Darkness, delays, and complaints: This is how Cubans travel on the Espíritu train

The passenger train known as "el espirituano", which resumed operations in July 2024 after years out of service, has experienced performance below expectations, with more delays than progress, as acknowledged by Cuba's Minister of Transportation, Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila, in a recent publication.

The train began its journeys on July 25, 2024, departing from Sancti Spíritus at 7:10 p.m. and arriving in Havana at 6:40 a.m. the following day. In its first few weeks, it operated with a frequency of two departures per week, but starting in December, due to fuel restrictions, its schedule was reduced to a single departure each week, on Sundays.

Of the 42 planned trips between July and December 2024, seven were canceled, four of them due to lack of fuel, two due to weather events, and one due to a breakdown in the locomotive. In total, during the first five months of operations, 70 trips were made, but only 16 were on time, a figure that reflects the serious punctuality issues of the service.

According to the report presented by the minister, the most common cause of delays was the waiting time for crossings with other national trains, which occurred at stations not initially planned due to accumulated delays in long-distance services. Additionally, there were defects in the railway tracks, mechanical failures in the locomotives, and issues with the electricity supply at the stations.

One of the most criticized aspects is the condition of the rehabilitated cars, which do not communicate with each other and rely solely on the locomotive for electricity, leaving them completely in the dark if it experiences a breakdown at night. Furthermore, the cars have deficiencies in internal lighting and seat comfort, worsening the experience for passengers.

Despite these issues, the minister assured that the train maintains an "acceptable level of occupancy" and plays a significant social role by stopping in multiple communities in the central region of the country that are not served by the national trains to the eastern provinces.

For this year, the Ministry of Transport announced changes to the schedule starting May 10, aiming to improve the quality of service. Among the main challenges outlined are:

• Improve the technical condition of the cars.
• Ensure lighting and comfort during trips.
• Implement the ticket sales system through the mobile application "Viajando."
• Ensure a better food offer on board, both in variety and pricing.

The minister concluded by stating that he will continue to provide updates on the service's progress and that he will soon offer details about other trains being restored in 2024.

These issues with the Spirituano train reflect a wider crisis in the Cuban railway system, in a country that is facing a severe shortage of spare parts and a deterioration of rolling stock.

According to recent information from Minister Rodríguez Dávila, of the 20 necessary locomotives, only 14 were operational on average during 2024, and only 63% of the planned cars were in operation.

The energy crisis has also affected the system, with blackouts and the instability of the National Electroenergetic System impacting the operation of train stations and workshops.

Frequently asked questions about the espirituano train and the railway crisis in Cuba