Rail transport in Panama
Since 2008, there was only one functioning
Panama Canal Railway
During the first half of the 19th 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 United States government handed over control of the Canal Zone and railway 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
As of 2015, Panama Canal Railway Company runs both passenger and freight trains between Panama City and Colón. Passenger service consists of one service in each 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
Edwards Rail Car company reports an undated acknowledgment of their three railcars,[4] which were delivered to Ferrocarril de Chiriquí probably in the 1920s.
After 1974, the infrastructure of Chiriquí Railroads was transferred to Ministry of Public Works (Ministerio de Obras Públicas) and operations were stopped around 1990.[5] 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[6]
In David, the depot is now a public library, while a steam locomotive, No. 1, is on display at the city's fairground.[7] Rehabilitation of the depot and the rolling stock located at La Concepción for a new museum began in January 2021.[8]
Chiriquí Land Company
The Chiriquí Land Company was a
These were divided into two systems of similar size, both entirely 914 mm (3 ft) narrow gauge. The southern, in Chiriquí Province, was closed by 1988.[5] The northern, in Bocas del Toro Province, covered Almirante, Changuinola, Guabito and parts of Sixaola. The last-mentioned section closed in 1999, leaving only the bridge over Changuinola River. The remainder was closed between 2005 and 2008.[5] The railroad used General Electric engines.[9]
Trams
Two separate and distinct
Panama City Metro
Contracts were awarded in 2010 for line 1 of the Panama Metro in Panama City, with 14 stations. Service began in April 2014, and the first phase of line two began service in 2019, bringing the total number of stations to 29.
Panama City-David railway
The government of Panama and China Tiesiju Civil Engineering Group had collaborated to construct a new
See also
- Panama
- Transport in Panama
- Panama Railway
- Rail transport by country
References
- ^ Ediciones prensa.com BROKEN LINK Archived 2007-03-12 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Barrett, John (1913). "Panama Canal". HathiTrust. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
- ^ "INAUGURACIÓN DEL FERROCARRIL DE CHIRIQUÍ". Dr. Alonso Roy (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 23 August 2006.
- ^ "Kudos". Edwards Rail Car Company. Archived from the original on 2 May 2006.
- ^ a b c d "Panama - Friends of Latin American Railways". Retrieved 11 January 2017.
- ^ Rivera, Sandra Alicia (21 February 2003). "MOP recupera 525 rieles de antiguo ferrocarril". La Prensa (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 12 March 2007.
- ^ Caballero, Elmer (15 December 2014). "El caballo que dejó de galopar". La Estrella de Panamá (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 March 2021.
- ^ "Avanza restauración del museo en la estación del ferrocarril de Bugaba". Metro Libre. 11 January 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
- ^ Berliner, S. III. "Chiriqui Land Co. Miniboxcabs". S. Berliner, III's sbiii.com Boxcabs Page.
- ^ Morrison, Allen (1 February 2008). "The Tramways of Colombia / Panama". Retrieved 5 May 2011.
- ^ "Panamá y China evaluan construcción de ferrocarril rápido". Prensa Latina (in Spanish). 25 December 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
- ^ Thornett, Robert C. (31 October 2020). "Belt and Road Hazards, Coming to the Americas". Modern Diplomacy. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
External links
- Panama Canal Railway Company
- Video from Pája's Travelogue featuring a train ride along Panama Railway and engines (mules) of Panama Canal (narrative in Czech)
- UNHCP Atlas Map