Welcome to the Panama Metro

Computer-generated picture depicting a small boy before the Panama Metro sometime in the future when the transportation project is operating. This is how one of the stations will look like. Picture courtesy of Metro de Panamá.

If are a regular reader of Lingua Franca, you probably know that I’ve followed the Panama Metro like a laser beam.  I want to know everything that happens with this landmark public transportation project.  It will be the next big thing in Panama after the expansion of the Panama Canal.

Recently, watching the news, I found out that a real scale model of a subway car was going to be exhibited at the XXI version of EXPOCOMER 2013 organized by the Panama Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama.  EXPOCOMER is the largest commercial fair in Latin America.  More than 36 countries show their products to potential customers for three days.  According to a representative of EXPOCOMER, Panama´s economy was injected with $35 million during the event (hotel reservations, restaurants, taxi fares, shopping, tourist tours, souvenirs sales and so on and so forth and such like) and more than $80 million were generated in sales for same period.  Each passing year the numbers grow like mushrooms in a forest.

At midday on Saturday, April 20, 2013 I dashed over to EXPOCOMER to see how the Metro car looked like.  The real scale model represented one half of the real size of car, measuring about 9 meters long by 2.7 meters wide.  I was jumping out of my skin to shoot my pictures of this baby.

Before I insert the pictures taken, I would like to include a brief description of this mega-project for your ready reference.

EL METRO DE PANAMÁ

The first subway in Panama will have 19 trains hauling three passenger coaches each with a capacity to transport safely and reliably, initially up to 15,000 passengers per hour in each direction.  The mass transportation system is designed to carry up to 40,000 users per hour in each direction when it’s in full operation. The first of three branches is built on the route with the most demand for public transportation within the metropolis.

The first phase of Metro Line 1 will have 19 trains with a total of 57 cars, with a maximum capacity of 250 people per car, at a rate of 8 persons per square meter.  At full capacity Line 1 of the Panama Metro will have a fleet of 42 trains of 5 cars per train, which will allow the system to meet the transportation demand for that moment.  The first Panama Metro trains will be arriving about June 2013.

The Panama Metro is a mass transportation public project which consists of twelve stations; seven will be underground and five above ground.  The planned route is 14 kilometers long and should be completed in a time frame of about 23 minutes.  The designers of the system claim that there will be a train crossing the route every three minutes carrying a total of 15,000 passengers in each direction, (e.g., North and South).

The mega-project of Line One of the Panama Metro was awarded to Odebrecht of Brazil and Spanish FCC (Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas).  The trains were designed by the prestigious French corporation Alstom, focused on the business of manufacturing trains.

The above-ground or viaduct of the subway initiates at the Los Andes shopping center and concludes at Plaza Agora, where the trains descends into a tunnel until it reaches its destination at the Albrook Grand Terminal.  This raised section is 5.12 kilometers long with five passenger stations in strategic locations with a high flow of users.

The under-ground part of the subway begins from Plaza Agora, continues through Fernández de Córdoba Avenue, Justo Arosemena Avenue, Plaza 5 de Mayo and the DIJ.  This part of the subway is 6.7 kilometers long.  There is an extra stretch of 1.88 kilometers until the infrastructure reaches Albrook Station  where it connects with a main transportation terminal through a special walkway.

The average speed of the subway will be 80 kilometers per hour.  Transportation service will be from 5:00 a.m. through 11:00 p.m. every day of the year.  It is estimated that the Panama Metro will begin its operations during the first quarter of 2014.  The project has a total cost of $1.5 billion which is significant for a small country like Panama with limited financial resources.  Work has already begun on feasibility studies for a second line which will be carried out by the next administration.

