VLI, a company specialising in logistics solutions for terminals, railways, and ports, has recently purchased 78 units of Hopper HTT wagons designed for transporting agricultural commodities and fertilisers. The acquisition aims to enhance the company's cargo capacity in the North corridor, connecting the states of Tocantins and Maranhão, where a new logistics corridor for fertilisers is set to be officially inaugurated.
The Hopper HTT wagons, developed and manufactured by Greenbrier Maxion, boast three key improvements: reduced length without compromising volume, decreased tare weight, and increased lifespan. These optimisations result in a higher load capacity per train. Another notable feature is the rapid unloading system and the internal coating with special paint, which prevents cargo retention inside the wagon. The partnership between VLI and Greenbrier Maxion has been ongoing for several years.
To increase the capacity of the Arco Norte operation, VLI has also incorporated six locomotives into its fleet since 2020. During the same period, the company acquired over 300 wagons for its Northern Corridor fleet.
VLI operates five logistics corridors (Center-North, Center-Southeast, Center-East, Minas-Rio and Minas-Bahia), nine intermodal terminals, port operations in 7 terminals, 3 of which are owned, and four railroads, with more than 800 locomotives and 24 thousand wagons. Its main commodities consist of grains, industrial and minerals, fertilizers, fuels, forestry and sugar. In February 2023, VLI signed a contract to acquire nine Wabtec ES-43BBI locomotives for the transport of cargo on Ferrovia Centro-Atlântica (FCA).
The new fertiliser corridor in the Arco Norte region of Brazil is the outcome of a collaboration between VLI, and Companhia Operadora Portuária do Itaqui (Copi). It connects the Copi terminal in Maranhão to the Terminal Integrador de Palmeirante, constructed and operated by VLI in Tocantins.
