In fact, Cuba was the first country in the Spanish empire to build a railway system, predating even the start of rail infrastructure in the Iberian peninsula in 1848.
Today, while the rail infrastructure in Cuba may have been built during colonial and early republican times, it continues to serve as a reliable and popular mode of public transport.
This is particularly true for the principal Havana to Santiago corridor, which has seen an increase in passenger service in recent years. Notably, the Cuban Railways have taken steps to keep up with the demands of the modern world.
Despite relying heavily on second-hand vehicles, the Cuban Railways have now acquired 12 new Chinese locomotives specially built for them by the China Northern Locomotives and Rolling Stock Works in 2006.
