This project aims to improve Panama's transportation infrastructure, facilitating the movement of people and cargo between key regions of the country and access to international markets.
The Council of Ministers today approved Resolution No. 145-25, authorizing the contract through an exceptional procedure between the National Secretariat of the Railroad (SNDF) and the renowned U.S. firm AECOM USA, Inc. (AECOM Panamá), for technical and strategic advisory services. The services will cover the development of 20% engineering for the Albrook-Sajalices segment and the consolidation of studies for the feasibility document of the Panama-David-Frontier train project, for an amount of B/.4,170,394.73.
The SNDF reported that it has advanced on the project's master plan, as well as on the scope of the 20% engineering development for a segment of Phase 1. The contract also includes the hiring of studies for the Environmental Impact Assessment, studies of the target population and market analysis, the Financial Evaluation, and the Economic and Social Evaluation.
In addition, the SNDF has requested the inclusion of 20% engineering development for additional segments between Albrook Station and El Espino, as well as the 20% conceptual design of the fifth bridge over the Panama Canal, a critical infrastructure for the railway corridor connection.
However, the project now requires a new consultancy that includes:
• The production and coordination of feasibility studies for the project that will lead to the elaboration of the feasibility document, in line with the Methodological Guide for Project Formulation and Evaluation of the MEF. • The design of the fifth bridge over the Panama Canal and the estimation of the CAPEX; the technical accompaniment and monitoring of Phase I of the geotechnical campaign. • The monitoring of the Environmental Impact Study (EIA), and the elaboration of technical requirements for the Phase I segment. • The development of complementary components oriented towards the development of the business plan; the integration of supply and market demand studies to feed the financial and economic models. • The conduct of a market study to identify key providers of railway services and related services (including aspects of real estate and financial development). • The accompaniment in the definition and structuring of the project. • The legal and regulatory review related to feasibility. • A preliminary analysis and valuation of the development potential oriented to transit at six main points and the evaluation of the potential for private investment through the mechanisms allowed by Panama's regulatory framework.
This project, driven by President José Raúl Mulino, consists of an ambitious initiative to develop a railway line that connects the city of Panama with David, in the province of Chiriquí, and its extension to the border with the Republic of Costa Rica.
