Rumo has begun operating the initial section of the Mato Grosso Railway (FMT), the country's first railway implemented under the state authorization model and currently the largest railway project under construction in Brazil. The ceremony marking the start of operations was attended by state and federal authorities, including the Vice-President of the Republic, Geraldo Alckmin, as well as representatives from the productive sector.
The delivered stage includes 162 kilometers of track between Rondonópolis and Dom Aquino (MT), in addition to the operational commissioning of the new road-rail terminal at BR-070, expanding the logistics connection between Brazil's leading grain-producing state and Santos Port.
Together, these developments bring the tracks closer to cargo origin and expand the throughput capacity of one of the most strategic regions for Brazilian agribusiness.
"We need to reach the ports, and for that, the railway is fundamental. It will connect Mato Grosso to Santos Port, reducing logistics costs and driving Brazilian development. There is nothing more environmentally correct than railways, which reduce carbon emissions, decrease accidents, and generate more employment and income," Vice-President Geraldo Alckmin stressed.
Mato Grosso Governor Otaviano Pivetta emphasized the railway's relevance to the state's competitiveness. "The Mato Grosso Railway is a dream that became reality, in a meeting between entrepreneurship and hard work. We continue to invest in a state that is an example of what Brazil can be."
According to Rumo's CEO, Pedro Palma, the delivery of the first phase of FMT represents an important step in the company's strategy to expand in Mato Grosso and consolidate national logistics. "The Mato Grosso Railway was conceived to accompany the growth of one of the world's most productive regions. The delivery of this first phase reinforces our long-term vision of investing in infrastructure capable of sustaining increased Brazilian production with efficiency, predictability, and capacity to meet demand in the coming decades."
Railway pioneer spirit
Part of the Federal Government's New PAC, the Mato Grosso Railway (FMT) project, officially named State Railway Senator Vicente Emílio Vuolo, represents a landmark for national infrastructure. A pioneer in the country, the initiative establishes a new model for railway expansion based on state authorization and private investment.
When completed, the railway will consist of more than 700 kilometers in length, passing through 16 municipalities between Rondonópolis and Lucas do Rio Verde, plus a branch to Cuiabá. The project was designed to bring railway infrastructure closer to the state's main producing regions and expand the logistics capacity of the Center-West.
The delivered first phase also includes the new BR-070 terminal, installed in an area of 200 hectares. The complex has a capacity to unload up to 35 trucks per hour, load up to 16 rail cars per hour, and store up to 42,000 tonnes of grain, as well as offering support facilities for drivers and parking for up to 250 trucks.
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