Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila, Cuba's Minister of Transportation, recently took to social media to address the new measures implemented to keep train and bus services running amid the ongoing electrical crisis plaguing the country. "The trains operated by the National Routes company, covering routes from Havana to Santiago de Cuba, Holguín, Bayamo/Manzanillo, and Guantánamo, are maintaining their regular schedules. However, they face significant challenges, particularly with securing fuel for the locomotives," he stated. The train from Santiago de Cuba has already departed for Havana, and preparations are underway for the Havana to Bayamo/Manzanillo route.
In terms of interprovincial bus services managed by the National Bus Company, scheduled routes managed to depart throughout the day by finding alternative fuel sources at locations equipped with generators. Despite numerous delays, no routes were canceled. Efforts are ongoing to secure the necessary physical fuel for tomorrow's schedule and explore additional supply options. Some provinces are grappling with a severe shortage of physical fuel, making it difficult to maintain supply, prompting nighttime efforts to find solutions.
Public Transport Adjustments in Havana Amid Crisis
In Havana, partial public transport operations are being sustained using generator power. Tomorrow, 125 gazelles and 74 electric tricycles, which were non-operational today due to rain, will be back in service.
The Guerrillero newspaper from Pinar del Río has reported on the local transport disruptions, announcing the temporary suspension of various services. The Pinar-Guane train will operate exclusively for students, suspending public service. Inter-municipal buses are on hold until further notice. The Pinar-Habana route will run only as far as Mantua before suspension. Urban routes 4 and 6 will continue during peak hours.
Power Outages Worsen the Situation
On a different note, Yamilé Ramos Cordero, the First Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee in Pinar del Río, used social media to update the public. "In Pinar del Río, generator batteries are providing electricity to the circuits of city hospitals and parts of municipal centers in Mantua, Sandino, and Los Palacios," she stated. However, a user noted a generator failure at the old hospital, causing a power outage from 12:30 until 6:00.
On October 18, 2024, a massive power outage hit Cuba due to the complete disconnection of the National Electroenergetic System (SEN). This crisis began with the shutdown of the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant, leaving millions without power and no estimated time for service restoration. The lack of electricity has created chaos in provinces like Santiago de Cuba, severely impacting the population and essential services, and leading to long queues for fuel. Classes across the nation were halted due to the energy crisis, while the government attempted to blame weather conditions for the interruptions, sparking confusion and criticism among citizens.
By October 19, the energy collapse persisted, with nationwide blackouts reoccurring shortly after authorities claimed service restoration was underway. The government tried to revive the system using micro-systems across different regions and by activating energy plants like Energas and the Santa Cruz del Norte thermoelectric plant. Nevertheless, the situation remains dire, with the public voicing dissatisfaction on social media, demanding solutions and denouncing governmental inefficiency in handling the crisis.