Rail transport in Panama

Since 1974, the only functioning railroad in Panama is Panama Canal Railway Company, successor of Panama Railway - the oldest transcontinental railroad in the world. It provides passenger and freight service between Panama City and Colón. Historically, there were also narrow gauge railroads in Chiriquí Province (Ferrocarril de Chiriquí); they have however been abandoned in the late twentieth century.[1]

Panama Canal Railway Company

Main article: Panama Canal Railway
Panama Canal Railway Passenger train in yard at Colon
Panama Canal Railway Container train arrival at Colon

During the first half of the nineteenth century, travel across the Isthmus of Panama was difficult and dangerous. The need for a more reliable interoceanic communication grew stronger after the acquisition of California by the United States. The construction of a transcontinental railroad started in 1850 and the first train from coast to coast passed on January 28, 1855. However, more than twelve thousand workers probably died during the construction.

The railway greatly assisted in the building of Panama Canal, which closely paralleled and in some places took over the rail line. Parts of the rail route were moved during the building of the canal, and considerable additions were made to the rail system. The rebuilt and improved Panama Railway beside the canal was completed in 1912.

In 1979, the US government handed over control to the government of Panama. On 19 June 1998, the government of Panama turned over control to the private Panama Canal Railway Company ("PCRC"). The Panama Railway was originally 1,524 mm (5 ft) broad gauge, but when it was rebuilt in 2000, the gauge was changed to 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) so as to use standard gauge equipment.

As of 2015, Panama Canal Railway Company runs both passenger and freight trains between Panama City and Colón Timetable and fares. Passenger service consists of one service per direction Monday-Friday and the regular one way fare is US$25.

Ferrocarril de Chiriquí

At the end of the nineteenth century, the government of Panama studied the feasibility of additional railroads. In 1910, Panama Railway was commissioned to estimate cost of a railroad from Panama City to David, Chiriquí with branches to Antón (Coclé Province) and Los Santos. The costs were however too high and the government decided to construct additional network in Chiriquí Province only. In 1914, a contract was signed for construction of a railroad David - Boquete - Concepción with a branch Dolega - Potrerillos and another short one to Puerto Pedregal. The railroad was inaugurated on April 23, 1916 with the first train from David to Boquete. (Dr. Alonso Roy)

Edwards Rail Car company reports an undated acknowledgment of their three railcars, which were delivered to Ferrocarril de Chiriquí probably in the 1920s.

In the 1930s and 1940s, the railroads are mentioned in connection with Chiriquí Land Co., a United Fruit company, involved in banana growing and real estate management in Panama. The railroad used General Electric engines ().
In Bocas del Toro Province, Chiriqui Land Co. also operated a railroad system that covered Almirante, Changuinola, Guabito and parts of Sixaola. This railroad was removed in 1999, leaving only the bridge over Changuinola River.

After 1974, the infrastructure of Chiriquí Railroads was transferred to Ministry of Public Works (Ministerio de Obras Públicas) and operations were stopped. At the beginning of the twenty-first century, the tracks of the defunct railroads are being dismantled and reused for construction of bridges in rural areas La Prensa February 21, 2003.

Trams

Main article: Tramways of Panama

Two separate and distinct tram or streetcar systems operated in Panama City. The first started service on October 1, 1893, and ended during the Thousand Days' War. The second started in 1913 and operated, with reorganizations and company transferrals, until May 31, 1941.[2]

Feristsa

The FERISTSA Railway was proposed to connect Mexico with Panama.[3]

Panama City Metro

In 2010, contracts were awarded for line 1 of a metro system for Panama City.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rail transport in Panama.

References

  1. ↑ Ediciones prensa.com
  2. ↑ Morrison, Allen (1 February 2008). "The Tramways of Colombia / Panama". Retrieved 2011-05-05.
  3. ↑ "Shaw Group in talks with US railroad cos for Feristsa project, Central America, Infrastructure, news". Retrieved 2010-10-16.
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