Rio de Janeiro expands fleet and modernizes transport

The second‑stage bidding for the RIO System has been completed, and new vehicles are already hitting the streets, promising improvements for passengers.

Urban mobility in Rio de Janeiro's West Zone is undergoing a significant transformation following the recent completion of the second‑stage bidding for the RIO System and the immediate introduction of new buses. The city hall announced a substantial fleet increase and service modernization, aiming to improve public transport for thousands of passengers.

Fleet expansion and new concessions in the West Zone

On Friday (the 28th), the second‑stage bidding for the RIO System set a 54% increase in the West Zone bus fleet. The total number of vehicles will rise from 654 to 1,006, covering the neighborhoods of Guaratiba, Santa Cruz, Campo Grande and Bangu. Companies Jabour and Sancetur won the tender, submitting proposals of R$ 10.40 to R$ 11.78 per kilometre driven. Jabour won Lot B1‑B8 (Campo Grande and Guaratiba) with R$ 10.64, while Sancetur won Lots A1‑B6 (Santa Cruz and Guaratiba) with R$ 10.40 and C1‑C2 (Bangu) with R$ 11.78. The new buses from this stage are scheduled to start operating in the first quarter of 2027.

Modern and sustainable buses already on the road

While the contracted fleet is being prepared, this Sunday (the 30th) 54 new buses began circulating in Campo Grande after being delivered on Saturday (the 29th) by the city hall. That delivery also marked the inauguration of the first public garage of the new network in Campo Grande. In Santa Cruz, another 115 new vehicles are already in operation. In total, Campo Grande and Santa Cruz received 169 vehicles during August. By December, another 147 buses will be added, bringing the total to 316 for these two areas in the first stage. The vehicles are brand‑new, low‑floor and wheelchair‑accessible, air‑conditioned, and equipped with USB and USB‑C chargers. They also feature GPS, interior security cameras, an emergency button for the driver, and electronic information panels. The fleet complies with the Euro VI environmental standard, reducing pollutant emissions by up to 80% and allowing the use of clean‑energy technologies.

New management and oversight model

The RIO System represents a shift in the municipal transport concession model. According to the city hall, the public sector now has full control and mechanisms to prevent harm to the population. Concessionaires are responsible for acquiring and operating the fleet, maintaining the vehicles, implementing and managing public garages, and installing Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). The new model provides remuneration per kilometre driven and evaluates operational quality through the Transport Quality Index (IQT). ITS will enable real‑time fleet monitoring, giving the city more tools to oversee and enforce service quality.

Infrastructure investments for the West Zone

Beyond fleet renewal, the West Zone is also receiving infrastructure investments. The first public garage, inaugurated in Campo Grande, spans 56,000 m² and can accommodate 380 Euro VI‑engine buses. The facility includes areas for washing, fueling and vehicle maintenance. On Sunday (the 23rd), Mayor Eduardo Cavaliere announced the Santa Cruz Mobility Plan, with an initial investment of R$ 443 million for more than 70 kilometres of interventions. The plan aims to reorganize intersections, improve access points and enhance vehicle and pedestrian movement, following the model being implemented in Campo Grande.

Impact for passengers and the system’s future

Mayor Eduardo Cavaliere stated that the new bidding guarantees over 1,000 brand‑new buses on the streets, aiming to bring the conventional bus system the same transformation the city achieved with the BRTs. He highlighted that the number of passengers carried by the new buses in Santa Cruz more than doubled during the first week of operation. Municipal Transport Secretary Jorge Arraes added that, with the vehicle delivery, the entry‑fleet of the first stage is now complete, and the second stage foresees the hiring of another thousand buses to transform West Zone transport. The RIO System is being rolled out gradually, starting with the West Zone, where concession contracts for Campo Grande and Santa Cruz were signed in March of this year.

With information from G1, Diário do Rio, Rio de Janeiro City Hall.