{"id":201497,"date":"2019-06-27T15:35:47","date_gmt":"2019-06-27T19:35:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/?p=201497"},"modified":"2019-06-27T15:44:20","modified_gmt":"2019-06-27T19:44:20","slug":"new-railroad-cars-ready-to-roll-in-cuba","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/cuba\/new-railroad-cars-ready-to-roll-in-cuba\/","title":{"rendered":"New railroad cars “ready” to roll in Cuba"},"content":{"rendered":"

Most of the Chinese cars <\/span>recently arrived<\/span><\/a> in Cuba as part of the “modernization” of the <\/span>Cuban railroad<\/span><\/a> are “ready” to roll on the island, according to the official website Cubadebate<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Frank Morej\u00f3n, head of the technical group in charge of the new cars, <\/span>said<\/span><\/a> to the digital publication that a total of 64 of the 80 wagons “are already ready to start operations,” while the rest “should start next week.”<\/span><\/p>\n

The specialist said that to authorize their operation the cars pass a start-up protocol, “a test in which the different systems of the rolling equipment are checked and that allows us to guarantee the optimal conditions for their operation.”<\/span><\/p>\n

He said that they had undergone “the required technical checkup,” which showed “the high reliability and quality of the imported equipment” and that it was only necessary to correct “small details” such as lights that did not go on due to some false contact.<\/span><\/p>\n

“The air-conditioning system and the rolling and traction technique work perfectly,” he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Morej\u00f3n explained that the cars also underwent “the road test,” in which they travelled along “all the tracks and stations” where they will stop once integrated into the island\u2019s railroad system.<\/span><\/p>\n

He said that “regular” inspections will be carried out on these trains “in order to ensure their proper functioning and achieve their durability” and that “several containers with spare parts that will be key in the support of the railroad revitalization program” were imported along with the cars.<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition, he stated that “the purchase (of spare parts) will be adjusted to the real needs after the operation of the trains” and that “an investment process had previously been carried out to modernize the facilities where the railroad equipment will be serviced,” as well as the training of its technicians.<\/span><\/p>\n

Upon the arrival of the cars, the island\u2019s transportation authorities assured that they would start operating in the summer months, but, as Cubadebate recalls, “the date of the new itineraries\u2019 start is still unknown, as well as the ticket prices.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Their implementation will allow “reducing the departure cycle of several itineraries,” including the routes between Havana and the eastern cities of Santiago de Cuba, Bayamo and Guant\u00e1namo, and the restart of the Holguin route <\/span>after 13 years <\/span><\/a>not operational.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cuban railroad\u2019s slow journey<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n