METRO Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Alstom delivers first metro cars for additional Panama fleet

Alstom will also upgrade the existing signalling and power supply infrastructure, required to run the extended fleet with five cars per train.

April 26, 2017
Alstom delivers first metro cars for additional Panama fleet

Alstom

2 min to read


Alstom

Alstom delivered today the first three cars of the additional fleet for Panama Metro Line 1. The contract (1) was awarded to a consortium led by Alstom, and composed of Thales, Sofratesa, CIM and TSO. Alstom will also upgrade the existing signalling and power supply infrastructure, required to run the extended fleet with five cars per train.

Line 1 of the Panama Metro was inaugurated in April 2014. It is approximately 10 miles long with 14 stations and it runs through Panama City, from North to South. The expansion of the fleet was made necessary due to the tremendous commercial success of the line in terms of ridership, which, with more than 275,000 passengers per day, goes far beyond initial forecast. The current fleet will be reconfigured from 20 three-car trains as of today to 26 five-car units.

RELATED: Alstom delivers last of 22 Venezuelan trainsets

Ad Loading...

The Alstom Metropolis trains are manufactured in Santa Perpetua plant in Barcelona, Spain. Metropolis trains for Panama meet with the highest standards in environmental terms, due to maintaining low-energy consumption through light weight trains, as well as through the optimization of its traction performance and energy recuperation. The train reaches maximum speeds of 55 mph and includes a communication and information system for passengers. Additionalaly, the trains offer wide access doors, a large capacity for passengers within the corridors to increase circulation between the cars, internal LED lights and a CCTV security system.

Alstom is also providing an integrated metro system for Line 2 (2) of Panama Metro, which includes 21 Metropolis trainsets, Hesop reversible substations, and Urbalis – Alstom’s Communication Based Train Control (CBTC) solution which controls the movement of the trains and enables to run at higher frequencies and speeds in total safety.

(1)Alstom’s share of the contract is worth $140 million. The contract value for the consortium is $158 million.
(2)Alstom’s share of the contract is worth $326 million.

More Rail

A user demonstrating Metrolink's contactless fare payment pilot.
Technologyby StaffJune 12, 2026

Southern California's Metrolink Debuts Contactless Fare Payment Pilot

Customers traveling between Redlands and Los Angeles can now tap their preferred payment method, including a credit or debit card, mobile wallet, or wearable device, at station validators before boarding and again while exiting.

Read More →
A BART train on the tracks.
Managementby StaffJune 12, 2026

California's BART Approves FY27 Budget While Maintaining Service Levels

The budget covers July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, a period when pandemic emergency funds run out, the District faces a structural deficit of $375 million, and a regional transit funding measure may appear on the November ballot.

Read More →
A rendering of the Amtrak New York Penn Station renovation
Railby StaffJune 9, 2026

Penn Station Transformation Advances with Design Unveiling

The historic redesign will transform the busiest transit hub in the Western Hemisphere from the tracks to the street level, creating a more efficient, cleaner, and functional experience for more than 600,000 daily commuters and millions of visitors.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Groundbreaking event for Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 TBM construction.
Railby StaffJune 9, 2026

Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 Advances into Major Construction Stage

New York Governor Kathy Hochul joined leadership from the MTA, elected officials, and Harlem community leaders to break ground on the major construction stage of the transformative Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 project.

Read More →
A man sits in a passenger rail seat and looks at his phone.
Railby Elora HaynesJune 8, 2026

The Invisible Infrastructure of Passenger Flow

What a seat reservation system on Austria’s Railjet trains reveals about the future of rider experience, and why U.S. agencies should pay attention.

Read More →
Aerial view of Caltrain's electric service.
Railby StaffJune 5, 2026

Caltrain Board Approves FY27 Budget, Endorses Efficiency Measures

The move ensures Caltrain service will continue operating as usual in the near term, but long-term financial challenges remain for the rail agency absent a new revenue source.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Alstom purchasing site for Acela network manufacturing
Railby StaffJune 4, 2026

Alstom Acquires Delaware Site to Support Amtrak NextGen Acela Fleet

The company is investing more than $55 million to acquire and improve the property and will employ approximately 100 people at this site once it is operational.

Read More →
World Cup Crowds Will Test Transit Systems
ManagementJune 3, 2026

When Routine Fails: How Public Transit Must Adapt for the World Cup

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will test transit agencies’ ability to manage unpredictable travel patterns, making real-time data and operational flexibility critical to moving millions of visitors efficiently.

Read More →
A rendering of a California High-Speed Rail vehicle
Railby StaffJune 2, 2026

California Selects Team for Nation’s First True High-Speed Rail Track and Systems Contract

The board action follows completion of track installation at the 150-acre southern railhead in Kern County, which will serve as the staging and distribution hub for high-speed track and systems installation.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Sound Transit Sounder train
Railby StaffJune 2, 2026

Seattle's Sound Transit Launches New Sounder Railcars into Service

Alstom manufactured all the cars under a $46.5 million contract and came into service in anticipation of summer crowds for soccer and baseball.

Read More →