Jim Tosch Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 (edited) Just heard that the government is studying plans for a high speed train from Panama City to David. Edited October 28, 2015 by Admin_01 modified title for clarity Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcelyn Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 Yes, Jim, I've heard this from friends living in Panama City. Hope it is true. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoJo Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 That would be cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Tosch Posted October 14, 2015 Author Share Posted October 14, 2015 one and a half to two hours one way. Anybody have more info? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger B Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 Well. According to the news the First Lady met some investors from China or Japan that were interested in doing the study first and later to star the project for the train system from Panama to Chiriquí.It is only a talk of intentions. I have not read anything else about it. I hope that the plans become a reality soon. Of course it is a project that could take some years to finish but for sure it will be a good project long waited by Panamanians. I guess it will also have some trains cars for cargo that could also contribute to revenues of the system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcelyn Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 Keep your fingers crossed that this train/transportation system happens and maybe soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bud Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 (edited) Would someone with knowledge of the sources please identify the sources, or better still links to this news sources? Edited October 14, 2015 by Bud Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie Posted October 15, 2015 Share Posted October 15, 2015 (edited) There's no way this possibly happen SOON, given the negotiations and then construction that would be required. We all likely would be in our graves or urns. However, it certainly would be a good thing for Panama, particularly for David and surrounding communities. Edited October 15, 2015 by Bonnie wrong word Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Planet Telecom Posted October 15, 2015 Share Posted October 15, 2015 This is not going to happen. The economics don't add up. A high-speed train costs about 17-21 Million USD PER kilometer according to the World Bank.there are roughly 400 km between David and Panama City, so construction costs would be about 8 Billion USD. I figure there are about 2500 daily but trips from Panama City to David. At $30 each, it would take about 250 years to pay off the capital costs. Now, you're not even looking at operating costs YET. We just don't have the population densities of Asia and Europe. And by the way, I don't think any of these high-speed rail schemes survive without generous government subsidies. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcelyn Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 Very complete and reasonable answer. Easy to understand. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger B Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 AI Planet Telecom presents numbers that are useful to understand the cost and the economical analysis to understand if the project of such size is viable or not. According to the news paper note, it was the actual company that did the approach to Panama's government and presented the idea of the project. They are only doing the factiibility studies to see if that investment is viable. I guess that this train wont be only for transporting people but they will also consider moving cargo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John R Hampton Posted October 18, 2015 Share Posted October 18, 2015 Al is 100% right - - - a pipe dream of the highest order.Never going to happen, with people, cargo or gold-plated bananas. It's just newspapers reporting on things consultants propose to governments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoJo Posted October 18, 2015 Share Posted October 18, 2015 I think a regular train would be possible however, just not the high speed ones like in Asia which has a population to support the investment of such rapid transit. A regular train that could also haul cargo from PC to David would keep a lot of trucks off the highway, especially while so much construction is going on. In fact would be great if it could go all the way to the Costa Rica border.If it could also have an Amtrak type service for those wishing to take a train rather than fly or drive would be beneficial as well though I'm not certain there would be enough demand for that service. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Tosch Posted October 27, 2015 Author Share Posted October 27, 2015 mass transit is usually subsidized. Who pays for highways, airports etc. what are they paying for the new rail system in Panama City? Last I remember it was 25 cents. It is there to provide efficiency and service, not to make a profit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoJo Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 And it required bold type to say that too right? They may not expect to make a profit but they do in fact expect for it to pay for itself at some point I would think. In PC it's obviously meant to provide cheap transportation and get vehicles and buses off the crowded streets. However I thought this thread was about a rail system from PC to David! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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