The sound of the whistle, the smoke announcing the train’s passage, and the landscape of the Serra da Mantiqueira slowly unfolding through the window. The experience of traveling by rail, marked by nostalgia and the charm of historic railways, is the starting point of the concession project for the Campos do Jordão Railway (EFCJ), carried out by the Government of São Paulo through the Secretariat of Partnerships and Investments (SPI). The proposal includes three tourist travel modalities aimed at preserving railway heritage and boosting tourism in the region.
Connecting visitors to iconic landscapes, one highlight is the steam locomotive ride between Emílio Ribas (Capivari) and Abernéssia, featuring a historic locomotive and carriages, on a 30-minute round trip that revives the region’s railway memory.
The concession also includes two additional travel modalities: the Short Tourist route, in a hop-on hop-off format with free boarding and disembarking at strategic tourist stops between Emílio Ribas and Nova Portal; and the Medium Tourist route, between Nova Portal and Eugênio Lefèvre Station, connecting Campos do Jordão to Santo Antônio do Pinhal along a 12.4-kilometer journey through mountain scenery.
In addition to regular services, the future concessionaire may offer additional experiences such as onboard service, tour guides, seat reservations, food and beverage sales, and premium options.
Operating rules
To ensure transparency and service quality, the concessionaire must present a travel policy after contract signing, detailing refund rules, transportation of luggage, bicycles, and animals, and ensuring that prices and conditions are widely disclosed at both physical and digital sales points. Maximum fares will be established for weekdays, with options designed to serve different visitor profiles.
The contract also requires compliance with gratuity legislation and includes a commitment to partner with municipalities in the region to offer periodic free trips to public school students. In addition, the concessionaire will be responsible for preserving the complex’s historic visual identity, managing visitor data, and operating under the supervision of the Public Services Regulatory Agency (Arsesp).
Through the concession, the State Government aims to strengthen regional tourism, enhance railway heritage, and transform the train journey into a complete experience—where the destination matters, but the journey itself, filled with memories and landscapes, is equally valued.
The auction for the Campos do Jordão Railway concession is scheduled for April 29 at B3, in São Paulo.