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ENSCO Rail, Valec Engenharia Join Forces in Brazil

Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-Chief
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Track inspection technology supplier ENSCO Rail, Inc. has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Brazilian infrastructure engineering and construction firm Valec Engenharia to assist development Brazil’s railroad industry by offering technological solutions and expertise on railway infrastructure planning. Valec Engenharia is a Brazilian state-owned legal entity linked to the Ministry of Infrastructure (Minfra).

“ENSCO and Valec’s strategic partnership will support public and private enterprise in Brazil’s railway sector with multiple initiatives focused on utilizing ENSCO’s automated track inspection technology and engineering services with Valec’s expertise in Brazilian railway engineering, construction and reporting requirements for concession railways in infrastructure asset inventory and condition assessments,” the companies said in a joint statement.

The partnership will provide engineering services to the newly formed railways enabled by Brazil’s Railway Authorization Program, Pro Trilhos, which was created through Provisional Measure No. 1,065/21 and established by Law 14.273/2021, which allows the private sector to build and operate railroads, branches, yards and railroad terminals. “Considering the anticipated growth over the next few years in the freight railway sector in Brazil, Minfra has received more than 80 requests for construction and operation of railways under the authorization regime, covering 19,000 kilometers (11,780 miles) of new private railways, crossing sixteen Federation Units, and investments that exceed R$224 billion (US$42.56 billion). 

“ENSCO is excited to partner with Valec to serve Brazil’s railway sector with cutting-edge track inspection technology and engineering services combined with Valec’s world-class planning and railway operations expertise,” stated ENSCO, Inc. President, Jeff Stevens. “This partnership is designed to play a critical role in the advancement of safety and infrastructure planning for the growing Brazilian railway sector in both the public and private sectors. ENSCO’s engineers have pioneered the use of advanced inspection measurement technology, high resolution imaging technologies, and automation software, and engineering services including simulation, which combined with Valec’s expertise in transportation projects, environmental licensing, territorial management, and construction of Brazil’s great railways will ensure track safety while increasing railway operating efficiency and productivity.”

Valec Engenharia is a state-owned company linked to the Ministry of Infrastructure (Minfra) which oversees the construction and operation of railway infrastructure. With 50 years of existence, its main assets are the Brazilian structural railways: Ferrovia Norte-Sul (FNS), Ferrovia de Integração Oeste-Leste (FIOL) and, in partnership with Vale, the Ferrovia de Integração Centro-Oeste (FICO). Recently, based on the new legal and regulatory frameworks, the guidelines of the state-owned railway began to point to the offer of consulting services to a growing Brazilian railway market.

ENSCO Rail products and services are provided to governments and railways in more than 14 countries on five continents. ENSCO Rail is part of the greater Surface Transportation Group (STG) within ENSCO, Inc.

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