Curitiba authorities push to remove urban train tracks

City council members in Curitiba endorsed a campaign to eliminate freight train tracks from the city's streets. In a public hearing on March 30, officials highlighted the upcoming end of the current railway concession in March 2027 as a "unique window of opportunity" to redesign cargo transport in the metropolitan area. Mayor Eduardo Pimentel (PSD) publicly supported the removal, and a schedule of actions was set to advance the proposal. Councilors pointed to safety concerns, noting 764 railway accidents recorded between December 2020 and January 2026, with 293 occurring in Curitiba and its suburbs, and the city having the highest national incidence of train‑related incidents. Deputies and transport ministry representatives are engaged in discussions to incorporate the track removal into the next concession bid, with an estimated investment of up to R$2 billion for a new western rail bypass.