I roe the train from Santiago de Cuba to Santo Espirtu some seven years ago. The process was complicated and guide books said it was hardly possible. The rolling stock was ex Spanish. I was shadowed by some slightly curious characters who rode in the baggage depart and hoped off at the small station serving Santo Espiritu. The train proceeded rather slowly and nearly came to a stop at times as the tracks were in atrocious shape. I also rode to Hersey Train from Havana Harbor to Matanzas. It was also a Spanish transplant. It was electrified and a conductor had to guide the trolley pole at times to maintain electrical contact. Anyway great hearing of your experience on the more modern Chinese train. I had heard there was some help from the Russians on track maintenance recently. Cheers.
I'm glad you went and recorded this for the world to enjoy! Cuba is such a nightmare to travel in... It really takes you back and gives you a taste of how challenging world travel used to be! We have it so easy nowadays in most of the world.
Once traveled on Jamaica Railways from Montego Bay to Kingston, before some storm damage interrupted service for many years. Not sure what the current passenger train situation there is today. Those Cuban passenger cars were part of a lot of 80 cars, that were gifted to Cuba by China. Due to lack of available diesel fuel, Cuban passenger train service was discontinued for a lengthy time period recently. Last time checked, the Cuban rails were woefully in need of refurbishment, requiring slow speeds in order to avoid derailment.
@@NonstopEurotrip Cuba wouldn't have had the spare funds to actually pay for new passenger cars. There was a Trains magazine article a few years ago about China donating 80 passenger rail cars to Cuba. No mention in the article about the locomotives. So: it was basically a political move, similar to rail related deals between China and several African countries.
Did you know that the first Spanish railway was actually in Cuba? It was when Cuba was a province part of Spain. A line connecting Havana and Güines opened in 1837.
Did I understand correctly that this train has an 18+ hours journey time? Cuba shouldn't be large enough to have an 18 hour train ride 😂 I guess there's some room for improvement left 😅
I roe the train from Santiago de Cuba to Santo Espirtu some seven years ago. The process was complicated and guide books said it was hardly possible. The rolling stock was ex Spanish. I was shadowed by some slightly curious characters who rode in the baggage depart and hoped off at the small station serving Santo Espiritu. The train proceeded rather slowly and nearly came to a stop at times as the tracks were in atrocious shape. I also rode to Hersey Train from Havana Harbor to Matanzas. It was also a Spanish transplant. It was electrified and a conductor had to guide the trolley pole at times to maintain electrical contact. Anyway great hearing of your experience on the more modern Chinese train. I had heard there was some help from the Russians on track maintenance recently. Cheers.
I'm glad you went and recorded this for the world to enjoy! Cuba is such a nightmare to travel in... It really takes you back and gives you a taste of how challenging world travel used to be! We have it so easy nowadays in most of the world.
Tell me about it 😅
Once traveled on Jamaica Railways from Montego Bay to Kingston, before some storm damage interrupted service for many years. Not sure what the current passenger train situation there is today. Those Cuban passenger cars were part of a lot of 80 cars, that were gifted to Cuba by China. Due to lack of available diesel fuel, Cuban passenger train service was discontinued for a lengthy time period recently. Last time checked, the Cuban rails were woefully in need of refurbishment, requiring slow speeds in order to avoid derailment.
I believe that Jamaican Railways are freight only now.
Afaik they bought them from china, along with the locos
@@NonstopEurotrip Cuba wouldn't have had the spare funds to actually pay for new passenger cars. There was a Trains magazine article a few years ago about China donating 80 passenger rail cars to Cuba. No mention in the article about the locomotives. So: it was basically a political move, similar to rail related deals between China and several African countries.
The light blue 2x2 seat kinda reminds me of KAI Executive class.
Soviet trains, Chinese trains, and old American ones. Cool!
Did you know that the first Spanish railway was actually in Cuba? It was when Cuba was a province part of Spain.
A line connecting Havana and Güines opened in 1837.
I did, yes :)
Excellent video my friends 😊
Thank you 🤗
Can you go nnigeria and get first class lagos to ibadan
The prices are ridiculous, of course, but such a mess ...
Fun though!
Did I understand correctly that this train has an 18+ hours journey time? Cuba shouldn't be large enough to have an 18 hour train ride 😂 I guess there's some room for improvement left 😅
Indeed 😆
Cuba is a beautiful country but getting anything done (like buying a train ticket or getting money exchanged) can be such a chore
Money exchange was easy, as long as you had USD in cash!
@@NonstopEurotrip Fair point, last time I was there it was a nightmare to get Cuban cash with only a Canadian credit card
@senorsoupe yeah, massive tip, take USD in cash to cover your whole trip
Excelent video first comment
Slipping him a $10 bill... 😬😂
🙃🫡
Unknowingly you are a bigot calling it a bribe.
Bom dia muito lindo trem boa viagem ai show 3 terceiro comentar ai
Grubby train. Ick!!!
I've been on much worse!
second to comment
and it's great
You'll have to hope that Sir Donald Trump 's not a rail enthusiast as if he's seen you've been to Cuba he won't let you into the USA again!
@@kevanhubbard9673 I have no interest in going to the USA :)
@@NonstopEurotripand that's the only correct answer 👏
He will bribe trump