Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Table of Contents
Overview - Rio de Janeiro
Located on the west side of the Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro is the capital of Rio de Janeiro and the second largest city by population in Brazil. It has approximately 6,748,000 inhabitants in the city proper as of 2020. The Rio de Janeiro metropolitan area comprised 12,280,702 residents as of the 2020 IBGE census estimate.
Rio de Janeiro's rapid transit network consists of three metro lines, four modern tramway services, and four bus rapid transit lines. It also has five regional and three commuter rail lines, and a historic tramway. It also has two gondola lift services, one of which has not operated since 2016 due to a lack of funding. There are tourist aerial lifts (Bondinho do Pão de Açúcar) and a rack railway (Trem do Corcovado), which are not covered on this website.
MetrôRio
Opened 1979, MetrôRio consists of metro lines that serve the city of Rio de Janeiro and the surrounding suburbs. In August 2022, many stations had neighborhood names officially added on; we are not showing these on our website due to space considerations.
Line 1 (Linha 1)
MetrôRio Line 1 is a metro line on a rotated L-shaped alignment. It runs from Uruguai in the west to General Osório in the southeast via Central, serving 20 stations. Services typically through operate onto Line 4.
Line 1 was opened in March 1979 and the last extension to the line was to General Osório in December 2009. Line 1 is owned by Rio Trilhos.
Line 2 (Linha 2)
MetrôRio Line 2 is a metro line on a northwest-south alignment. It runs from Pavuna in the northwest to Botafogo in the south via Central, serving 26 stations.
Line 2 was opened in November 1981 and the last extension to the line was the link to Line 1 in November 2010. Line 2 is owned by Rio Trilhos.
Line 4 (Linha 4)
MetrôRio Line 4 is a metro line on an east-west. It runs from Jardim Oceânico in the west to General Osório in the east, serving 6 stations. Services typically through operate onto Line 1.
Line 4 was opened in July 2016. Line 4 is owned by Rio Trilhos.
VLT Carioca
Opened 2016, VLT Carioca consists of four modern tramway services that serve the city of Rio de Janeiro.
Line 1 (Linha 1)
VLT Carioca Line 1 is a modern tramway service on a northwest-southeast alignment. It runs from Terminal Gentileza in the northwest to Santos Dumont in the southeast, serving 20 stations of which 9 are served in a single direction only.
Line 1 was opened in June 2016 and the last extension to the line was to Terminal Gentileza in February 2024. Line 1 is owned by the Prefeitura do Rio de Janeiro.
Line 2 (Linha 2)
VLT Carioca Line 2 is a modern tramway service on a northwest-southeast alignment. It runs from Praia Formosa in the northwest to Praça XV in the southeast, serving 14 stations of which 6 are served in a single direction only.
Line 2 was opened in February 2017 and the last extension to the line was to Praia Formosa in December 2017. Line 2 is owned by the Prefeitura do Rio de Janeiro.
Line 3 (Linha 3)
VLT Carioca Line 3 is a modern tramway service on a northwest-southeast alignment. It runs from Central in the northwest to Santos Dumont in the southeast, serving 10 stations
Line 3 was opened in October 2019. Line 3 is owned by the Prefeitura do Rio de Janeiro.
Line 4 (Linha 4)
VLT Carioca Line 4 is a modern tramway service on a northwest-southeast alignment. It runs from Terminal Gentileza in the northwest to Praça XV in the southeast, serving 14 stations of which 6 are served in a single direction only. It is a de-facto branch of Line 2.
Line 4 was opened in March 2024. Line 4 is owned by the Prefeitura do Rio de Janeiro.
BRT Mobi-Rio
Opened 2012, the BRT do Rio de Janeiro, or BRT Mobi-Rio, consists of four bus rapid transit lines that serve the city of Rio de Janeiro and the western suburbs.
