Economic and Logistic Studies for Regional Cargo Railways
Transnordestina Railway Case
regional railways, intermodal terminals, Transnordestina Railway
Railways are essential factors for the development of the regions covered by its
tracks and in the areas of influence. Railways with characteristics of “regional cargo
railways” are found all over the world, constituting a powerful logistical instrument and
inducer of regional socioeconomic growth, expanding the access of companies to
consumer markets and the offer of cheaper inputs, assisting them in the development of
competitive advantages, and the possibility of migration to peripheral regions.
Planned to be an important integration corridor and an element that induces the
development of Northeastern Brazil, providing an alternative transport logistics for the
region of high capacity and low cost, interconnecting two of the main northeastern ports
(Pecém and Suape), the Transnordestina Railway represents the largest and most important
logistics project being carried out in the Brazil Northeast.
Investors decide to invest based on the project's probability of success, on the rate
of return on capital and on the valuation of the project. Thus, it is essential that economic
feasibility studies be carried out on regional freight railroad projects, free from political
influences and / or groups with economic interests.
In addition to the attraction generated by the lower freight cost, the regional railway
must present an efficient logistical management in the transportation and distribution of
cargo in its intermodal logistics centers compatible with the best global practices. Thus, it
is imperative that the intermodal terminals, maneuvering yards and railroad platforms are
as agile, productive and efficient as the road modal.