CRRC Tangshan has been awarded a contract to supply 240 coaches to Cuba, with the first 24 vehicles due to arrive by the end of 2019 and the remainder to follow at a rate of 80 per year until 2021.
The order comprises 20 baggage/generator cars, 20 buffet cars (56 seats), 70 air- conditioned first class coaches (72 seats) and 130 second-class coaches (72 seats).
The 26.1m-long coaches are designed for 120 km/h operation and will be used on long-distance services, enabling Cuban Railways to go from one departure every four days to more frequent services.
The first coaches will be used on Havana - Holguin services, and subsequent deliveries will enable introduction of the vehicles on the Havana - Santiago, Havana - Bayamo/Manzanilla, and Havana - Guantanamo routes.
These are the first new-build coaches to arrive in Cuba since 1975.
