Railways in Cuba was opened much earlier, than in many developed countries in Europe. Cuban Railways has been operational since 1837, earlier than in any other Spanish-speaking country. The first railway section between Havana and Santiago de Behukal was put into operation on November 19, 1837.
Cuban Railways (Ferrocarriles de Cuba) - state-owned enterprise, which includes railways common length of 5,219 km with a width of 1435 mm, including 199 km of electrified roads (DC 1200) and lines with a total length of 7,742 km with a width of 1435 , 914 and 760 mm, intended for seasonal transportation of sugar cane.
The most important railway lines:
Havana - Guines - Cienfuegos,
Santa Clara - Moron - Puerto Taraf,
Marty Bayamo - San Luis.
Ferrocarriles de Cuba carry about 4.4 million tons of cargo and 11 million passengers a year, operates about 800 million ton-kilometers and 1.45 billion passenger-kilometers, or 6.2 million train km in cargo traffic and 1.8 million in passenger.
Foreigners pay higher fares than Cubans. Foreigners used to have to pay in US dollars, but since November 2004 US dollars are no longer accepted in Cuba and foreigners pay train fares in 'convertible pesos'. 1 convertible peso = around US$1.20 Foreign visitors can buy train tickets at the special LADIS booking office on the side of Havana Estacion Central. At other stations, you can book at the normal ticket office.
Children aged 0 to 4 travel free, children aged 5 to 11 travel at half fare, children aged 12 and over pay full fare.
When you go to the station to catch your train, you first need to go to a window in the middle of the station where you confirm your ticket.
Fast trains 3 and 4 (renumbered from 1 and 2 in 2007, for some reason) between Havana and Santiago now use comfortable stainless-steel air-conditioned coaches bought second-hand from French Railways and now known as the 'Tren Francés'. These coaches were originally used on the premier 'Trans-Europe Express' service between Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam. They were shipped to Cuba in 2001.
There are no sleeping-cars or couchettes, just seats in two classes - 'primera' (first class) and 'primera especial' (special first class). 'Primera' is the old European 2nd class, with vinyl padded seats 2-abreast on each side of the aisle. 'Primera especial' is the old European first class, with much more space and fabric seats arranged 2-abreast on one side of the aisle, one-abreast on the other side, as shown in the photo below. The train is getting a little worn and grubby, but the seats are comfortable, there is powerful air-conditioning, a café, and even piped music.
In particular, the new 'Tren Francès' from Havana to Santiago is a safe, comfortable and (contrary to popular opinion) now reasonably reliable way to make the trip from one end of Cuba to the other, much better than taking a cramped long-distance Viazul bus or worse, a flight. Since 2009 it's been running every third day, but you'll have to check which days it runs locally, by asking at the information office or looking for posters at the station in Havana. This is the recommended train to take, air-conditioned and contrary to what some guidebooks say, reasonably reliable. It is a fast service using comfortable air-conditioned stainless steel coaches with reclining seats bought second-hand from France. It offers two classes of seating, basic leatherette 'Primera' and quite luxurious (albeit grubby) 'Primera Especial'.