World Famous Bonde to be Restored From the Ground Up
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – Rio's world famous Santa Teresa Bonde will be out of service for at least a year, said Rogerio Onofre, president of the Department of Transportation and Highways (DETRO). Rio de Janeiro Governor Sergio Cabral had selected Onofre to oversee the reconstruction of the Bonde system, reported O Globo Online Monday.
The estimate is a result of the preliminary survey of the condition of the trams, conducted by a committee investigating the August 28th crash, which left six dead and 57 wounded.
“Saying that the trams will be back in service any faster would be making a promise that could not be fulfilled,” Onofre said, adding that he “deplored the condition of the trams.” He went on to say that “the mess is even bigger than I declared the first time I saw the state of the maintenance shop and went to Santa Teresa to inspect the system as a whole.”
Prosecutors have launched an investigation into possible criminal liability of the State Transportation Secretary, Julio Lopes, in relation to the deaths on the trolley, reported Ancelmo Gois yesterday in his O Globo column. Lopes was reportedly subpoenaed to testify on Friday.
Onofre said that DETRA will transfer U.S. $17.3 million to Central, the trolley's management company, which will be responsible for the restoration. The first $11 million will be transferred by December and the remainder during 2012.
The project includes renovation of air lines, electrical wiring, a new substation, restoration of 13 trolley cars, a tram extension and restoration of service on the Wildlife line which ceased operation in 2004.
“With a view towards tourism, the proposal includes reactivating the Wildlife line, which will make a connection to the little train up to Corcovado,” Onofre said. “We will also be using a newer type of track which is much safer and less subject to wear and tear.”
“We will take as much time as necessary to reopen the trams because the governor wants to start from scratch. The restoration must happen with the greatest degree of quality, no patches, workarounds or half-effort, which is what we had before.”
The 115-year-old trolley system had not been restored since the 1980s.
Brazilian online news source: O Globo
Read also: More Articles from Brazil Dispatch
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