A freight train transporting bulk honey derailed at around 3:10 p.m. this Monday at kilometer 53.8 of the Hershey Line, near the Jibacoa stop in Mayabeque province. The incident involved Extra Train 946, originating from Camagüey, and operating with locomotive 38093. It was carrying its load from the Batalla de las Guásimas and Carlos Manuel de Céspedes sugar mills, as stated by the Minister of Transport, Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila, in a Facebook post.
Four wagons of the convoy derailed, with three tankers overturning and causing a significant spill of the product, while a fourth wagon also derailed without overturning. In total, the train consisted of twelve wagons, ten of which were tankers meant for honey.
“The recipient of the honey was immediately notified, and in coordination with the Mayabeque authorities and FERROAZUC, steps are being taken to evacuate the product and control the spill,” assured the transport minister, without specifying details about the "recipient" of the spilled product.
Infrastructure and Material Damages
Initial assessments confirmed no injuries or damage to the locomotive, but significant impacts on the railway infrastructure were noted: approximately 300 sleepers were broken and about 400 meters of track damaged, in addition to the overturned tank wagons. Containment and recovery procedures were activated due to the honey spill.
The accident led to a partial halt in railway traffic on that section, prompting authorities to deploy machinery and technical personnel to begin repair work promptly. “Efforts are being made to restore the railway service on the line as soon as possible,” added the minister.
Response Actions Following the Incident
Teams from the Cuban Railway Union, FERROAZUC, Western Railways, the Revolutionary National Police (PNR), and representatives from the Mayabeque provincial government arrived at the scene to coordinate the response. Besides securing the area, the priority was to contain the honey spill and prepare for the removal of the damaged wagons.
Simultaneously, an investigative commission composed of specialists from the Railway Transport Administration (ATF) and railway sector experts is analyzing the causes of the derailment. The aim is to determine whether technical, human, or structural failures triggered the incident.
Rodríguez Dávila emphasized that “all necessary human and technical resources are being utilized to solve the problem,” reiterating ongoing efforts until full service is restored on the Hershey Line, a crucial infrastructure for rail transport in the western region of the country.
Recent Pattern of Derailments
This event is not an isolated incident. Just two weeks ago, on August 16, another train partially derailed in Havana, right upon entering the Central Station yards. The train, coming from Holguín with 984 passengers, partially left the track in an area without a platform, near the station's elevated bridge.
Although no injuries were reported, the incident damaged four wheels of locomotive 52557, activating emergency protocols. The crew's quick action allowed passengers to disembark without issues. The unit was rerouted for inspection, and the station resumed operations in just over an hour. A commission was also appointed to investigate the case.
Even more severe was the derailment a week prior in Matanzas province, where seven wagons derailed due to an infrastructure defect. The accident injured six people, including two train attendants and a passenger, and damaged about 250 meters of railway line. The injured were transported to the Comandante Faustino Pérez Provincial Hospital.
These recent events highlight growing concerns about the critical condition of Cuba's railway system, plagued by decades of neglect, lack of maintenance, poor signaling, and structural issues. As reported by National Routes, these factors are compounded by human errors and vandalism, in a context where such failures “remain frequent.”
The series of incidents raises questions about the safety of rail transport in Cuba and underscores the urgent need to modernize and strengthen the national network, a demand that can no longer be delayed.
Understanding the Hershey Line Train Derailment
What caused the train to derail on the Hershey Line?
The exact cause of the derailment is under investigation by a commission, which is examining potential technical, human, or structural failures.
Were there any injuries reported due to the derailment?
No injuries were reported from the derailment, although significant material and infrastructure damages occurred.
How are authorities responding to the spill of honey?
Authorities, in coordination with FERROAZUC, are working to evacuate the spilled honey and control the spill to minimize environmental impact.
What is being done to restore railway services?
Efforts are underway to repair the damaged railway infrastructure, with machinery and technical personnel deployed to restore services on the Hershey Line swiftly.