Wabtec loco contract with vale

Vale and Wabtec Corporation have signed a master service agreement (MSA) to enhance the efficiency of the Evolution Series (EVO) locomotive fleet on the Estrada de Ferro Carajás (EFC). The strategic 10-year deal, valued at R$1.8 billion, aims to optimize maintenance services, boosting performance and reliability while expanding freight transport on the EFC, which connects southeast Pará to São Luís, Maranhão. Carlos Medeiros, Vice President of Operations at Vale, emphasized that this agreement marks a new standard of reliability, availability, and safety for EFC locomotives, showcasing Vale's commitment to advancing railway technology and operations in Brazil.

Under the agreement, Wabtec will analyze three years of EFC locomotive performance data and provide real-time monitoring of 5,000 parameters for the EVO locomotives. The company's Global Performance Optimization Centers will evaluate the data to continuously improve performance and optimize maintenance cycles, reducing towing and failure rates. Danilo Miyasato, President and Regional Leader of Wabtec in Latin America, highlighted Wabtec's track record in maximizing locomotive reliability and efficiency, reinforcing the long-standing partnership with Vale.

The agreement also promises economic benefits for São Luís, including the creation of specialized jobs that will strengthen regional infrastructure and the local economy. Intensive training programs will equip the Vale team with advanced skills to maintain and operate the locomotives efficiently. The initiative is part of Vale's Partilhar Program, which supports sustainable development in the regions where it operates, complementing Wabtec's social investment efforts through the Voluntec program.

The EFC, spanning approximately 1,000 kilometers, connects Parauapebas in Pará to São Luís in Maranhão, covering 28 municipalities. With a current transportation capacity of 240 million tons per year, the fleet includes 300 locomotives and around 24,000 wagons, with an average of 22 train pairs circulating daily. The EFC is recognized by the National Land Transport Agency (ANTT) as Brazil's safest railway, a testament to Vale's ongoing investments in technology and safety measures for the railway and its surrounding communities.