Panama Metro is currently the only rapid rail system in Latin America south of Mexico and north of Brazil. With two and a half lines open and a third under construction, Panama’s network is already impressive and punches above its weight. It features modern trains, full grade separation, and strong integration with the existing urban and intercity bus network. And the best is yet to come: with three new heavy-rail lines, two monorails, two LRTs, and one cablecar line planned or being built, Panama will soon rival much larger cities in the region.
The metro system in Panama currently consists of two lines - Line 1 and Line 2 - plus a two-station spur to Tocumen International Airport. Line 1 opened in 2014 after four years of construction, and Line 2 followed in 2019, also after four years of work. The system was built by a Spanish public transit consortium, and I can tell you, the Spanish are among the best train builders in the world. So, good choice, Panama!
I’ve visited a dozen stations, and all are clean, modern, spacious, and safe. My favourite was the Airport station, with its beautiful “Welcome to Panama” sign. A fun fact: most people taking the train to the airport are locals, most probably airport staff. Foreigners are either unaware of the metro or too scared to use public transit.
The stations are fully accessible for people with disabilities and include amenities like elevators - kind of expected these days, but still impressive considering Panama is a relatively poor country with an average wage just under USD $1,300 and a purchasing power per capita ranked 59th out of 184 globally.
Both Line 1 and Line 2 use the same trainsets: Alstom Metropolis, a worldwide benchmark for performance and reliability. These trains also run in Barcelona, Singapore, Sydney, Dubai, Hanoi, Chennai, Amsterdam, Warsaw, Riyadh, and many other cities. This proven technology has performed well in Panama with no major issues reported despite the city’s hot and humid climate year-round.
The trains use overhead catenary instead of a third rail, and regenerative braking captures energy to power stations’ lighting, escalators, and ventilation.
The oldest and busiest of Line 1’s seven central stations, opened in 2014, are all underground. It was a strategic choice to ease downtown traffic congestion and overcome natural obstacles like steep hills. The outer segments of Line 1 and all of Line 2 are elevated and fully grade-separated, with no road crossings whatsoever. Passengers can always count on the metro’s punctuality.
One of the most important stations is Albrook, the southern terminus of Line 1. It’s adjacent to the Gran Terminal Nacional de Transporte, the largest bus terminal in Central America. It provides direct connections across the city and the entire country, even as far as Costa Rica. The station also links to Albrook Mall, one of the largest shopping centres in the world, and is near Marcos A. Gelabert Airport for domestic flights. It’s truly a mega-station.
Because much of the metro is elevated, it’s not just a way to get from point A to point B - it’s a way to explore this colourful city in the heart of Central America. I loved looking out the windows to admire the lush green jungle and tall apartment buildings. Sometimes, a trash fire adds to the experience! The most exotic sight for me was the vibrant neighbourhoods perched on numerous hills.
Fares are very affordable: a ride on Line 1 costs $0.35, and Line 2 costs $0.50. The most I paid was $0.85 from the airport to the end of Line 1 - Albrook Station. Compared to North America or Western Europe, that’s cheap; however, considering local living costs, I think it’s reasonable.
While Panama’s metro network is already impressive, I’m even more excited about Line 3 - a 34 km (21-mile) monorail being built by Japanese giants Hitachi and Mitsubishi. All 28 six-car Hitachi monorail trainsets have already been delivered and are scheduled to launch in 2027 or 2028.
The monorail will cross under the Panama Canal through a 5-km (3-mile) tunnel, which will make it the second transcontinental metro line in the world - after Marmaray in Istanbul!
After reading this, I think I’m in serious need of a geography lesson.
When you talk about Panama here, you’re referring to the entire nation. But, you also mentioned the city, so I’m presuming you’re referring to Panama City. Which would make sense given that the system is named the “Metro”.
That said, you also mentioned that Panama (not the city, but Panama in the transcontinental sense) is getting a monorail system.
I gotta tell you, for as small a country as Panama is, to have that kind of train-transit network, I am most impressed!