Tourist Train
UNCONFIDENT TRAIN
The Railway
The Estrada de Ferro Melhoramentos do Brasil - EFMB, inaugurated in the 19th century on March 28, 1898, and with over a century of existence, was a railroad created mainly for the flow of coffee production, with one of its engineers being the famous Paulo de Frontin, responsible for several grandiose works in Brazil. In 1903, the EFMB was incorporated into the Estrada de Ferro Central do Brasil - EFCB and became known as Linha Auxiliar. Other railroads were incorporated into it, as well as new branches were built, giving rise to the Rede de Viação Fluminense, whose main line was the Linha Auxiliar and was managed by the EFCB. In the late 1950s, the EFCB transferred the operation of the Linha Auxiliar to the Estrada de Ferro Leopoldina - EFL, which was beginning to deactivate the railroad in the Petrópolis mountains. As a result, all trains that went up through Petrópolis to the interior of Minas Gerais began to go up the Linha Auxiliar, as is the case with the Trem Inconfidente. In 1996, the former Auxiliary Line and the entire EFL network were granted to the company Ferrovia Centro-Atlântica -FCA by RFFSA. The section between Japeri and Paraíba do Sul has been abandoned and fragmented since then.
This section of the railway, where we will implement the TT – Trem Inconfidente, has several natural landscapes and historical buildings, such as forests, the rivers that run along the section, waterfalls, valleys, mountains, among others.
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The Project
Between 2003 and 2009, Paraíba do Sul/RJ had a Tourist Train - TT called "Trem da Estrada Real", which ran from the station in the center of Paraíba do Sul to the Cavarú station, in the neighborhood of the same name. This trip was 14.32 km long, passing through the Médio Paraíba valley and crossing the Paraíba do Sul River via the Leopoldo Teixeira Leite Bridge (Ponte Preta), which is 260 m long. This trip was always crowded, with people from different locations and ages going to Paraíba do Sul just to take the train. However, due to an accident (no injuries as the train was empty), the Estrada Real Train had its operation halted and has never resumed operation since.
The AFMB, through the development of the TT – Trem Inconfidente project in Paraíba do Sul/RJ, aims to rescue this train that has not run on the EFMB tracks since the 1980s, and also to rescue the railway's memory, inventory, and preservation of movable and immovable assets and rolling stock of our railways. We also seek to engage the railway sector with the surrounding communities, generating jobs in the revitalization of the railway and in the operation of the Tourist Train. Promoting development and sustainability with social and cultural projects that will benefit the entire community.
AFMB, in partnership with Public and Private entities, will be responsible for the renovation of the railway and the implementation of the Tourist Train, counting on experienced and qualified professionals who are accredited by the National Land Transport Agency -ANTT, guaranteeing the safety and quality of the operation.
As this is a railway that has been out of use for almost 15 years, the section requires severe interventions, such as complete replacement of sleepers, decontamination and replacement of the ballast, so we decided to divide the section into three parts, renovating and making the railway operational, gradually implementing the Train; they are:
Section 1: Paraíba do Sul (Km 169.256) x Andrade Costa (Km 152.087) = 17.169 km;
Section 2: Andrade Costa (Km 152.087) x Avelar (Km 140.854) = 11.233 km;
Section 3: Avelar (Km 140.854) x Paty do Alferes (Km 125.767) = 15.087 km, totaling 43.489 km in length.
With this train, a trip will be made once a month, with part of the ticket prices going to social institutions, such as APAE, Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, among others. And also, at least once a month on a business day, we intend to offer completely free trips to students from the public and private schools in Paraíba do Sul, thus encouraging these students' interest in railway history and culture.
The Trem Inconfidente has a privileged location, as it is close to several renowned tourist attractions in the region, bringing a large audience of tourists to it, thus proving to be a safe project.
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🎓 Educação, cultura e inclusão
O espaço será aberto à visitação pública e receberá escolas, grupos culturais, pesquisadores e turistas, funcionando como ponto de apoio para atividades educativas e eventos temáticos. Oficinas, palestras, exposições itinerantes e vivências ferroviárias integrarão a programação permanente do local.
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🙌 Uma homenagem justa
O nome do espaço é uma homenagem ao já falecido Luís Octávio de Oliveira, referência na preservação da memória ferroviária no Rio de Janeiro e figura querida por todos que compartilham do sonho de ver os trilhos brasileiros novamente valorizados. Sua dedicação e paixão pela ferrovia inspiram o propósito deste projeto.
🤝 Um ponto de conexão comunitária
Além de centro cultural, o local funcionará também como um espaço comunitário, aberto à colaboração de moradores e voluntários, contribuindo para o fortalecimento do tecido social de Avelar. Através da cultura ferroviária, queremos gerar pertencimento, autoestima e oportunidades para a população local.
Conectando gerações pelos trilhos da história
O Espaço Cultural Ferroviário Luís Octávio de Oliveira é mais um passo da AFMB na missão de preservar, educar e transformar por meio da ferrovia. Um lugar onde passado e presente se encontram para inspirar novas gerações.
Venha fazer parte dessa história. Os trilhos da memória passam por aqui.