In-Bond Railway Corridor

The entire PCRC concession area is considered by law to be one contiguous in-bond railway corridor, where cargo can be transshipped from coast to coast duty free. This has prompted customs authorities to modernize and expedite their documentation and operations procedures in detail since the railroad can move cargo in a matter of hours between ports. As a result, what used to take a couple of days in documentation processing is now being handled more in synch with the cargo, by utilizing new automated systems and fewer inspections.

For quarantine cargo, the bulkhead type rail cars utilized in the PCRC freight operations offer a high-level of protection against tampering and spills that cannot be provided by over-the-road transportation. Accordingly, Panama’s Quarantine Authority considers the railroad as the only safe transportation mode able to handle quarantine-risk cargo. Containers that were not allowed to be moved across the Isthmus of Panama in the past due to their potential risk can now be moved via the railroad.

The confidence and trust placed on the railway transportation system by the Customs and Quarantine Authorities has resulted in an efficient work-flow environment and safer, more reliable maritime connections.