After the breakdown of the
cuban railway system at the beginning of the 90´ies you can
see several improvements now. On the main routes there is a
regular scheduled traffic, much or less punctual.For
tourists it is normally no problem to get a ticket with seat
reservation (of course billed in US-$, but still cheap).
Just step in to the ticket office together with your money
and passport - and ask. Normally you should be able to get a
ticket for the same day, but as I know Cuba everytime I
needed a ticket I asked a few days in advance.
There are 3 main routes with daily traffic, the coaches are
not luxurious, but also not too worse. Remember to take a
jacket, because you can expect aircondition.
A diner is only available on the route Havana - Santiago de
Cuba (and back), but caution: often after one hour or so all
the meals are sold out. Also tourists pay the meals with
cuban pesos (12 cuban pesos, equal to 60 cent). You can also
get beer and other drinks (sold in US-$). It is important to
take your own spoon and fork and glasses.
At some stops en route cubans come into the train selling
snacks and drinks as well.
Tickets you can get at the
station. Most travel guides say, tourist have to go to a
special place called "LADIS" (from larga distancia),
but I myself got the tickets all the time from the normal
ticket counter where also the Cubans got their tickets.
Smaller towns like Ciego de Avila (see picture above) don´t
have special counters for tourists.
The times and prices mentioned have been recorded in January
1998. Up to now nobody reported me about any changes, but I
do not guarantee anything.
Timetable:
1. Havana - Santiago de Cuba
("Tren especial")
Departure Havanna - Estacion
Central: 16:25
Arrival Santiago de Cuba:
06:45 (next day)
stops in folowing cities::
Matanzas (ca. 18.30 ), Santa Clara (ca. 21:00 ), Ciego de
Avila (23.15 ), Camaguey (about midnight), Las Tunas (02:30
)
2. Santiago de Cuba - Havana
("Tren especial")
Departure Santiago de Cuba
16:35
Arrival Havana - Estacion Central:
07:05 (next day)
stops as well in following
cities::
Las Tunas (ca 19:30 ), Camaguey (ca. 23:00 ), Ciego de Avila
(0:10 ), Santa Clara (ca. 2:30 ), Matanzas (ca 5:00 )
3. Havana - Bayamo ("Tren
regular")
Departure Havana - Estacion
Central: 23:20
Arrival Bayamo:
13:32 (next day)
stops nearly in all town
along the route
3. Bayamo - Havana ("Tren
regular")
Departure Bayamo:
23:10
Arrival Havana - Estacion Central:
13:20 (next day)
stops: look above.
5. Havana - Holguin
("Tren regular")
Departure Havana - Estacion
Central: 13:25
Arrival Holguin:
04:00 (next day)
stops: Matanzas (ca. 15:00 ),
Santa Clara (ca. 17:30 ), Ciego de Avila (20:56 ), Camaguey
(ca. 23:00 ),
3. Holguin - Havana ("Tren
regular")
Departure Holguin:
13:55
Arrival Havnna - Estacion Central:
04:55 (next day)
Zwischenstops: Camaguey (ca.
18:30 Uhr), Ciego de Avila (20:22 Uhr), Santa Clara (gegen.
Mitternacht), Matanzas (ca. 2:30 Uhr)
other
railway routes:
Havanna -
Cienfuegos, Havanna - Pinar del Rio, Holguin - Santiago de
Cuba
Prices:
Havanna -
Santago de Cuba: 32 $
Havanna - Holguin : 30 $
Havanna - Ciego de Avila: 18 $
Havanna - Matanzas: 4 $
Havanna - Santa Clara: 12 $
Havanna - Pinar del Rio: 7 $
Ciego de Avila - Holguin: 11 $
Ciego de Avila - Santiago de Cuba: 18
$
as a small
hint: 100 km (about 60 to 70 miles) have a value of 3
$
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