Trivia Trens Takes Full Control of CPTM's Coral, Safira, and Jade Lines
As of midnight on Tuesday, October 21st, the concessionaire Trivia Trens has officially assumed full operational control of São Paulo's CPTM Lines 11-Coral, 12-Safira, and 13-Jade. This transition marks the end of a 60-day "assisted operation" period, during which Trivia Trens managed the three lines, spanning over 101 km, under the supervision of the state-owned Companhia Paulista de Trens Metropolitanos (CPTM). Now, CPTM is completely out of the operational picture, and Trivia Trens is responsible for the 92 trains currently serving these lines, with a commitment to add 15 more trains by the end of the 25-year concession. Trivia Trens is part of the Comporte Participações group, founded by Nenê Constantino, who also co-founded the airline Gol. The concession was awarded in March of the previous year through an auction held by Governor Tarcísio de Freitas's administration, which requires Trivia Trens to invest R$ 14.3 billion in improvements over the concession term. Line 11-Coral covers 50.5 km with 17 stations, serving an average of 608,000 passengers daily. Line 12-Safira extends 39.0 km with 13 stations, carrying approximately 263,000 passengers per day. Line 13-Jade is the shortest at 12.2 km with 3 stations, averaging 18,000 daily passengers. During the assisted operation phase, Line 11-Coral experienced a significant increase in failures, with at least 11 incidents reported between June and July, a 275% rise compared to the first half of 2026 when CPTM was solely in charge. In contrast, failures on Line 12-Safira decreased by 18% during the same period, while Line 13-Jade's failure rate remained stable. Trivia Trens has committed to opening eight new stations, expanding the network by 25.8 km, and making the R$ 14.3 billion investment over the 25-year concession period.
The transfer of CPTM's Lines 11, 12, and 13 to Trivia Trens signifies a shift towards private sector involvement in public transportation infrastructure, driven by a stated commitment to significant investment and modernization. While the concession mandates substantial capital infusion and network expansion over 25 years, the initial operational phase has highlighted potential challenges, particularly the reported increase in failures on Line 11-Coral. This situation underscores the critical need for robust oversight and performance metrics to ensure that private operators meet their contractual obligations and deliver reliable service. The varying performance across the lines suggests that operational dynamics and infrastructure conditions may differ significantly, requiring tailored management strategies. Looking ahead, the success of this concession will depend on Trivia Trens' ability to effectively integrate new rolling stock, address infrastructure deficiencies, and maintain service quality, while CPTM's role may evolve towards regulatory and strategic planning functions.
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