TransOeste
TransOeste is a bus rapid transit line on a rotated U shaped alignment. It runs from Santa Cruz in the northwest and Campo Grande in the west to Jardim Oceânico in the southeast, serving 65 stations of which four are served in a single direction only. Through services from the other lines at Terminal Alvorada not shown on the strip map above. Note that paradero (local/stopping) services detour into Terminal Recreio between Salvador Allende and Pontões/Barra Sul to allow for in-system transfers with the other corridors.
TransOeste was opened in June 2012 and the last extension to the line was a number of stations opening in 2016. TransOeste is operated by MOBI-Rio.
TransCarioca
TransCarioca is a bus rapid transit line on a northeast-southwest alignment. It runs from Terminal Alvorada in the southwest to Terminal Paulo da Portela and Galeão Tom Jobim in the northeast, serving 47 stations of which two (Penha 1/2) are served in a single direction only. Services through operate onto TransOeste and TransOlímpica. Note that Santa Efigênia is only served by express services - paradero (local/stopping) services use Merck instead.
TransCarioca was opened in June 2014 and the last extension to the line was a number of stations opening in October 2014. TransCarioca is operated by MOBI-Rio.
TransOlímpica
TransOlímpica is a bus rapid transit line on a north-south alignment. It runs from Terminal Recreio in the south to Terminal Sulacap and Terminal Deodoro in the north, serving 22 stations. Services through operate onto TransCarioca (and onto TransOeste via TransCarioca). Note that some services may skip Terminal Centro Olímpico if they serve Morro de Outeiro.
TransOlímpica was opened in July 2016 and the last extension was to Deodoro in September 2023 to connect to TransBrasil. TransOlímpica is operated by MOBI-Rio.
TransBrasil
TransBrasil is a bus rapid transit line on an upside down U-shaped alignment. It runs from Terminal Deodoro in the west to Terminal Gentileza in the east, serving 19 stations. Services through operate onto TransCarioca.
TransBrasil was opened for limited trial service in February 2024. Full trial service began in March 2024 with full service starting in April 2024. TransBrasil is operated by MOBI-Rio.
SuperVia
Beginning service in its current form in 1998, SuperVia consists of five regional and three commuter rail lines that serve the city of Rio de Janeiro and its suburbs. A shuttle runs between Honório Gurgel and Deodoro and is not covered below.
Deodoro
The Deodoro Line is a regional rail line on an east-west alignment. It runs from Deodoro in the west to Central do Brasil in the east, serving 19 stations. It through-operates onto the Santa Cruz and Japeri lines outside of midday hours.
The Deodoro Line began operations in its current form in November 1998. In June 2020, all services began through operating on to the Santa Cruz line, though with changes in July 2024, both Japeri and Santa Cruz trains through operate outside of midday hours.
Santa Cruz
The Santa Cruz Line is a regional rail line on an east-west alignment. It runs from Santa Cruz in the west to Central do Brasil via Deodoro in the east, serving 23 stations. Outside of midday hours, it through-operates onto the Deodoro Line as a local, skipping Silva Freire station.
The Santa Cruz Line began operations in its current form in November 1998. It was integrated with the Deodoro Line full time between June 2020 and July 2024, after which it returned to using the express tracks it shares with the Japeri Line during midday hours.
Japeri
The Japeri Line is a regional rail line on an northwest-southeast alignment. It runs from Japeri in the northwest to Central do Brasil in the southeast, serving 20 stations. From the start of service to the end of the AM rush, outbound trains run local on the Deodoro Line, and the reverse occurs for inbound trains from the start of the PM rush to end of service - these trains skip Silva Freire entirely (which is only served during midday).
The Japeri Line began operations in its current form in November 1998. We are unsure of when Deodoro Line through service began (early 2024?)
Paracambi
The Paracambi Line is a commuter rail line on a northwest-southeast alignment. It runs from Paracambi in the northwest to Japeri in the southeast, serving 3 stations.
The Paracambi Line began operations in its current form in November 1998.
