Brazil to build high speed train line

SAO PAULO, Brazil - Brazil's Transportation Ministry says it hopes to have a high-speed train operating in time for the 2014 Wold Cup.

Ministry's transportation policy director Marcelo Perrupato says the new train line is expected to cost some US$15 billion and will link the cities of Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Campinas.

Perrupato said on Tuesday that the project will be put out to bid in March and construction should begin by early 2010 or sooner.

He says the technology will most likely be provided by companies from France, Japan, Korea or Germany that will form consortiums with Brazilian engineering firms. The only two companies he mentioned were Frances Alstom SA and Germany's Siemens AG.