The Panama Railroad
By Juan Carlos Martinez
Generally when people mention the Panama logistics hub, they mention ports, the Panama Canal, the airport however you only hear the Panama Railroad mentioned as an afterthought and it really is a major albeit silent player in the logistics business.
The Panama Canal Railway Company (PCRC) has indicated that the first quarter of 2010 has broken records in container movement since its inauguration. The first quarter so far has been even better than 2008 which has been its best year so far. In 2009 PCRC moved 250,000 container and in 2008 it moved 325,000 containers. They expect to move 325,000 containers in 2010.
In 2008 same as the ports with which it closely works the PCRC initiated an aggressive expansion program of $30,000,000 dollars in equipment, buying seven additional locomotives, two My Jack cranes, 28 double width wagons and lengthened the trains from seven wagons to ten wagons.
The PCRC works closely with the ports as it delivers and picks up containers at ports on both sides of the isthmus. With the arrival in 2009 of the world's second largest shipping company, MSC, the volume of cargo ferried by PCRC increased exponentially. Data from PCRC indicates that this shipping company increases cargo volume every week and they maximize their cargo strategy by using the railway.
The Panama Canal Railway Company is a joint venture between Kansas City Southern, a U.S. Class I Railroad, and Mi-Jack Products, an intermodal terminal operator. It was granted a 50 year concession to rebuild and operate the Panama Railway line. It invested approximately $80 million dollars to revitalize the line providing another very important link in Panama's logistic hub.
The PCRC not only carries cargo it also provides passenger service allowing passengers to enjoy a journey through Panama's lush jungles and through the history of Panama as well. The Panama Canal Railway as it currently exists is a reincarnation of the original Panama Canal Railway whose construction started in 1850 approximately and in 1851 with only seven miles of track laid out it started ferrying passengers; desperate to head towards the California gold mines. Finally in 1855 the two oceans came together in one railway. It was a single track railroad 47 miles long uniting the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
It is well worth the ride. Be sure not to miss it. Any travel agency will arrange a tour or you can just purchase your ticket at the railway office. The train leaves Panama at 7:15 am and leaves from Colon for the return part of the journey at 5:15 pm. Special trips for groups greater than 10 can be arranged through their marketing department. It is a wonderful way to visit Colon and to get to the Colon Free Zone as well. The round trip fair for adults is approximately $44.00
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