As ferrovias brasileiras: políticas nacionais, desafios e perspectivas
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Abstract
The present work aims to provide a characterization of the main aspects of the Brazilian railway sector, considering its historical origins up to the present day and its future prospects. The inauguration of the first razilian railway dates back to 1854, with a length of 14.5 km. After decades, by 1922, the country had reached a total railway network of 29,341 km, marking the largest period of growth. By the year of the Brazilian Revolution, in 1930, it had reached 32,478 km. In the years that followed, the Federal Government prioritized investment in the road sector, neglecting other sectors, and the railway sector experienced reduced investments due to the impact of World War II. Later, at the end of the 1950s, Brazilian railways were nationalized. During this period, the sector did not develop as expected, mainly due to the lack of investment and inefficient management. This phase lasted until 1997, when the national railways were privatized, a situation that persists to this day. Today, the railway network spans just over 30,000 km. Although it has not seen growth in its extension, the capacity for cargo transport has increased due to improvements in the quality of the network, locomotives, and wagons. Throughout its history, the railway sector has faced numerous challenges, including lack of investment in infrastructure and maintenance, competition from other transport modes, and inadequate regulation. Public policies and partnerships with the private sector have been adopted to reverse this situation, resulting in a gradual increase in the transport of goods and passengers, with a highlight on the New Growth Acceleration Program, which aims for an investment of 91.3 billion reais in the railway sector. However, challenges such as regulatory complexity and competition with other transport modes persist. Despite this, the prospects for the railway sector are positive, especially considering the global demand for rail transport and environmental awareness. The sustainability of operations and the development of efficient national policies are essential to ensure the role of Brazilian railways in the country's future. Finally, current investments and public policies in the sector will contribute to increased cargo transport capacity, greater efficiency, intermodality, and sustainability, but even so, to achieve a long term goal proposed by the Federal Government, investments remain insufficient.
