Politicians in Rio have signed off R$1.2 billion to start construction of the city’s new catenary-free tram network.
The 28-mile long system will connect Rio’s Port Region with the city’s financial centre and Santos Dumont Airport.
Funding is now in place after the Ministry of Cities and City of Rio officially confirmed their investment of R$532 million and R$632 million respectively.
City officials also signed a contract with a consortium comprising RATP, CCR, OTP (Odebrecht Transport) and Invepar for the construction and operation of the new network.
Work should begin later this year and will be completed in two phases by 2016 – in time for the Olympic Games.
The new light rail vehicles will be catenary-free and resemble the trams currently in operation in Bordeaux.
