Most national trains have been canceled due to damage from Hurricane Melissa, except for the Havana-Holguín route

The Cuban Railway Union (UFC) announced this Saturday the cancellation of nearly all national passenger trains due to the severe damage caused by Hurricane Melissa to the railway infrastructure in the eastern part of the country.

Only the Havana–Holguín route will remain, operating every four days, while the other connections will be suspended until further notice.

According to the official statement, the cyclone caused severe damage to the railway lines in the provinces of Santiago de Cuba, Granma, Holguín, and Guantánamo, where specialized teams are working to restore the most affected sections.

The restoration of service will occur gradually, first to Santiago de Cuba and then to Guantánamo, as technical conditions allow.

"Travelers with reservations for canceled trains who no longer wish to travel will receive a full refund of 100% of the ticket price, a process that can be completed up to 15 days after the service is restored," the entity stated in its announcement published on Facebook.

Segments in the air and destroyed tracks

Last Sunday, the images released by the Minister of Transport, Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila, displayed the extent of the disaster in the railway network, with sections of rails hanging over open trenches, destroyed embankments, and undermined bridges.

One of the most critical points is located at kilometer 205.8 of the central line, in Palma Soriano, where the embankment was devastated, and between kilometers 833 and 834.5, where “both tracks are suspended,” as confirmed by the minister himself.

Neighbors and railway workers were seen removing fallen trees and accumulated debris from the tracks, in scenes that reflect the human impact of an emergency that has left entire communities isolated and paralyzed mobility between the eastern provinces.

The Ministry of Transport reiterated that national, local, and interprovincial railway services will gradually resume once technical and safety parameters are restored in the affected sections.

For now, eastern Cuba remains virtually cut off by train, as the country faces another blow to its already precarious transportation infrastructure.