Railways in

Cuba

Railcar of the Hershey Electric Railway standing at Hershey station

The first railway in Cuba, and one of the first railways outside of Europe and the USA, opened in 1837 between Habana and Bejucal, a distance of 27km. It was built by British engineers, and consequently used the standard gauge of 1435mm, which was adopted for futher expansion.

The lines eventually reached most parts of the island. Most lines remain in use today, and many routes retain a passenger service.

In 1919, a new standard gauge electrified railway opened between Habana and Matanzas. Although primarily intended for the carriage of sugar for export, it also carried passengers in railcars of a type known in the USA as interurban. The Hershey Electric Railway remains in operation, primarily for tourists.

In addition to the main lines, there were a large number of narrow gauge lines, mainly associated with the sugar cane industry. A tourist service operates on one such former railway in Valle de los Ingenios (Valley of the Sugar Mills), near Trinidad.

• Ferrocarriles de Cuba the national network (No website located at present)
• Hershey Electric Railway (No website located at present)
• Valle de los Ingenios (No website located at present)