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==National Railway System==
==National Railway System==
Ferrocarriles de Cuba, which does not appear to have a website.
Ferrocarriles de Cuba (FCC), which does not appear to have a website.
* UIC code: numeric 40; alpha CU
* UIC code: numeric 40; alpha CU
===Infrastructure===
* Gauge: standard
* Electrification: most lines are not electrified. The former Hershey Railway is electrified at 1200V DC.
* Rule of the road: right
===Maps===
Various schematic maps are available at the [https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrocarril_en_Cuba Wikipedia Spanish language page].


===Timetable===
===Timetable===
Timetable information is available at [https://www.seat61.com/Cuba.htm The Man in Seat 61] and [https://www.fahrplancenter.com/AIFFLAKubaEntry04.html Fahrplancenter], but as at February 2023 fuel shortages, a lack of serviceable locomotives and coaches or train crews meant the National services from Havana were only running every 4th day to one of four destinations, Guantanamo, Santiago, Holguin or Bayamo/Manzanillo. Even so these suffer cancellations and seriously late running, plus many local services such as Santa Clara - Moron - Nuevitas or Santa Clara - Cienfuegos; Santiago - Manzanillo, Guantanamo - Holguin, Matanzas - Los Arabos, Havana Coubre - Guines/Paloshich, [all of which run independently of, so do not connect to/from the National's] have been suspended for some time for the same reasons with little sign of re-instatement so travel by rail over distance is a challenge.  
* Online: timetable information is available at [https://www.seat61.com/Cuba.htm The Man in Seat 61] and [https://www.fahrplancenter.com/AIFFLAKubaEntry04.html Fahrplancenter].
* Printed: summary timetables are included in the [[Links#ERT | European Rail Timetable]]. It is not known if FCC publishes a printed timetable.
 
'''Note'''<br>
As at February 2023, fuel shortages and a lack of serviceable equipment or train crews were severely restricting FCC operations:
* Long-distance "nacional" services from Havana were only running every fourth day to one of four destinations: Guantánamo, Santiago, Holguín or Bayamo/Manzanillo; even with this frequency, these services suffer cancellations and seriously late running.
* Many local services (e.g. Santa Clara - Moron - Nuevitas, Santa Clara - Cienfuegos, Santiago - Manzanillo, Guantánamo - Holguín, Matanzas - Los Arabos, Havana Coubre - Guines - Palos) have been suspended for some time with little sign of reinstatement.
Travel by rail over distance is a challenge.


Summary timetables are available in some editions of the [[Links#ERT | European Rail Timetable]].
===Hershey Railway===
This line runs from Havana Casablanca station (accessed by ferry from Havana Vieja) via Hershey to Matanzas, with a branch from a separate "Callé 7" station in Hershey (adjacent to the line depot) to Jaruco; it is electrified at 1200V DC overhead, and is the only electrified railway in Cuba. It was built by the Hershey Chocolate Corporation to typical US interurban standards, and was merged into FCC when Cuba's railways were nationalised after the 1959 revolution.


===Maps===
Following significant hurricane damage in late 2017 there has been no service from Casablanca to Hershey, and subsequently the Hershey - Matanzas service has been suspended, leaving only Callé 7 to Jaruco operating.
Various schematic maps are available at the [https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrocarril_en_Cuba Wikipedia Spanish language page].
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===Infrastructure===
* Gauge: standard
* Electrification: most lines are not electrified. The former Hershey Railway is electrified at 1200V DC.
* Rule of the road: Right
==Other Railways==
==Other Railways==
The Hershey Corporation (the chocolate company) has a 1200v DC overhead electric railway from Havana Casablanca station [accessed by Ferry from Havana Vieja] via Hershey to Matanzas, and a branch from a separate "Callé 7" station in Hershey adjacent to the line Depot to Jaruco. Following significant  Hurricane damage in late 2017 there has been no service from Casablanca to Hershey, and subsequently the Hershey - Matanzas service has been suspended, leaving only Callé 7 to Jaruco operating. <br/ ><br/ >
In 2018 the narrow gauge Rafael Freyre Sugar Mill system operated railbus passenger services some distance into the surrounding hills to villages with no road access, plus steam for purely tourist services; the situation in 2023 is not known. Additionally many rural areas (e.g. around Manati) have private company services on private tracks operated literally by "buses" on rail wheels but details are almost impossible to confirm.
In 2018 the narrow gauge Rafael Freyre Sugar Mill system operated railbus passenger services some distance into the surrounding hills to villages with no road access, plus steam for purely Tourist services but the current situation is not known. Additionally many rural areas [e.g. around Manati] have private company services on private tracks operated literally by "buses" on rail wheels but details are almost impossible to confirm.


