During pay periods, the flow increased from 380,000 to approximately 425,000 daily passengers, which has pressured operational capacity. “This impacts our frequency to provide the service, and therefore, this support from the Council of Cabinet is key for the development of the Panama Metro,” added Pinzón. The increase in demand coincides with recent adjustments to the public transportation system by MiBus, which has led more users to opt for the metro as an alternative. Furthermore, they emphasized that these tasks require highly qualified personnel with specific technical knowledge in railway systems. The Panama Metro indicated that it maintains constant demand assessment while advancing in the implementation of this contract, considered strategic to sustain the service amid the accelerated user growth in the network. On weekdays, an increase of about 20,000 additional passengers has been registered, while during pay periods the rise ranges between 35,000 and 45,000 users. This growth, coupled with the rising cost of fuel, has made the metro a more economical and efficient option for thousands of Panamanians, increasing pressure on the railway system. Faced with this scenario, authorities highlighted that specialized maintenance is fundamental to guarantee the safety, punctuality, and continuous operation of the trains. Contract No. 7-26 will allow for the execution of preventive, corrective, predictive, and aesthetic maintenance tasks on the train fleet, as well as on signaling systems and electrical substations. The contract will have a duration of six months, plus two additional months for its liquidation, for an amount of up to $4,329,872.89. This specialized maintenance must be carried out by competent personnel with full technical knowledge, as it is highly important to guarantee the correct operation, safety, and punctuality of the trains during commercial operation, justified the Panama Metro. The general director of the Metro, César Pinzón, described the measure as key to ensuring service continuity. “Maintenance issues are becoming critical in the Panama Metro. On regular days, the system moved around 360,000 users, a figure that has risen to 380,000. The Council of Cabinet approved the exceptional hiring of the company Alstom Panamá S.A. to reinforce the maintenance of Line 2 of the Panama Metro, amidst a sustained increase in user demand, driven, among other factors, by the rise in fuel prices. The decision, adopted through Decree No., has now helped us with having more demand,” he stated. According to him, the passenger increase has been notable in recent weeks.
