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Panama Canal Railway Co.

The Panama Canal Railway Co. (PCRC), a joint venture of KCS and Panama Holdings, LLC of Hazelcrest, Ill., providing ocean-to-ocean transshipment service between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans on a railway that runs parallel to the Panama Canal. PCRC has completed rehabilitation and modernization of the 143-year old transcontinental railroad. The 47.6-mile railroad serves as an efficient intermodal link for world commerce and complements the existing transportation infrastructure provided by the Canal, the Colon free trade zone and the port terminals.

Early in 1998, the government of Panama awarded the joint venture the exclusive 25-year concession to operate the railway. Financing for the new railroad was finalized in November 1999, and construction of the Panama Canal Railway began in February 2000.  Construction was completed in 2001 and both freight and passenger service began later in the year.

PCRC's subsidiary, The Panarail Tourism Company, provides executive commuter and tourist passenger service across the isthmus. The trip takes passengers on a scenic tour, passing through the rain forest and along the side of the canal for much of the trip.

 Ocean to Ocean Canal Railway Tour

Tour starts in Panama City at 7:00 a.m. and returns approximately by 5:30 p.m.

This tour is for the person who wants an even more complete historical and sightseeing experience on the Panama Canal. We start with a trans-isthmus train ride on the newly restored Panama Canal Railway in refurbished air-conditioned passenger cars. This railroad follows the east bank of the canal and affords an intimate view of the waterway and the rainforests that blanket its shores.

From here we proceed to the observation tower at Gatún to see the biggest locks and the most impressive view of the mechanical canal operation. Then, we go to see a section of the French Canal, dating from the 19th century and learn details of their attempt at digging a sea-level canal. We also drive over Gatún spillway and dam which created the main lake for the canal, and get a scenic view of the ships anchored in Gatún Lake while they wait their turn to descend to sea level.

After lunch we go see a long channel that was dug in 1938 by the U.S. in what was known as the third locks project that was eventually abandoned. We drive back to the Pacific side of the isthmus and stop briefly at the Camino de Cruces and discover how the importance of Panama as a trans-oceanic route preceded the canal's construction.

Next, we stop at Pedro Miguel locks, located at the end of Galliard Cut, the narrowest section of the canal and then to the Miraflores visitor center. Here we can view a large scale relief map of the entire canal, hear a live narration of canal facts and see ships as they are lowered to the Pacific Ocean.

Our last stop is the Inter-oceanic Canal Museum. This museum is housed in the original building (now restored) that served as the headquarters for the French canal effort in the 1880's. The museum takes us through a historical progression of the major events that took place in the isthmus, beginning with the Spanish colonization, the California gold rush, the building of the Panama Railroad, the failed attempt by the French to dig the canal, the U.S. completion of the project and some current environmental aspects of the waterway.

Approximate Price: $139.00 per person, requires a minimum of 2 people, includes lunch and museum entry fees.