Transport in Cuba

The traffic in Cuba, a system of roads, railways, waterways and airports.

  • 3.1 ports
  • 3.2 merchant fleet
  • 4.1 airlines
  • 4.2 Airports 4.2.1 Airports with paved runway
  • 4.2.2 Airports with unpaved runway

Railway

→ Main article Rail transport in Cuba

  • Total power: 11,968 km ( 4226 km 7742 km )
  • Regular rail network ( standard gauge ): 4226 km; 140 km electrified
  • More 7742 km rail lines are used on sugar plantations. 65 percent of these are standard gauge, the residual narrow-gauge railway (2003 ). 2010, the network of railways sugar was only about 5000 miles and it is further rationalized, with many routes pass to the state railway UFC ( Union de Ferrocarriles de Cuba ).

In Cuba, the first railway of the Spanish Empire was built before 1848 was started on the Iberian Peninsula it. Although the currently existing rail infrastructure dates from colonial and early republican times, the main route between Havana pleased and Santiago de Cuba increasing reliability and popularity among tourists who need to purchase the tickets in convertible pesos. As for public transport in Cuba common origin of the cars from second hand. The flagship Tren francés ( "French train " ), which runs between Havana and Santiago, originally known as Trans -Europe Express ( TEE) between the capitals of Paris and Amsterdam was used. The train consists of only 8-10 cars and a locomotive made ​​in China.

The main routes Habana - Pinar del Rio - Guane, Habana - Santiago de Cuba, Santa Clara - Morón - Nuevitas, Habana - Aguada de Pasajeros - Cienfuegos are currently (February 2010) in repair, some secondary lines, such as Santa Clara - Sagua la Grande have already been rehabilitated.

By ordering and delivery of meanwhile 62 new locomotives from China that were built specifically for the Cuban railway network, the availability has improved significantly. They are mainly used in front of passenger trains and freight trains over long distances. The Tren francés between Havana and Santiago is one of the passenger trains, where such a locomotive is used regularly. More orders from a total of 100 Chinese locomotives and 200 Iranian passenger cars and also Iranian boxcars were abandoned.

Road

The Cuban road network includes:

  • Total: 60,858 km Attached: 29,820 km (including 638 km expressway )
  • Not Firms: 31,038 km (estimate of 1999)

The majority of highways attributable to the Carretera Central and Via Blanca and Via Azul, all of which existed before the 1959 revolution.

Car transport

With the victory of the revolution in 1959 and the subsequent embargo until then flourishing import American cars came to a complete standstill. For private people since it was no longer possible to buy new vehicles. Although new cars from Eastern Europe and more recently from China were in the aftermath imported, but were these vehicles mostly in government hands and were allocated according to strict rules government officials, high-ranking military and occasionally also doctors, lawyers or teachers. They could not be sold or inherited. These rules did not apply to the vehicles that were already in the country before the revolution. That's why the old Fords, Chevys, Buicks and other carefully preserved and maintained. And so it continues to reflect the sparse traffic on Cuba's streets. Since October 2011, the private trade in cars between the Cubans is legal again. However, the State retains its monopoly on import of new cars. In December 2013, further liberalization of the car market, it was decided to be implemented progressively from 2014. So should the government restrictions on new car purchase for individuals omitted. An approval of the Ministry of Transport ( carta de autorización ) is no longer necessary. The scheme covers motorcycles, cars, light trucks and minibuses. However, the prices are exorbitantly high. How much is a Peugeot 508 262 000 U.S. dollars, about eight times more expensive than in Europe. According to the government the luxury spreads the modernization of the public transport are to benefit.

Long-distance buses

There are two different networks of long-distance buses in Cuba: On the one Viazul buses that run between the tourist cities and can only be paid in convertible peso and mainly intended for Cubans ASTRO buses, which have a much denser route network and especially for the Cuban people are determined and can be paid in Moneda nacional and thus are much cheaper than the Viazul buses.

Both companies operate now with modern, air-conditioned long-distance coaches from the Chinese manufacturer Yutong. With their introduction in ASTRO Network and the fares for the Cubans rose significantly, which is a problem in the usual there very low income

City ​​buses

In Havana, the urban transport system using a colored selection of imported buses from the Soviet Union or Canada is operated. Most of these vehicles are second-hand, such as the 1500 decommissioned Dutch buses in the mid- 1990s were donated to Cuba. Also copies of the usual yellow school buses across North America that have been imported from Canada, can be seen in Cuban cities. The famous tractor or camel buses, which can carry up to two hundred passengers were retired in Havana in April 2008 and now operate in the provinces of the country. They were replaced by Chinese Yutong buses.

After the Spanish city of Seville Ground surrounded its fleet to natural gas - powered buses that there discarded IVECO buses were donated to the city of Havana. This, painted in bright orange buses still carry the original inscription Transportes Urbanos de Sevilla, SAM, and Seville's city arms.

The then Vice- President of the State Council, Carlos Lage, announced 2007 that Cuba will import by the end of 1142 more buses of Chinese design for the improvement of urban public transport.

Car license plate

As of May 2013 there is a conversion of the old, colored license plate to a uniform white with blue or white bar, similar to the EU standards. It is hoped that by reducing the administrative and production costs.

The old, but still valid for a transitional period up to early 2015 Features are:

Shipping

The navigable river network is 240 km.

Ports

Major sea ports:

  • Cienfuegos
  • Havana
  • Manzanillo
  • Mariel
  • Matanzas
  • Nuevitas
  • Santiago de Cuba

Merchant fleet

Total fleet: 13 ships with 1,000 GRT or more, a total of 54 818 GRT

Ship types:

  • Bulk: 3
  • Cargo ships: 4
  • Gas tankers: 1
  • Oil tanker: 3
  • Freezing Freighter: 2

In other countries registered ships: 35 (estimate: 2003 )

Traffic

Airlines

In addition to the state-owned airline ( Cubana ), there are two other major airlines: Aerocaribbean and Aerogaviota. Both fly with modern European or Russian aircraft.

Airports

→ List of airports in Cuba

In 2003 there were an estimated 170 airports in Cuba.

Airports with paved runway

  • Total: 79
  • Length of runways: over 3047 m: 7
  • 2438-3047 m: 9
  • 1524-2437 m: 20
  • 914-1523 m: 6
  • Under 914 m: 37

Airports with unpaved runway

  • Total: 91
  • Length of runways: 914-1523 m: 29
  • Under 914 m: 62
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