The Cuban government has announced a major renovation project for the Senén Casas Regueiro railway station in Santiago de Cuba, with an investment exceeding 84 million pesos. This was confirmed by the Union of Railways of Cuba through its official channels.
Funding for the project was approved in April of this year by the Public Transport Development Fund, which falls under the Ministry of Transportation. The Eastern Railway Company will oversee the work, collaborating with the Specialized Construction and Assembly Company and the Cooperative of Credits and Services Roberto Macías Gallego.
Inaugurated in 1997, the terminal was designed by architects María Quintana and José Antonio Choy and is unique in the country for its sloped metal sheet roof supported by a stereo lattice system.
Since 2015, the building has also served as the national bus terminal, making it the central transportation hub in the eastern province.
Infrastructure Challenges and Natural Disasters
The deterioration of the terminal is attributed to two primary reasons: the chronic lack of maintenance affecting Cuba's railway infrastructure and the damage caused by Hurricane Melissa, which struck Santiago de Cuba on October 29, 2025, as a Category 3 storm with winds exceeding 200 km/h.
Scope of the Renovation
The planned renovations include the main building and surrounding areas, focusing on repairing rainwater downspouts and channels, general painting, partial renewal of the electrical system and wall coverings, drainage and water supply system repairs, and the restoration of green areas and decorative elements.
This announcement comes amidst a structural crisis in Cuba's railway transport system, which the Minister of Transportation, Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila, acknowledged in March 2025 by admitting the network's poor technical conditions.
Broader Context of Cuban Transport
By June of this year, national trains to Santiago de Cuba were only operating once every two weeks, with the Cuban government admitting that public transportation meets just 42% of its planned targets.
The renovation of the Santiago terminal is part of a series of similar projects underway or completed at stations like 19 de noviembre, Cruces, Morón, Jaruco, and the Central Railway, although previous projects have faced significant cost overruns and delays. For instance, the Morón station's repair costs ballooned from 3.4 to over 100 million pesos.
The scale of the announced investment starkly contrasts with the magnitude of the existing problems: out of 558 interprovincial buses, only 219 were operational by the end of 2025, according to official figures.
Understanding Cuba's Railway Renovation Efforts
What is the goal of renovating the Senén Casas Regueiro railway station?
The renovation aims to restore and improve the station's infrastructure, addressing long-standing maintenance issues and damage from natural disasters, to better serve as a transportation hub in Santiago de Cuba.
Who is responsible for the renovation project?
The Eastern Railway Company, in collaboration with the Specialized Construction and Assembly Company and the Cooperative of Credits and Services Roberto Macías Gallego, is overseeing the renovation.
How has the Cuban government addressed the broader issues in the railway system?
The government has acknowledged the structural crisis in the railway system, with ongoing renovation projects at various stations as part of efforts to address technical deficiencies and improve service frequency.