Passenger Stations of the Panama Metro:

1.  Los Andes
2. Pan de Azúcar
3. San Miguelito
4. Pueblo Nuevo
5. Doce de Octubre
6. Vía Fernández de Córdoba
7. Vía Argentina
8. Iglesia del Carmen
9. Hospital Santo Tomás
10. Lotería Nacional de Beneficiencia
11. Plaza 5 de Mayo
12. Albrook Terminal

PICTURE GALLERY

Snapshot of the white tent which housed the real scale model of a subway car on exhibition at EXPOCOMER. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Snapshot of the Panama subway exhibited at the XXI version of EXPOCOMER in Panama City, Panama. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Snapshot of the driver’s cabin depicting a small computer screen a several operating buttons. Everything is computerized in this mass public transportation project. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

A close up picture of the dashboard of the subway. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

A digital indicator of the different stations of the subway. As soon as the train reaches a particular station, a light will show the arrival of the train on the wall. Very easy to find yourself around if you are a newcomer to the subway. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Snapshot of one of the beautiful guides posing for the camera. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Snapshot of three enthusiastic guests at the subway posing for the camera. Their friendly smiles is contagious. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Snapshot of Yours Truly taking a picture of the subway car through a large mirror on one of walls of the structure. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

To end this fascinating tour to the Panama Metro, I thought it would be interesting to insert a YouTube video of the project.  Even though the video is in Spanish, I’m sure you will understand the concept of the transportation project.  Please stay tuned, there will be more pictures about this project in the future.  You can bet on it. Keep your eyes open.  Good Day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3BTs71TtvY

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Construction of a Subway Passenger Station in Panama

The subway project is moving full speed ahead as scheduled.  The underground tunnels are completed as well as the above ground railway platforms.  They are now laying the rails and building the subway stations.  As you will see in the next set of pictures, the architecture is very modern and will enhance the glamour of this vibrant metropolis in the middle of the world.  I’m sure this structure will be visited and photographed by thousands of foreign and local visitors alike when it’s finished sometime next year.

This is how the subway stations look like, albeit they are still under construction.  Can’t wait to see them totally built.  For sure I’ll share them with you at Lingua Franca.  While I write blog post, this is their current appearance.  Enjoy.

Snapshot of the above-ground section of the Panama subway with a passenger’s station under construction in the background. This shot was taken on the Transisthmian Highway in Panama City, Panama last Sunday, April 7, 2013. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

A close up view of the roof of the subway’s station in Panama City, Panama. Notice the modern architecture of the structure very much in style with the vibrating spirit of this cosmopolitan metropolis. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

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The Panama Subway in Black and White

One of the most important public works of Ricardo Martinelli’s administration is the construction of the first phase of a subway network in Panama City.  Two additional branches are scheduled for construction in the future.  When the entire subway network is finished, Panama City will have a subway system with three branches carrying passengers to the metropolis from the north, east and west.

It’s a visionary project which will place Martinelli as one of the most energetic and productive presidents in the history of our young nation.

Below are several pictures of the Panama subway under construction in black and white.  One day people will look back at these pictures and remember how the city was before this wonderful structure was accomplished.  Even as we speak, history is being made.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

More pictures of this exceptional structure are in the works.  If this is your cup of tea, please return tomorrow for more images of the subway in full color.  Good Day.

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Highways in the Sky

Snapshot of the silhouette of the Panama subway at the crack of dawn on a lazy Sunday morning. At that early hour of the day, men were working on the structure. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

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The Panama Metro is Up to Speed

It was recently announced by an the subway’s official spokesman, that the project is progressing as scheduled.  He claimed the structure is 72 percent finished and should be ready, either by year’s end or early next year.  This project will be the flagship of president Ricardo Martinelli’s administration.

Below are several pictures taken on the morning of Sunday, March 3, 2013.   I can hardly wait to see this public work finished.  It will place Panama City as one of the most modern cities in Latin America.  Our GDP grew 10.7 percent last year, one of the highest in the world.  Unemployment is only 4 percent, which is often called “structured unemployment”.  People are looking for jobs and jobs are looking for people, but they have not met yet.  A four percent unemployment is considered by economists as full employment for the reason I just mentioned.

