The Panamanian Cabinet has approved a $4.17 million contract with the U.S. firm AECOM USA, Inc. for technical and strategic advisory services for the Panama–David railway project. This ambitious initiative, driven by President José Raúl Mulino, aims to develop a railway line connecting Panama City with David in the Chiriquí province and extending to the border with Costa Rica. The project's main goal is to improve Panama's transport infrastructure, facilitating the movement of people and cargo between these key regions and providing access to international markets. The planned 475-kilometer railway will feature 14 stations and will enable travel from the capital to David in three hours or less, with passenger speeds of up to 180 km/h and cargo speeds of 100 km/h. The initial section, from Panamá Pacífico to Divisa, is scheduled to begin construction in 2026, following the completion of technical studies. Under the new contract, consultants will develop the 20% engineering design for the Albrook–Sajalices segment and coordinate the preparation of the project's feasibility study in accordance with the Ministry of Economy and Finance's guidelines. They will also monitor the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), develop technical requirements for Phase 1, and assist in the project's definition and structuring. «This project, led by President José Raúl Mulino, is an ambitious initiative to develop a railway line that will connect Panama City with David, in the province of Chiriquí, and its extension to the border with the Republic of Costa Rica. This project aims to improve Panama's transport infrastructure, facilitating the movement of people and cargo between these important regions of the country and access to international markets,» the official communication states.
