The Central-Eastern Railway Company has announced that train service between Camagüey and Santa Cruz del Sur is back in operation. The maximum fare for the complete journey in both directions is set at 718 Cuban pesos (CUP), according to a Facebook post by Radio Cadena Agramonte on Saturday.
The train will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Departing Camagüey at 4:05 a.m., it will reach Santa Cruz del Sur by 11:35 a.m. The return trip will leave at 1:50 p.m. and arrive back in Camagüey at 7:00 p.m.
The highest fare represents 22% of the national minimum wage, which has been set at 3,210 CUP since July. For salaried workers, retirees, and pensioners, spending 718 CUP on this trip means allocating a significant portion of their monthly income to a single journey.
In comparison, this fare is lower than the 1,500 CUP charged for the Morón-Camagüey train, which restarted on Friday after a suspension due to fuel shortages. The high fare of this route has sparked criticism on social media.
Moreover, the poor condition of the Morón-Camagüey train cars has fueled discussions among users who described the service as a "scam" and "disrespectful to the people," questioning whether the reopening of routes offers any real improvement for the public.
The Camagüey-Santa Cruz del Sur branch stretches approximately 98 kilometers and has been part of Cuba's historic railway network since its inauguration on December 14, 1923.
Radio Cadena Agramonte also highlighted ongoing efforts to resume services on the Camagüey-Nuevitas-Esmeralda and Camagüey-Esmeralda routes, though no official start date has been announced yet.
This resumption occurs amid a nationwide railway crisis. In July, Cuban trains operated only 16 services monthly compared to 62 at their peak, a decline of 74%, with just 12 of the 34 necessary locomotives in service and 67% of tracks in desperate need of maintenance.
In August, the Ministry of Transportation admitted that even these minimal frequencies could not be maintained due to diesel shortages.
Recently, the debate over new train fares in Cuba has intensified, following announcements by transportation authorities in Guantánamo about price changes, pending approval by the Ministry of Finance and Prices.
The "select operational card" mechanism, which funds fuel purchases in foreign currency and translates the cost into national currency affecting ticket prices, has been highlighted by official media in eastern Cuba as a factor contributing to widespread price increases.
Understanding Cuba's Train Fare Changes
What is the cost of a train ticket from Camagüey to Santa Cruz del Sur?
The maximum fare for the complete journey between Camagüey and Santa Cruz del Sur is 718 CUP.
How often does the Camagüey to Santa Cruz del Sur train run?
The train operates four times a week: on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
Why are train fares in Cuba increasing?
The increase in train fares is attributed to the "select operational card" system, which funds fuel purchases in foreign currency and impacts ticket prices in national currency.