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Passenger transport in Cuba is facing one of its worst moments in decades, characterized by the halt of routes, extreme fuel shortages, and structural deterioration accumulated over the years, while the Minister of Transport, Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila, insists on announcing measures and plans that, in practice, fail to reverse the crisis.
During his appearance on the official program Mesa Redonda, the official acknowledged the significant impact the sector is facing, although he attributed much of the situation to the so-called "energy blockade" by the United States.
However, even in their own explanation, long-standing internal problems were revealed: low technical availability, lack of lubricants, deteriorated infrastructure, and a system incapable of sustaining basic services.
Rodríguez Dávila detailed that, due to the shortage of fuel, the government has been forced to drastically reduce services.
The national buses operate with just one daily departure, trains run only once every eight days, and the ferry to the Isle of Youth is limited to two weekly sailings.
Many other transportation services were directly suspended.
At the local level, authorities have attempted to alleviate the crisis with makeshift solutions: the use of "medibuses" to transport more than 70,000 passengers, the reorganization of electric tricycles, and the involvement of private actors.
Essential services have also been prioritized, such as the transportation of more than 12,800 students from special schools and nearly 2,900 dialysis patients.
As part of the projections for 2026, the minister announced the assembly of 50 minibuses and 50 hearses, as well as the distribution of 150 electric tricycles to the municipalities.
The acquisition of the first urban electric buses with charging stations powered by renewable energy was also announced, along with 400 electric cars for hemodialysis services and the completion of ambulances.
Finally, the official reported the installation of charging stations with solar panels on the national highway and other high-demand locations.
However, these promises contrast with a reality that has been deteriorating for years without visible structural solutions.
Beyond the official narrative, the collapse of transportation is not a recent phenomenon, nor can it be explained solely by external factors.
For decades, the lack of maintenance, the obsolescence of the vehicle fleet, the scarcity of spare parts, and poor planning have progressively weakened the system, bringing it to its current state.
The data clearly reflects it: state passenger transport in Cuba plummeted by 93% between January and September 2025, a decline that highlights the extent of the collapse.
In practice, this translates to a country where getting around has become a daily odyssey.
In many cities, services have nearly disappeared altogether. In Havana, there were recent moments when all urban routes were suspended due to a lack of fuel.
In other provinces, the situation is the same or worse. In Ciego de Ávila, out of 135 bus routes, only two are operational, while the trains have been completely suspended due to a lack of diesel.
Nationwide, cancellations are also extending to interprovincial travel. In Las Tunas, almost all bus departures have been suspended, leaving only a night service to Havana.
For the population, the consequences are devastating. Long waits, which can exceed several hours, have become commonplace. In many cases, even paying does not guarantee transportation.
The increase in ticket prices, which can multiply in just a few days, has turned mobility into an inaccessible luxury for a large portion of Cubans.
In the absence of real solutions, many citizens are forced to walk long distances, resort to bicycles, or rely on an informal market where prices can consume a substantial portion of their monthly salary.
Recent testimonies describe even a "total void" of transportation in some areas, where there are simply no vehicles available for hours.
This deterioration also impacts key sectors such as health and tourism. Patients requiring regular treatments must be transported under precarious conditions or remain hospitalized due to a lack of transportation, while workers face enormous difficulties reaching their workplaces.
The current situation reveals not only a temporary crisis but also the result of years of neglect and failed decisions.
Although the government insists on blaming external factors, the everyday reality of Cubans reveals a system that has been progressively collapsing without effective responses.
Meanwhile, official promises continue to pile up, but on the streets, the picture is different: crowded bus stops, empty roads, and a country where getting around has become a daily challenge.
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