Metroviária do Rio de Janeiro (MetrôRio)SalvadorSalvador Metro2014 221 Companhia do Metrô da Bahia (CCR Metrô Bahia)FortalezaFortaleza Metro2012320 Companhia Cearense de Transportes Metropolitanos (METROFOR)São PauloSão Paulo Metro1974 116.2 km (64.8 mi) 8105, Companhia do Metropolitano de São Paulo (Lines 1–3, 15) ViaQuatro (Line 4) ViaMobilidade (Line 5)

Proposed

City System Start of operations System length Lines Stations Gauge OperatorCuritibaCuritiba MetroProposed 114ManausManaus MonorailPlanned20 km (12.0 mi)19None

Discontinued CitySystemStart of operationsEnd of operationsSystem lengthLinesStationsGaugeOperatorPoços de caldasPoços de Caldas Monorail200020038 km (4.9 mi) constructed, 30 km (18.6 mi) planned111None Municipal Government of Poços de CaldasCampinasCampinas Light Metro199019957.9 km (4.5 mi)111 stations planned, 8 stations constructed Ferrovia Paulista (FEPASA)

List of Light Rail Systems in Brazil

Operational City System Start of operations System length Lines Stations Gauge OperatorSobralSobral Light Rail201413.9 km (8.6 mi)2121000mm (3 ft 3.4 in) Companhia Cearense de Transportes Metropolitanos (METROFOR)Crato, Juazeiro do NorteCariri Light Rail200913.9 km (8.5 mi)191000mm (3 ft 3.4 in) Companhia Cearense de Transportes Metropolitanos (METROFOR)Santos, São VincenteBaixada Santista Light Rail201511,5 km (7,15 mi)115BR Mobilidade Consortium (supervised by ARTESP, the São Paulo State regulatory body for transportation)Rio de JaneiroVLT Carioca201628 km (17,4 mi)430 VLT Carioca Metropolitan Area of SalvadorVLT do Subúrbio2027-202837 km (22.9 mi)334To be determined by the governmentTeresinaTeresina Metro199116 km1121000 mm (3 ft 3.4 in) Companhia Ferroviária e de Logística do Piauí (CFLP)

Discontinued CitySystemStart of operationsEnd of operationsSystem lengthLinesStationsGaugeOperatorCuiabáCuiabá Light RailThe construction was never completedConstruction was interrupted in 201522.2 km (13.7 mi)233

Suburban Rail

Operational City System Start of operations System length Lines Stations Gauge OperatorSão PauloSão Paulo Metropolitan Trains1889280 km796 Companhia Paulista de Trens Metropolitanos (Lines 7, 10, 11, 12, 13) ViaMobilidade (Lines 8 and 9)João PessoaJoão Pessoa Urban Train System198530 km (18.6 mi)191000mm (3 ft 3.4 in) Companhia Brasileira de Trens Urbanos (CBTU)Rio de JaneiroUrban Trains of Rio de Janeiro1852270 km 8104SuperviaCampos do JordãoCampos do Jordão Railway191447 km1401000mm (3 ft 3.4 in) Estrada de Ferro Campos do Jordão (EFCJ)NatalNatal Urban Train System198477.5 km (48.1 mi)2131000mm (3 ft 3.4 in) Companhia Brasileira de Trens Urbanos (CBTU)MaceióMaceió Urban Train System201134.7 km (21,2 mi)2151000mm (3 ft 3.4 in) Companhia Brasileira de Trens Urbanos (CBTU)

Discontinued CitySystemStart of operationsEnd of operationsSystem lengthLinesStationsGaugeOperatorBelo HorizonteMetropolitan Area of Belo Horizonte Suburban Train19571988321 km7211 600 mm (5 ft 3 in) Rede Ferroviária Federal (1957-1984), Companhia Brasileira de Trens Urbanos (1984-1992)BauruBauru Urban Train1973, 19881982, 199010.0 km (6.21 mi)291000mm (3 ft 3.4 in), Ferrovia Paulista (FEPASA), Rede Ferroviária Federal (RFFSA)

See also São Paulo Metro Rapid Transit Transport in Brazil

References