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During the week ending May 10, the Panama Canal Railway Co. (PCRC) moved 7,832 containers (6,017 loaded and 1,815 empty), setting a new weekly record. The previous high of 7,173 containers was reached in November. PCRC attributes the increase to strong demand and additional terminal capacity.

The railroad recently invested $25 million to increase intermodal capacity because of burgeoning demand and improved Panamanian port performance, according to PCRC part owner Kansas City Southern. PCRC has acquired seven locomotives, two RTG intermodal cranes, three Linde sideloaders and additional support equipment, such as tampers and trucks. The railroad also extended its Atlantic and Pacific intermodal terminals from seven double-stack car lengths to 10 and added 16 double-stack cars.

"Steamship lines are using PCRC to add value to the Panama Canal maritime route by carrying out trans-shipment operations on both coasts of Panama, and using our railroad to link the ports on both coasts," said PCRC Director of Marketing Tom Kenna in a news item posted on KCS' Web site.

Jointly owned by KCS and Panama Holdings L.L.C., the 47.6-mile PCRC provides trans-shipment service between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.