Panama ports linked by rail

Panama ports linked by rail Panama Ports Co., owned by Hong Kong’s Hutchison Port Holdings group, on March 21 commenced on-dock rail operations at the Port of Cristobal on the Atlantic side of the Panama Canal.
   The new rail facilities are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and connect to the PPC-operated Port of Balboa on the Pacific side of the canal. The first shipment of containers moved from Cristobal to Balboa via the rail connection and then by vessel to the West Coast of South America.
   “PPC’s effective on-dock rail facilities at the Port of Cristobal provide the maritime industry with a timely and cost-efficient link between the two coasts of the Panama Canal,” said Alejandro Kouruklis, general manager of PPC.