Brazil’s MRS Logística has released a 35km-long section of the Pombal–Guaíba branch with four stations equipped with Siaco communications-based train control (CBTC) for complete operation.

The 35km-long line is the pilot section for a five-phase programme to install CBTC across the entire MRS network.

The current section is a part of contract awarded to a consortium consisting of Alstom, EADS and Accenture-Atan in 2006 to equip a roughly 200km-long line linking Rio de Janeiro, Guaíba and Barra Mansa with CBTC operation by mid-2009.

The rest of the 1,674km-long line will be equipped with CBTC by the end of 2010.