Approximately 100 meters of railway tracks were affected in Matanzas after a freight train derailed between the Central Line stations of Quintana and Jovellanos, with no reported casualties. The incident occurred around 5:35 a.m. this Thursday, when locomotive 312055 of Extra Train 69 derailed, causing three container flatcars to overturn at kilometer 151.
The train comprised 16 cars, 14 of which were container flatcars loaded by Empresa FerroMar S.A. and headed to Villa Clara province, according to the state-run website Cubadebate. However, the nature of the cargo was not disclosed. A report from the General Directorate of Railways indicated that only the seventh, eighth, and ninth flatcars in the formation overturned, leaving the locomotive and other cars unaffected.
This event also resulted in the national train from Guantánamo to Havana being held in Santa Clara until the affected track conditions are cleared. The Union of Railways has formed an investigative commission to determine the causes and conditions that led to the derailment, promising to restore train traffic as soon as possible.
Frequent Train Derailments in Cuba
Various derailments have occurred in Cuba this year, attributable to the deteriorating railway infrastructure, which undermines travel safety. One such incident happened in March when the national passenger train on the Manzanillo-Havana route derailed without causing material damage or injuries. This same train experienced a similar accident in August in the Jobabo municipality of Las Tunas.
The August incident occurred at 12:05 a.m. at the Jobabo station level crossing, affecting the front part of the locomotive. Despite the potential severity, authorities confirmed there were no injuries or significant material damage.
In April, another train transporting crude oil derailed in Sancti Spíritus without any reported casualties or injuries. The Extra Train 900, with locomotive 312024, was en route to the Sergio Soto Refinery when it derailed, causing two loaded oil tankers to overturn.
Understanding the Causes and Impact of Train Derailments in Cuba
To provide more insight into the frequent train derailments in Cuba, we have compiled some essential questions and answers.
What caused the recent train derailment in Matanzas?
The exact cause of the derailment is still under investigation by a commission formed by the Union of Railways. The investigation aims to determine the conditions leading to the incident.
Were there any casualties or injuries in the Matanzas derailment?
No, there were no reported casualties or injuries in the Matanzas derailment.
How often do train derailments occur in Cuba?
Train derailments in Cuba have been relatively frequent this year, reflecting the poor state of the railway infrastructure.