MRS Logística is a Corporation, created in 1996, to bid for an auction, pursuant to Notice PND/A-05/96/RFFSA, dated July 11, 1996, for the privatization of RFFSA (Southeastern Railway Network of Rede Ferroviária Federal S.A. – acronym in Portuguese). The consortium led by the largest customers of RFFSA’s Southeastern Railway Network, who have become MRS’s largest shareholders, was the sole participant in the auction.
The Concession Agreement with the Federal Government was entered into on November 28, 1996, and ensured MSR the right to operate the rail cargo transport in the Southeastern Railway Network, for a period of 30 years, renewable for a further 30 years, at the exclusive discretion of the Granting Authority. On the same date, a lease agreement was executed for the same term and renewable for the same period of operational assets owned by RFFSA related to the provision of the service under concession. In July 2022, the early renewal of the concession agreement was signed, for a period of 30 years, starting in 2026.
1996 – Creation of MRS
MRS was created when the government transferred the management of the national railway system to the private sector. In that year, the company managed 1167 km, 401 locomotives, and 11000 wagons. Currently operating more than 770 locomotives and almost 19000 wagons along the 1643 km of track, MRS is one of the largest cargo railroads in the world.
1998 – Innovation with the Train Simulator
In a pioneering project, MRS invested R$ 3.6 million to acquire a train simulator. With the purchase of the equipment, the company started the largest and most modern training program for train drivers in Brazil. Over 5500 training sessions (employee x course) have already been carried out in the Train Simulator. The tool continues to be one of the training and safety bases used by MRS and, for 2023, the acquisition of new simulators is planned, with the most advanced technology available on the market.
2000 – Bigger and Better in Transportation
MRS was acknowledged as the Best and Biggest in Transportation, an award granted by Revista Ferroviária magazine. MRS received this recognition for another 11 years.
2003 – First Net Income
MRS recorded its first net income (R$ 352 million), in seven years, and annual revenues of nearly R$ 1.2 billion. Today, the company transports four times what it did in 1996.
2003 – Highlight in Corporate Citizenship
Recognition, by Guia de Boa Cidadania Corporativa, an annual publication by Exame magazine, of two projects carried out in communities in Conselheiro Lafaiete (MG): Parceria que dá Certo (Partnership that Works) and Linha Verde (Green Line).
2005 – More than 100 million tons transported
For the first time, MRS passes the mark of 100 million tons transported. Processes, technologies, investments, and a lot of sweat are behind all this progress. The numbers prove it. Today, the equivalent of the entire annual production of 1996, nearly 40,000 useful tons, is transported in just one quarter.
2006 – Horto Workshop (MG)
Horto workshop, in Belo Horizonte (MG), was linked to the company’s concession. After a series of negotiations with RFFSA, the Ministry of Transport, ANTT, and the Government of Minas Gerais, on July 28, the Amendment Instrument No. 4 to the Lease Agreement was signed, by which the workshop complex in Horto Florestal was classified as “operational assets”.
2007- Investment in Permanent Ways
Significant investment was made in the maintenance of the Company’s Permanent Way: R$ 23 million for the purchase of a driver, two regulators and a clear machine.
2010 – Investment in Social Inclusion
MRS holds the first training course for people with disabilities. A major milestone for inclusion in the company.
2011 – One of the largest contracts in the industry for the acquisition of locomotives
Partnership with GE for the acquisition of 115 AC44 locomotives, delivered in 2011 and 2012. This was one of the largest railway deals in the world and the largest single purchase of locomotives by MRS, with an investment of R$ 529 million.
2012 – Locomotives for Serra da Cremalheira
Purchase of seven new Stadler locomotives for operation in Serra da Cremalheira (SP). The new machines designed specially to this operation, are almost 18 meters long, with a power of 5000 kW, and ensure operational safety by containing the cargo on the way down or pushing it on the way up. This R$ 140 million investment was considered the first step to eliminate bottlenecks in the rail access to the Port of Santos and also to relieve road traffic.
2012 – Best Companies to Work For
For the second year in a row, MRS was included in Guia Você S/A Exame‘s Best 150 Companies to Work For. This time, with a special taste: MRS was also the best in Transportation and Logistics. In the subsequent year, 2013, the company was also included in the ranking of the Best companies.
2014 – East Segregation Project – End of rail sharing
Investment of R$ 200 million to end of the sharing of tracks between cargo and passenger trains on the stretch connecting Itaquaquecetuba (Manoel Feio) to Suzano, in São Paulo, with a distance of 12 km, providing more safety and productivity.
2015 –Record in days without accidents at work
Zero Accident. MRS recorded the all-time record of 73 consecutive days without work-related accidents. As happened in October 2014, MRS closed an entire month without accidents in July 2015.
2016 – Energy efficiency record
Even after breaking the record of energy efficiency month after month, MRS did not settle down and continued the search for better results, also focusing on cost reduction. In June 2016, the indicator was 2460 L/kTKB (Liter/Thousand Ton Gross Kilometer), a record in MRS up to that point. The indicator calculates the number of liters of diesel used to transport 1000 gross tons for 1 km.
2016 – HR Portal
Launch of the HR Portal, a system designed to give more freedom and convenience in MRS career management and to simplify team and information management.
2017 – Record at the General Cargo level
For the first time in its history, MRS reaches 30% of General Cargo transported. This was a result of a work developed for years by different areas of the company in search of increased cargo diversification. Items such as agricultural and steel products, cement and containers are defined as General Cargo.
2018 – Record in the reduction of fuel consumption
Period when the indicator of energy efficiency, which measures the fuel consumption of locomotives, reached its lowest historical level: the mark of 2446 L/kTKB. This represented a decrease of 4.5 million liters of diesel compared to 2017. That same year, MRS was elected the Best Transport Company in Brazil, in a survey published by Exame magazine.
2019 – Record at transit time of iron ore
The iron ore transit time, indicator that estimates the transportation time (from origin to destination) of the Company’s main cargo, also improved, reaching 19.08 hours, the best result in the entire historical series.
2020 – Unmanned Train (TNT – acronym in Portuguese), record in General Cargo transport and lowest historical rate of personal accidents
Consolidation of the operation of the Unmanned Train (TNT – acronym in Portuguese), an innovative initiative to meet the safety requirements for railway operation in the Self-Rescue Zone (ZAS – acronym in Portuguese). At the same time, MRS also marked its annual record in General Cargo volume transported, reaching 61.7Mt (considering cargo transported by MRS and cargo from other railways (paid through the right of way). Finally, 2020 also was the year in which the Company recorded the lowest number of personal accidents (11) with a rate of 0.51 accidents per million hours worked.
2021 – Pederneiras Intermodal Complex (SP) and Diversity
Construction, in record time, of Pederneiras (SP) Intermodal Complex, a railway terminal dedicated to pulp transport, consolidating MRS presence in general cargo transport. New record in the volume of General Cargo transport, which reached 62.8 million tons (considering cargo transported by the Company and cargo from other railroads – paid through the right of way). Consolidation of practices related to Diversity and Inclusion, with the publication of the Organizational Guideline for Diversity and Non-Discrimination and the creation of a specific structure to address the topic.
2022 – Renewal of the concession agreement and record in General Cargo
After several years of negotiation, in July of this year, MRS signed the renewal of the concession agreement for additional 30 years, starting in 2026. The amendment to the agreement begins a new phase for the Company, with the specific restructuring of areas and the expectation of expanding investments. General Cargo transport reached 71 million tons in the year, a new all-time record, representing 40.2% of the total volume transported.