Snapshot of the subway at the intersection of the Transisthmian Highway and Via Ricardo J. Alfaro in Panama City, Panama. It is the first line of a total of three planned for the upcoming years. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

 

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Monitoring the Progress of Panama’s Subway

If you have been a regular follower of my blog, you probably know that President Ricardo Martinelli and his staff are getting up to speed to finish the huge public work of the Panama subway during the second half of 2013 or early 2014, shortly before his term is over. It would be the first subway in Panama and Central America.

The 13.7 kilometers subway line, which will have 17 stations, will replace some bus routes that have been in operation in the city for more than 40 years.  The subway line will connect downtown Panama City with suburbs in the north of the city.  Two more branches are in the pipeline to connect Panama City with suburbs east and west of the metropolis.  These two projects will be completed by future administrations.

A total of 1.5 billion U.S. dollars will be invested in the subway Line 1 in Panama City.  This first transit line is planned for completion in 2014 and will travel 14 kilometers through the high traffic areas of the city.  There will be 17 metro stops both above ground and below ground and there will be an aiding metro bus system throughout the city.

This enormous project will drastically change the transportation culture of Panama City.  Major traffic disruption throughout the busy areas of Panama City will occur during the construction process but in the hopes for a better future of Panama’s transportation.

Below are several pictures shot on the morning of Sunday, March 3, 2013.  A huge red rectangle at the construction site captured my attention.  Here we go.

Snapshot of a complex structure used to support the huge columns of concrete while they are still wet. This construction site is situated at the intersection of Via Transístmica and Via Ricardo J. Alfaro in Panama City, Panama. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

This overpass leads to the International Tocumen Airport. It is one of the busiest transit areas of Panama City connecting the metropolis to the north in the Special District of San Miguelito. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

If you are interested in construction sites, tomorrow I will continue inserting more pictures of this important public project which is the flagship of Ricardo Martinelli’s administration.  Stay tuned and Good Day.

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Laying the Rails of Panama’s Subway System

Photograph of a crew of the Panama subway laying the rails of a landmark public work project under the administration of Ricardo Martinelli. Credit: El Metro de Panamá

The modernization of Panama’s transportation system is progressing within schedule.  The Metro Bus project is almost finished and the Diablos Rojos are slowly fading away into the sunset.  The subway system should be finished sometime in 2014, the last year of president Ricardo Martinelli’s administration.

By the time he leaves office, the first phase of the subway system should be completed.  The bidding process for the second phase connecting Panama City to the East will be also ready.  And the blueprint for the third and last phase of a monorail connecting the metropolis to the West, will be in the drawing board.

During his recent visit to Japan, Mr. Martinelli had serious conversations with the Prime Minister of Japan regarding this important transportation system.  Japan promised to fully cooperate with Panama in building a monorail from the cities of Chorrera and Arraijan to Panama City.

A modern mass transportation system will be a legacy of Ricardo Martinelli.  Panama is rapidly becoming the most modern city in Central America.  Good Day.

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The Subway in Panama is Moving Forward

Snapshot of the construction of a subway in Panama City on Sunday, May 30, 2012. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

The construction of a subway in Panama began on Monday, February 14, 2011 which by the way, is Valentine’s Day in Panama.  It has an allotted budget of $1.6 billion and should be finished sometime in 2014.  Year 2014 marks the end of the administration of President Ricardo Martinelli, who made the subway, one of his main campaign promises.

The system will open with an initial capacity of 15,000 passengers an hour in each direction, with more being added over a period of several years to peak at 40,000 passengers.  When it is accomplished, trains will travel a 8.7-mile line in 23 minutes with stops at 13 stations, some above ground and others below.  It will run between the Special District of San Miguelito and Albrook’s bus terminal.

The picture above displayed the support beams being built on May 30, 2012, about four months ago.  Last Sunday, September 8, 2012, I drove over to the Transisthmian Highway to take pictures of the level of progress made on this iconic mega-project.

