Maria Fumaça between São João del Rei and Tiradentes will have a new operator from September

Maria Fumaça runs between the cities of São João del Rei and Tiradentes VLI/Disclosure The traditional Maria Fumaça, which connects São João del Rei to Tiradentes, will have a new operator from September 1st. The change occurs after the termination of the VLI concession contract, which had been in force since 1996, and after the review of the railway's transfer contract by the National Historical and Artistic Heritage Institute (Iphan) and the Federal Public Ministry (MPF). ? Click here to follow the g1 Zona da Mata channel on WhatsApp From September onwards, management of the railway will be the direct responsibility of the municipalities. According to the concessionaire, an administrative transfer agreement for the São João del Rei and Tiradentes Railway Complex was signed between the company, the National Historical and Artistic Heritage Institute (Iphan) and the city halls of the two municipalities on June 23, enabling the transition of management of the complex to a new operating entity. Embark on a tour of Maria Fumaça and learn about part of the history of MG "The future operation will focus exclusively on tourist activity and the preservation of the cultural heritage represented by Maria Fumaça and the Railway Museum", explained VLI", which highlighted that the National Land Transport Agency (ANTT) and other bodies are monitoring the process. VLI explained that it will remain responsible for the operation until the change and will monitor the entire transition process to ensure the continuity of the service, without impacts on tourism in In a note, the city of São João del Rei confirmed that the operations of the Ferrovia Centro-Atlântica (FCA), currently managed by VLI, ended after the review of the railway assignment contract by Iphan and the MPF, together with the end of the company's federal concession, signed in August 1996 and valid for 30 years. territory, while the operation of the railway will be carried out by an entity specialized in preserving railway heritage, with recognized capacity and experience, in compliance with the determinations of Iphan and the Federal Public Ministry", explained the city hall. Also according to the Executive of São João del Rei, all costs of the operation will be the responsibility of the new operator as is done in the current model, without any financial burden for both municipalities. The report also sought out the Municipality of Tiradentes and ANTT, but received no response until the last update of this report. 12km tourist route The Maria Fumaça is one of the few steam engines in the world still in operation and the oldest in Brazil. The locomotive connects the two historic cities on a 12km route, being considered one of the most traditional attractions in Minas Gerais.