Vale Wabtec PTC Agreement Covers Two Brazilian Railways

The new Vale Wabtec PTC agreement will bring I-ETMS train protection to Brazil’s EFC and EFVM networks under a R$1 billion phased program running through 2031.

Vale and Wabtec announced the project on July 16, 2026. The official agreement covers the Carajás Railway (EFC) and the Vitória a Minas Railway (EFVM), with the technology integrated into onboard equipment and existing railway infrastructure in successive phases.

The companies said the deployment will support real-time operational management, improve the predictability of train movements and allow automatic intervention when the system detects defined risk conditions.

Vale Wabtec PTC agreement adds automatic intervention

Wabtec’s I-ETMS train-control system is a safety-critical overlay rather than a driverless train system. The train crew remains in control, while onboard computers compare speed, location, movement authority, temporary restrictions, work zones and switch positions against a digital track database.

The system continuously calculates warning and braking curves. When operating conditions exceed permitted limits, it can warn the crew and enforce a train response designed to prevent collisions, overspeed derailments, work-zone incursions and movements through incorrectly positioned switches.

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“The implementation of PTC in Vale’s operations represents an important milestone in advancing railway safety in Brazil.”

Danilo Miyasato, Wabtec’s president and regional leader for Latin America, said the deployment also marks a step in the digital transformation of Brazilian railway operations.

Vale Wabtec PTC agreement spans mixed-traffic networks

The two Vale railways carry heavy mineral traffic and also host Brazil’s regular long-distance passenger train services. The National Land Transportation Agency regulates and inspects regular passenger transport on both EFC and EFVM.

According to Vale’s logistics overview, the Vitória a Minas Railway extends for 905 km, while the Carajás Railway covers 892 km. Together, the routes link mines, communities, terminals and ports across Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, Pará and Maranhão.

Neither official announcement specifies the number of locomotives, wayside locations or operating control centers covered by the program. The companies have also not published individual deployment milestones or a detailed breakdown of the R$1 billion investment.

Implementation is scheduled to continue through 2031, with integration work intended to preserve current operations while the two networks move to the new train-control standard.