Cuba buying 300 DMUs from Russia

[aegrotatio]

They probably have to replace the 70-year-old ex-NYS&W passenger equipment they bought in the 50s.

[Bonaventure10]

Gaud thats ugly.

[Dragoman]

I don't know if it is still the case, but at one time the best of the several daily trains between Havana and Santiago was the  Tren Francés ("French Train"), composed of Budd-licensed French-built fluted stainless cars once used on the TEE Le Mistral -- before TGV, the finest train between Paris & the Riviera.

[John WR]

Thank you, Blue Streak, for this fascinating insight into modern day Cuba.  It sounds like things are looking up for the country.  

I found one travelogue from a person who actually rode a Cuban train but perhaps with the new rolling stock things will get better.  

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/centralamericaandcaribbean/cuba/9123095/Away-from-the-desk-The-not-so-fast-train-across-Cuba.html

John

[blue streak 1]

Below report Cuba is buying 300 2 car DMUs ( one car a trailer ).  The units are very simple in design and operation to meer the harsh Cuban enviroment.  First new rolling stock in years.  Article also notes Cuba building a new line to Merida which some of the cars will operate.

http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/central-south-america/cuba-orders-300-dmus-from-russia.html?channel=542