The Brazilian government is planning to launch a National Railway Plan in October 2023 that includes seven new rail lines for passenger transport. Under the plan, technical and economic feasibility studies for the implementation of the lines must be disclosed. The Ministry of Transport is planning to realise the projects through public-private partnerships (PPP). The seven lines are Brasília – Luziânia, Maringá – Londrina, Pelotas – Rio Grande, Duque de Caxias – Itaboraí – Niterói, Salvador – Feira de Santana, Fortaleza – Sobral and São Luís – Itapecuru Mirim. The government intends to take advantage of existing railway lines for freight transport, but which are currently underused or in a poor state of maintenance, with the goal of implementing the future passenger transport lines.