==Tourist Lines==
==Tourist Lines==
Pre-covid there were a handful of ex Sugar Cane mills providing steam hauled rides up to around 5km into the surrounding fields as part of the visitor experience, [Jose Smith Comas, Australia, Marcelo Saledo, Patria o'Muerte], but it is believed none were operating in 2022 as Tourist numbers had not recovered. Again pre-covid, there was a diesel hauled purely Tourist operation north from the UNESCO city of Trinidad to at least Iznaga, again current status unknown so '''any reports of active lines would be appreciated by the Compilers'''.
Pre-COVID, there were a handful of former sugar cane mills providing steam hauled rides up to around 5km into the surrounding fields as part of the visitor experience, including Jose Smith Comas, Australia, Marcelo Saledo, Patria o'Muerte. It is believed none were operating in 2022 as tourist numbers had not recovered. Again pre-COVID, there was a diesel-hauled, purely tourist operation north from the UNESCO city of Trinidad to at least Iznaga; again the status as of 2023 is unknown. '''Any reports of active lines would be appreciated by the Compilers'''.


==Metro and light rail systems==
==Metro and light rail systems==

Latest revision as of 19:38, 16 February 2023

Country Details

See Wikipedia

National Railway System

Ferrocarriles de Cuba (FCC), which does not appear to have a website.

  • UIC code: numeric 40; alpha CU

Infrastructure

  • Gauge: standard
  • Electrification: most lines are not electrified. The former Hershey Railway is electrified at 1200V DC.
  • Rule of the road: right

Maps

Various schematic maps are available at the Wikipedia Spanish language page.

Timetable

Note
As at February 2023, fuel shortages and a lack of serviceable equipment or train crews were severely restricting FCC operations:

  • Long-distance "nacional" services from Havana were only running every fourth day to one of four destinations: Guantánamo, Santiago, Holguín or Bayamo/Manzanillo; even with this frequency, these services suffer cancellations and seriously late running.
  • Many local services (e.g. Santa Clara - Moron - Nuevitas, Santa Clara - Cienfuegos, Santiago - Manzanillo, Guantánamo - Holguín, Matanzas - Los Arabos, Havana Coubre - Guines - Palos) have been suspended for some time with little sign of reinstatement.

Travel by rail over distance is a challenge.

Hershey Railway

This line runs from Havana Casablanca station (accessed by ferry from Havana Vieja) via Hershey to Matanzas, with a branch from a separate "Callé 7" station in Hershey (adjacent to the line depot) to Jaruco; it is electrified at 1200V DC overhead, and is the only electrified railway in Cuba. It was built by the Hershey Chocolate Corporation to typical US interurban standards, and was merged into FCC when Cuba's railways were nationalised after the 1959 revolution.

Following significant hurricane damage in late 2017 there has been no service from Casablanca to Hershey, and subsequently the Hershey - Matanzas service has been suspended, leaving only Callé 7 to Jaruco operating.

Other Railways

In 2018 the narrow gauge Rafael Freyre Sugar Mill system operated railbus passenger services some distance into the surrounding hills to villages with no road access, plus steam for purely tourist services; the situation in 2023 is not known. Additionally many rural areas (e.g. around Manati) have private company services on private tracks operated literally by "buses" on rail wheels but details are almost impossible to confirm.

Tourist Lines

Pre-COVID, there were a handful of former sugar cane mills providing steam hauled rides up to around 5km into the surrounding fields as part of the visitor experience, including Jose Smith Comas, Australia, Marcelo Saledo, Patria o'Muerte. It is believed none were operating in 2022 as tourist numbers had not recovered. Again pre-COVID, there was a diesel-hauled, purely tourist operation north from the UNESCO city of Trinidad to at least Iznaga; again the status as of 2023 is unknown. Any reports of active lines would be appreciated by the Compilers.

Metro and light rail systems

None

Obscure and Sparse Passenger Services

See PSUL: World Beyond Europe