São Paulo Opens Congonhas–Morumbi Monorail in Limited Weekday Service

Overview

• The line, which opened Tuesday, starts in assisted operation on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with free rides and trains about every seven minutes.
• Seven stations are active between the airport and Morumbi, with Washington Luís slated to join after more testing on the Y junction expected around June.
• Governor Tarcísio de Freitas authorized engineering work for four added stations including Paraisópolis, with the bid notice due Wednesday and construction targeted for 2029 with delivery estimated around 2031.
• The first phase cost about R$5.8–R$5.97 billion, or roughly R$698 million per kilometer, which media note is near subway costs despite lower capacity and forecasts of about 93,000–100,000 riders a day at full operation.
• BYD supplied shorter 60‑meter trains that carry up to 616 people, and the rubber‑tyred monorail runs on a single elevated concrete beam with a tunnel giving direct station access to the Congonhas terminal.