Chinese Government provides RMB 99 million grant for Panama City to David Railway Feasibility Study

Project narrative

In December 2017, the Chinese Government signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Government of Panama regarding a feasibility study for a railway line connecting Panama City with the town of David, the capital of Chiriqui province. The Chinese Government reportedly committed RMB 99 million of grant funding for the study. China Railway Design Corporation (CDRC) was the contractor responsible for the feasibility study. It conducted the study in coordination and collaboration with the Panamanian Society of Engineers and Architects (SPIA), the Technological University of Panama, the University of Panama, the Ministry of Housing and Territorial Planning, the Electric Transmission Company and the Panama Metro. The proposed railway would involve the construction of an 8-car passenger and freight train line with 21 stops along a 391.3 km stretch. If completed, it would turn a 6+ hour journey into approximately 2 and a half hours. As of September 2018, the feasibility study was reportedly 80% complete. The results of the study were delivered to the President of Panama on March 15, 2019. It is unclear if the feasibility study will result in a project but time and cost estimates hover around $4.1-5.5 billion and a 6-year completion timeline