Panama is entering a new era of public transportation with the arrival of the first monorail train from the Japanese company Hitachi, this is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

The monorail train from Hitachi

This monorail train, the first of 28 planned for delivery, represents a significant step in the development of Panama’s infrastructure.

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The train successfully completed factory tests in Japan and will now undergo testing on Panama’s third metro line.

The contract for the delivery of these trains, totaling $883 million, was signed with the Hitachi consortium, Hitachi Rail STS, and Mitsubishi.

They will be made of lightweight aluminum alloys and equipped with advanced Hitachi B-CHOP regenerative braking technology, which will help reduce the overall energy consumption of the system.

In addition, the trains will be equipped with automatic collision prevention systems, climate control systems, and video surveillance.

But it’s not just rolling stock included in the contract – electrification of the new line and the supply of signaling and train control systems are also provided for.

The project for the third metro line began in 2016 with the signing of a memorandum of cooperation between Panama and Japan.

The total cost of this project, including infrastructure construction, is $2.06 billion.

Construction is being carried out by the HPH consortium, which includes major companies such as Hyundai Engineering and Construction and Posco E&C.

The monorail train from Hitachi

The third metro line, spanning 25.4 km, will connect important areas of Panama City.

It will mainly be elevated but will also pass under the Panama Canal over a 6 km stretch.

Tunneling work will be carried out by the China Railway Tunnel Group and is scheduled to begin in the early second quarter of 2024, with an expected completion in 22 months.

It is expected that the line will be fully operational by the end of 2026, making a significant contribution to reducing transportation burden and improving mobility in the capital of Panama.

Photo: railwayage.com / elmetrodepanama.com

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