The main purpose of the railway is to serve as a transshipment link for containerized shipments between ports of the Atlantic and Pacific, between the cities of Panama and Colon. Trains have a capacity of 10 trains in each direction (north and south), whereby each trip takes approximately one (1) hour and thirty (30) min. The loading/unloading operations of trains at the cargo terminal is estimated around two hours. Train departure times are subject to port operations and demand from shipping companies for transshipment.
The railway consists of the Pacific terminal (connected laterally to the port of Balboa), and the Atlantic terminal. The latter is divided into two tracks, the first accesses directly to the interior of the Port of Cristobal, whereas the second, reaches the Terminal of Coco Solo that serves Port of Manzanillo International Terminal and Colon Container Terminal, through intermodal facilities.
The railway also offers passenger service between the cities of Panama and Colon, with a fixed schedule Monday through Friday, departing from Panama at 07:15 a.m., and returning from Colon at 05:15 p.m.
For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Government Contact List.
Travel Time Matrix
|
Panama City |
Colon City |
|
|---|---|---|
|
Panama City |
|
1.30 h |
|
Colon City |
1.30 h |
|
Railway Companies & Consortia
The railroad administration and operation is managed by Panama Canal Railway Company (PCRC), formed by the union of companies between Kansas City Southern and Mi-Jack Products, through concession granted by the State for the service of train transportation for both freight and passenger service between the cities of Panama and Colon.
The concession granted to Panama Railway Company in its entirety is by law considered as a customs rail corridor, in which cargo can be transshipped from one coast to another, tax free. Customs has simplified procedures for cargo transport.
For more information on railway company contact details, please see the following link: 4.9 Railway Companies Contact List.
Capacity Table
| Rail Operator Capacity |
PCRC |
|---|---|
|
Tracks Operates On |
2 |
|
Max Train Length and / or Pulling Capacity |
7 groups of 55 double stack container railcars |
|
Locomotives |
18, Diesel |
|
Covered Freight Wagons Size (m) |
N/A |
|
Flatbed Freight Wagons Size (m) |
N/A |
|
High-sided Freight Wagons Size (m) |
N/A |
|
Drop-side Freight Wagons Size (m) |
N/A |
Key Route Information
|
Panama to Colon / Colon to Panama |
|
|---|---|
|
Track Gauge |
N/A |
|
Ruling Gradient |
N/A |
|
Total Track Distance |
76.59 km |
|
Type of Rail |
N/A |
|
Type of Sleeper and Fastenings |
N/A |
|
Total Track Travel Time |
1.5 hours |
|
Maintenance |
N/A |
|
Companies / Consortiums Operating on Line |
PCRC |
|
Traffic Frequency |
10 trains per day in each direction |
|
Security |
N/A |
|
Main Stations |
Intermodal Terminal Pacific Side / Intermodal Terminal Atlantic Side |
Main Stations
|
Intermodal Terminal Pacific Side |
Intermodal Terminal Atlantic Side |
|
|---|---|---|
|
Location |
8.97701944, 79.56750000 |
9.16666667, 80.16666667 |
|
Contact Information |
N/A | N/A |
|
Connections with Other Transport Means |
Port of Balboa |
Ports of MIT and CCT |
|
Storage Capacity (m2 and m3) |
N/A | N/A |
|
Handling Equipment |
N/A | N/A |
|
Handling Capacity |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Other Comments |
N/A | N/A |
