CPTM Strike Halts Three Train Lines in SP

Which CPTM lines are affected by the strike?

Workers at the Companhia Paulista de Trens Metropolitanos (CPTM) launched a strike at midnight on Tuesday (August 4), partially halting three major suburban rail lines in São Paulo. Line 11-Coral is running only between Palmeiras-Barra Funda and Guaianases stations, while Line 12-Safira operates only between Brás and Engenheiro Goulart. Line 13-Jade is completely shut down.

How many commuters are impacted?

Authorities estimate around 1 million people are affected by the partial shutdown. Crowding has become severe at other operating stations across the network, as commuters scramble for alternatives.

What emergency measures are in place?

A court order requires workers to maintain 80% of normal train capacity in operation, but that threshold was not being met at the time of reporting. In response, the São Paulo city government suspended the car rotation (rodízio) restriction, and the emergency bus plan known as Paese was activated, deploying extra buses near affected stations. The metro system added more trains on Lines 1-Azul, 2-Verde, 3-Vermelha, and 15-Prata. By 7:50 a.m., traffic monitoring agency CET recorded 412 km of traffic jams across the city.

Why are CPTM workers striking?

Workers are demanding that the São Paulo state government review the privatisation process for these lines, which was completed in July. The handover to concessionaire Trívia was already temporarily suspended after a fire broke out in the company's first week of operations. Strikers are calling for job guarantees for 4,000 workers and the cancellation of what they describe as an opaque privatisation deal that harms passengers and employees alike.