The publication of the national train schedule for August 2026 sparked reactions on social media, where users reported corruption in the allocation of tickets, resale at exorbitant prices, and a lack of transparency in a system that, they argue, leaves thousands of people without real opportunities to travel.
The calendar, shared by the Facebook page Rutas Nacionales, confirms that trains to the eastern provinces will continue to operate with a minimum frequency. There will be departures every 16 days to Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, Holguín, and Bayamo-Manzanillo, while train 15 to Holguín is only scheduled for one departure throughout the month: on August 16.
The official publication itself acknowledged the limitations of the service, although it attributed the situation to the difficulties faced by the sector.
"We acknowledge the efforts of workers across the entire railway system to maintain this service under the current conditions of strain," the message states.
"You have to pay a fortune to travel."
The users' reaction was immediate; some asked where and how to purchase the tickets, questions that went unanswered by the website's administration.
Other comments led to reports of alleged irregularities in ticket sales: "It's outrageous how much corruption there is in this regard, where you have to pay a fortune to travel," wrote one user.
Another person claimed to have visited the office on 26th Street in Havana several times without being able to obtain a ticket to return to Guantánamo: "I've gone to the 26 office three times to see if I can return to Guantánamo from Havana, and the staff say there is no capacity. How is this explained? Where are these capacities?" he questioned.
In the comments of the post, there was even an offer to buy two tickets for 20,000 Cuban pesos, reflecting the resale market that, according to numerous users, operates alongside the official system.
A questioned system of priorities
The railway transport crisis worsened following the measures adopted by the Ministry of Transport (MITRANS).
In February 2026, the agency declared an "emergency mode" for national trains and reduced the frequency of services to the eastern part of the country to one departure every eight days.
Subsequently, starting June 18, the frequency decreased again to one departure every 16 days. Furthermore, the sale of tickets was eliminated, and the use of the Viajando app for these services was suspended.
Instead, the Government created a system through provincial and municipal commissions responsible for deciding who can travel based on the alleged urgency of each case.
For many Cubans, this new mechanism has favored discretion and corruption: "When will the minister realize that the people are struggling with the new measures? Before, one could travel with their return ticket. Now it’s a blessing to be able to get a ticket," wrote another user.
A recurring problem
Reports of irregularities in ticket sales are not new.
In 2025, cases of illegal ticket sales and irregular charges were documented within the railway terminals of Sancti Spíritus.
In June 2026, several passengers reported that employees of Viazul in Cienfuegos were demanding an additional 10,000 Cuban pesos in order to allow them to board a bus, despite the fact that the travelers already had valid tickets.
Even the Government itself acknowledged the issue of ticket reselling in December 2024, when it reduced the maximum number of tickets that a person could purchase monthly through the Viajando app from 30 to 15.
Fewer and fewer trains
The complaints also highlight the overall decline of the railway transport system in Cuba.
From Pinar del Río, people demanded that their province still lacks regular service: "And what about Pinar del Río? It seems we're not a province of this country," wrote a user.
From Jobabo, in the province of Camagüey, another person reported that frequent power outages prevent them from connecting when the opportunities to purchase tickets become available.
According to official data from July 2026, the National Passenger Train Company currently operates only 16 trains a month, far from the 62 monthly services it used to offer at its peak.
The reduction, close to 74%, has severely limited mobility options for millions of Cubans, who are forced to rely on private transportation, the prices of which are considered "excessive" by a large part of the population.
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