Belford Roxo
The Belford Roxo Line is a regional rail line on a northwest-southeast alignment. It runs from Belford Roxo in the northwest to Central do Brasil in the southeast, serving 19 stations.
The Belford Roxo Line began operations in its current form in November 1998.
Saracuruna
The Saracuruna Line is a regional rail line on a north-south alignment. It runs from Gramacho and Saracuruna in the north to Central do Brasil in the south, serving 20 stations. A linear transfer is in place at Gramacho.
The Saracuruna Line began operations in its current form in November 1998.
Vila Inhomirim
The Vila Inhomirim Line is a commuter rail line on an east-west alignment. It runs from Saracuruna in the west to Vila Inhomirim in the east, serving 8 stations.
The Vila Inhomirim Line began operations in its current form in November 1998.
Guapimirim
The Guapimirim Line is a commuter rail line on an east-west alignment. It runs from Saracuruna in the west to Guapimirim in the east, serving 15 stations.
The Guapimirim Line began operations in its current form in November 1998.
Santa Teresa Tram (Bonde de Santa Teresa)
Opened 1896, The Bonde de Santa Teresa is the last remaining part of the original tram network in Rio de Janeiro.
Santa Teresa Tram
The Santa Teresa Tram is a heritage tramway service on a north-south alignment. It runs from Carioca in the north to Dois Irmãos in the south, serving 6 stations. There are also a number of request stops along the line without platforms or dedicated infrastructure, and a branch to Francisco Muratóri with extremely limited service, which is not featured on this website.
The Santa Teresa Tram was opened in September 1896. The entire line was suspended between August 2011 and July 2015. Service to Dois Irmãos was restored in January 2019. The Santa Teresa Tram is operated by CENTRAL.
Gondola Lifts
Opened 2011, Rio de Janeiro's gondola lift network comprises two separate lines, one of which has been out of service since 2016.
Teleférico da Providência
The Teleférico da Providência is a gondola lift service on a north-south alignment. It runs from Gamboa in the north to Central in the south, serving 3 stations.
The Teleférico da Providência was opened in July 2014. Service was suspended between December 2016 and April 2024.
References & Helpful Links
Rio de Janeiro Metro at Wikipedia | Metrô de Rio de Janeiro at Wikipedia.pt
Rio de Janeiro Light Rail at Wikipedia | VLT Carioca at Wikipedia.pt
SuperVia at Wikipedia | SuperVia at Wikipedia.pt
Santa Teresa Tram at Wikipedia | Bonde de Santa Teresa at Wikipedia.pt
Teleférico da Providência at Wikipedia | Teleférico da Providência at Wikipedia.pt
Official Website for MetrôRio: MetrôRio
Official Website for VLT Carioca: VLT Rio
Official Website for BRT Rio: BRT Rio
Official Website for SuperVia: SuperVia
Official Website for Santa Teresa Tram: Bonde de Santa Teresa
Maps
All Official Maps - Metrô Rio [Last Accessed April 20, 2024]
Official Integrated Map (2018) [JPEG] [Last Accessed April 20, 2024]
Official System Map - MetrôRio [PDF] [Last Accessed April 20, 2024]
Official System Map - VLT Carioca [JPEG] [Last Accessed April 20, 2024]
Official System Map - SuperVia [PDF] [Last Accessed April 20, 2024]
Other Sources
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil at Urbanrail.net
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil at BRTDATA.org
Other Websites
External Citations
Asset Notes
Metro colors taken from MetrôRio website as of January 27, 2022.
BRT colors taken from MobiRIO website as of April 20, 2024. Originally (before opening of TransBrasil), taken from official BRT system map as of January 27, 2022.
Bonde de Santa Teresa colors taken from 2018 integrated map.
VLT colors taken from official VLT map as of February 28, 2024 (version with VLT Line 4). Formerly taken (Lines 1-3) from 2018 integrated map.
SuperVia colors taken from CSS on SuperVia website and from SuperVia logo on Wikipedia as of January 27, 2022.