Brazil has revived its proposed BRL33bn ($16.5bn) high-speed railway project that would link Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. The 317 mile high-speed rail line will connect the cities of Sao Paulo, Campinas and Rio de Janeiro with scheduled completion in 2018.

The bidding process for the project will be divided into two phases which include a public consultation phase, allowing people to offer their suggestions by 24th September and bidding phase.

The interested companies will have to submit their bids by 30 April 2013.

Short listing of bidders to build and operate the trains will take place on 29 May 2013 while the bidding to carry out the related infrastructure work for the project will take place in early 2014.

According to the Brazil’s National Agency of Terrestrial Transport (ANTT), the company or consortium that will build the trains and operate the system will be selected first and later a contract will be awarded for building the railway lines, stations and the remaining infrastructure needed for the train’s operation.

So far, companies from South Korea, France, Spain, Japan and Germany have showed interest to build the high-speed rail line.

Upon completion, the rail line would transport about 33 million people in its first year of operations and is expected to increase to 100 million by 2030.

The project was first announced four years ago as part of infrastructure project in the run up to 2014 Soccer World Cup.

But earlier attempt to bid the project failed as interested companies bidding for the project rejected some demands by the Brazilian government with last bidding held in July 2011.

The project involves construction of 90.9km of tunnels and another 107.8km of bridges and viaducts to traverse the rivers and mountainous terrain that separate Sao Paulo from Rio de Janeiro.

The revival project follows the unveiling of BRL133bn ($65.5bn) infrastructure investment plan to improve the country’s roads and railways over the next 25 years.

Main aim of the contract is to build up to 8000km of new roads as well as 10000km of rail lines to improve links between productive areas and the country’s seaports and airports.