The Cuban Ministry of Transport (MITRANS) has revealed plans to run additional national trains during the early days of July. These trains are primarily aimed at transporting students and educators stranded in Havana for months to the eastern provinces, as reported by the state-run Cubadebate.
This initiative, touted triumphantly by the state media as "an extra opportunity beyond the usual schedule," is actually an emergency measure for a transport system on the brink of collapse. Demand far exceeds current capabilities for travel between the western and eastern regions, a fact acknowledged by MITRANS itself.
Scheduled departures include trips from Havana to Santiago de Cuba on July 2 and 4, with returns on the 6th; journeys to Guantánamo on July 1 with a return on the 11th; and routes to Bayamo and Manzanillo also on July 1, returning on the 3rd.
Seats not filled by students and teachers will be available to the general public, although return trips to Havana will be exclusively reserved for this priority group.
MITRANS has pledged to provide further details on ticket acquisition in collaboration with the Union of Railways of Cuba. However, confusion is already rife: a user named Pedro Pablo commented on Cubadebate, summarizing the chaos: "There's no information on how to purchase tickets for the unused seats."
The reality of the first extra train's departure contradicted the official optimism; train number 9 to Guantánamo was delayed by three hours due to technical difficulties, including three faulty cars and a broken hose.
The 680 teachers and educators on board were required to arrive four hours before departure, with collection starting as early as 5:30 AM from 11 municipal accommodations.
This announcement follows the most severe cutback to national transportation since June 18, when MITRANS declared an "emergency mode": national buses decreased from daily to three weekly trips, eastern trains from every eight days to every 16, and the Nueva Gerona-Batabanó maritime route was reduced to two weekly frequencies.
The Viajando APK app was suspended, and open ticket sales were eliminated, replaced by provincial commissions determining travel eligibility based on the purpose of the journey.
The structural deterioration of Cuba's railway system is alarming: only 12 out of the 34 necessary large locomotives are operational, representing a 64.7% shortfall, and 67% of the tracks require maintenance.
Passenger rail transport has plummeted from 10 million in 2013 to just four million in 2023. Last May, a trip from Holguín to Havana took 27 hours, and on June 3, train number 13 derailed in Omaja, Las Tunas, with 900 passengers on board.
Understanding Cuba's Transportation Crisis
Why are extra trains being scheduled in Cuba?
The extra trains are scheduled primarily to transport students and educators who have been stuck in Havana for months to the eastern provinces. This move is part of an emergency response to the severe transport crisis in the country.
What challenges is the Cuban railway system facing?
Cuba's railway system is experiencing significant structural issues, including a shortage of operational locomotives and a high percentage of tracks needing maintenance. This has contributed to a dramatic decrease in passenger numbers and severe delays.
How has the transport cutback affected Cuban travel?
The transport cutback has drastically reduced the frequency of national buses, trains, and maritime routes, causing significant inconvenience and confusion, with the government now prioritizing travel based on necessity.