Starting this Sunday (May 17th), Ilha do Governador will have a bus line operated by Mobi-Rio. The decision to maintain a line in the neighborhood, which connects the island to Tijuca and is managed by the municipal company, was made due to the poor service provided by the current operator. Line 634 (Saens Peña x Bananal) will begin operating on Sunday at 5 am and will continue with trips 24 hours a day, with a fleet of 25 new, more modern buses equipped with air conditioning.
The new line operated by MOBI is the first municipal line to accept only payments with Jaé and Riocard cards (only for users of the Intermunicipal Single Ticket). This line does not accept cash on buses. For other lines, the measure will be in effect from May 30th, as is already the case on the BRT and VLT.
Line 634 is one of the main services on Ilha do Governador, connecting the region with Tijuca. It serves residents daily who travel to Fundão, the bus station, as well as the neighborhoods of Bancários, Jardim Guanabara, Bonsucesso, Manguinhos, Benfica, São Cristóvão, and Praça da Bandeira.
With the new operation, the 634 becomes the thirteenth municipal line with a 100% renewed fleet in the city. The modernization also includes other lines such as: 753 (Santa Cruz – Coelho Neto), 754 (Santa Cruz – Terminal Deodoro), 756 (Santa Cruz – Coelho Neto), 757 (Sepetiba – Coelho Neto), 870 (Sepetiba – Santa Cruz), 731 (Campo Grande – Marechal Hermes), 765 (Mendanha – Terminal Deodoro), 826 (Carobinha – Campo Grande), SN731 (Campo Grande – Marechal Hermes – Night), 897 (Pingo D'Água x Paciência), SP328 (Bananal – Terminal Fundão) and 327 (Ribeira – Castelo).
New buses in the municipal fleet
The new vehicles are part of the 102 buses presented in April to reinforce the city's fleet. The other 77 buses were acquired through a judicial agreement signed on April 30th of last year between the Rio de Janeiro City Hall and the consortia that make up the Rio Ônibus union.
The agreement, in addition to bringing forward the end of the concession contracts, previously scheduled for 2028, stipulated that approximately R$ 70 million, deposited in court, would be allocated to the purchase of new air-conditioned buses, which will become part of the municipal public assets upon termination of the concessions. In December 2025, another 100 new buses began to reinforce operations in 20 neighborhoods in the West Zone.
RIO System Bidding Processes
The bidding process for the new municipal bus system, the RIO System, is underway. The first phase covered Campo Grande and Santa Cruz, with contracts signed in March. In these regions, the fleet will increase from 104 to 316 buses, with 169 scheduled to begin operation in August and 147 in September.
In April, the call for bids for the second phase was published, covering Bangu, Santa Cruz, Vila Isabel, and Ilha do Governador, with a projected start in December and more than a thousand new buses—a 63% increase in the fleet for these regions. The expansion will be distributed as follows: Santa Cruz: from 109 to 187 vehicles; Bangu: from 259 to 380; Vila Isabel and Ilha do Governador: from 204 to 287; and Ilha do Governador: from 58 to 173 vehicles.
The new model represents an advance in public transport management, with remuneration per kilometer traveled and performance evaluation based on operational indicators. The new fleet will be 100% brand new and accessible, with air conditioning, GPS integrated into the Operational Control Center, electronic panels, and internal cameras. The vehicles will comply with the Euro VI environmental standard, with a reduction of up to 80% in pollutant emissions, and may use natural gas, biomethane, or electricity. Cash payment on board will be eliminated, with the exclusive adoption of the electronic ticketing system.
Operational plan for line 634 (Bananal x Saens Peña):
According to the operational plan, the line is expected to make 65 trips on weekdays, 58 on Saturdays, and 45 on Sundays, operating 24 hours a day.
bananal
Cocota
Cacuia
Portuguesa
BRT Terminal Fundao
Nations Square
little squirrels
Sao Cristovao Fair
Leopoldina Station
Mariz e Barros Street
Saens Peña
