Brazil’s Ministry of Transport and Crossrail International Limited signed a memorandum of understanding on 12 February in Brasília to expand technical cooperation in the railway sector.
Crossrail International is linked to the UK Department for Transport. The memorandum establishes cooperation in planning, governance, regulation, sustainability, operational safety and infrastructure financing models. It also opens a communication channel with other British institutions, including UK Export Finance, the Office of Rail and Road, Transport for London and Network Rail.
The agreement comes as Brazil advances a new National Railway Concessions Policy launched in November 2025. The programme covers more than 9,000 km of rail projects and foresees eight auctions. The government estimates investments of BRL 140bn, equivalent to approximately EUR 26bn, with total contract potential of up to BRL 600bn (around EUR 112bn).
Projects listed in the programme include the Southeast Railway Ring (EF-118), Ferrogrão, the East-West Corridor, the West Railway network and corridors within the South Railway network.
Construction is also progressing on the Central-West Integration Railway (FICO), which exceeded 35% completion in 2025. The line is intended to connect Goiás and Mato Grosso and integrate with the North-South Railway for agricultural flows.
In passenger transport, the ministry has identified sections for regular or occasional services and selected six priority projects. These include the Brasília–Luziânia corridor, which is in the final stage of development.