A group of 11 young Cubans has arrived in Moscow to pursue undergraduate and postgraduate programs, particularly in fields related to the railway sector. With this new batch, over 80 railway professionals are now undergoing training at various educational levels, thanks to the collaboration between Russia and Cuba, as reported by Minister of Transportation Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila on his Facebook account.
Rodríguez mentioned that the group includes seven second-year students, chosen from specialties such as industrial and mechanical engineering from universities across different Cuban provinces. These students will continue their education in technical careers focused on locomotive operation, railway system exploitation, and the organization of logistical processes for both passengers and cargo.
Specialized Training for Workers
The remaining four members of the group are young workers who will specialize at the master's level in key areas like rolling stock and railway tracks, Rodríguez emphasized. He also stated that the majority of the students will complete their training at the Russian University of Transport, which will host them to further their studies in what the Cuban regime considers "strategic" areas of the railway sector.
Challenges Await Cuban Students
The minister expressed confidence in the Cuban group, noting that although they will face challenges such as the language barrier and harsh weather conditions, they will benefit from the "knowledge of one of the countries with the most experience in railway matters." However, his remarks overlooked the growing wave of desertions among Cuban students in Russia, driven by the regime's frequent delays in maintenance payments, a significant issue that the minister chose not to address despite its impact on those enduring difficult conditions abroad.
Russian Promises for Railway Modernization
Earlier this month, the Russian Railways company (RZD) once again promised to resume an abandoned multi-million-dollar plan aimed at the recovery and modernization of the Cuban railway system. These intentions were highlighted during the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, where the contract they seek to reactivate with Cuba was detailed, despite previous suspensions and delays mainly due to the Cuban government's inability to pay.
"The contract for the refurbishment and modernization of Cuba's railway infrastructure includes several railway branches, especially the central line from Havana to Santiago de Cuba, spanning 835 kilometers," said Serguei Pavlov, RZD's deputy director, in a statement to Sputnik News, as cited by Prensa Latina.