A power supply failure at a key station disrupted operations for the Panama Metro on Wednesday, December 24, 2025. The incident occurred during a morning of heightened holiday travel, affecting essential passenger services at the El Crisol station on Line 2.
Metro authorities confirmed that while Lines 1 and 2 of the rail system continued to operate normally, a technical fault specifically impacted El Crisol. The station experienced a complete loss of several critical functions due to the electrical issue. This outage happened as passenger numbers swelled ahead of Christmas Eve celebrations, amplifying the inconvenience for commuters.
Services Suspended Amid Holiday Rush
The failure in electric power distribution led to the immediate suspension of card recharge machines, entry and exit turnstiles, elevators, and escalators. Passengers arriving at El Crisol found themselves unable to process payments or use standard access points. The disruption created bottlenecks and confusion during a peak travel period.
In response to the service halt, Panama Metro management implemented an emergency fare procedure. They announced the policy through an official statement on the social media platform X.
“Users who enter through the El Crisol station will be granted a free pass at the time of entry. However, upon completing their journey, the regular fare will be charged at the exit station,” the company stated. [Translated from Spanish]
This measure allowed the metro system to maintain overall operations and passenger flow. It prevented a full station closure during the busy holiday morning. Riders could still board trains at El Crisol without immediate payment, settling the fare automatically when they tapped out at their destination.
Technical Teams Work to Restore Power
Panama Metro reported that its technical teams were deployed on-site to address the electrical failure immediately. Crews worked to diagnose and repair the fault with the goal of a swift resolution. The priority was restoring full power to reinstate all passenger services as quickly as possible.
No estimated time for full restoration was provided in the initial announcements. The company’s communications emphasized that the incident was localized to the single station on Line 2. Service on the tracks and at all other stations across the network remained unaffected throughout the event.
The disruption highlights the dependency of modern transit systems on uninterrupted power. A single point of failure can significantly impact passenger experience, especially on days with unusually high ridership. For Panama Metro, the Christmas Eve incident tested its contingency protocols during a critical travel window.