Below you will find several pictures which depict the most recent work in progress.  As you can see, the structure above ground is now finished and the rails will soon be laid out. Here we go.

Snapshot of the construction of a subway in Panama City, Panama as of September 8, 2012. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

I will be monitoring the progress of this public construction project and will share with you the improvements made until it is inaugurated sometime in 2014.  I’m proud that Panama is moving forward becoming the most modern city in Central America.  Good Day.

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Panama Subway in Progress

The construction of the first subway in Middle America began on Monday, February 14, 2011 which by the way, is Valentine’s Day in Panama.  It has an allotted budget of $1.6 billion and should be finished sometime in 2014.  This year will coincide with the last year in office of President Ricardo Martinelli, who made the construction of the subway, one of his main campaign promises, as well as a radical reform of the education system.

“I want to be remembered as the person who transformed Panama’s mass transportation system and improved the quality of life of Panamanians,” said Mr. Martinelli when he awarded the building contract.  The whole project includes four subway routes, one of them over the Panama Canal towards the west of the Isthmus.

The subway—ninth in Latin America, but first in Central America—is being built by an international consortium that includes France’s Alstom, Brazil’s Norberto Odebrecht and Spain’s Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas.  Alstom will design and build the trains and electromechanical systems for the mass transportation public project.

The system will open with an initial capacity of 15,000 passengers an hour in each direction, with more being added over a period of several years to peak at 40,000 passengers.  When it is completed, trains will travel a 8.7-mile line in 23 minutes with stops at 13 stations, some above ground and others below.  It will run between the highly densely populated San Miguelito Special District and Albrook national bus terminal.

Last Sunday, May 20, 2012, I drove over to the Trans-isthmian Highway to take pictures on the progress made on this mega-project.  The railway support beams are now being built and can be seen above ground.  Take a look at the pictures which shows the work in progress.  Here we go.

Snapshot of the construction of the Panama subway in Panama City, Panama on Sunday, May 20, 2012. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

You can see a Metro bus towards your left.  Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

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The Dirt is Flying at the Subway’s Construction Sites

True to his word Ricardo Martinelli, President of the Republic of Panama, has given the green light for the construction of Panama’s new subway.  I recently went to Fenández de Córdoba Street in the neighborhood of Vista Hermosa and found that an extensive area was under construction.  I was appalled at the intensity of the works being performed there.  You can perceive that Martinelli wants to finish the project by the year 2014.  It will the first line of the metro.  The next administrations will have to complete the other lines, one of which will cross the Panama Canal to connect the cities of Arraiján and La Chorrera to Panama City.

The year 2014 will coincide with the last year in office of President Ricardo Martinelli, who made construction of the metro one of his main campaign promises.

“I want to be remembered as the person who transformed Panama’s transportation system and improved the quality of life of Panamanians,” Martinelli said in awarding the contract.

Below are several pictures of the construction site of the Panama Metro in Panama City, Panama.  Here we go.

Snapshot of a worker at the Panama subway construction site. He told me he wanted his picture taken to be part of history. Good thinking, as with this image, he will be part of Panama's history for his children to see. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.

Snapshot of the construction site of the subway with the city in the background. If look closely, you will notice the Revolution Tower in the middle of the picture. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.

Snapshot of work in progress of Panama's next Metro to alleviate the traffic jams in the city. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.

Snapshot of a huge safety net to separate the construction site from the pedestrian area to avoid unnecessary accidents. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.

Work in progress of the subway in the neighborhood of Vista Hermosa in Panama City, Panama. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.

Snapshot of the pedestrian area where you will find people walking to get to their destination. The whole area is closed to traffic. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.

Snapshot of the pedestrian area with brightly colored net to protect the people walking alongside the construction site. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.

Many small business will need to be relocated as well as telephone booths and other installations such as telephone poles and water pipelines. The project is very complex and expensive. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.

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