The project involves the 835km Havana Central - Santa Clara - Camaguey - Santiago de Cuba central line, the southern November 19 - Navajas line and the Montalvo line (166km), and the Santa Clara - Cienfuegos line and the Refinería line (77.4km).

In addition, RZD will implement a united traffic control centre. The railway will also train Cuban railway personnel at leading transport universities in Russia.

The work will be carried out by RZD International using Russian equipment. The project will be funded according to what RZD describes as “intergovernmental agreements.”

“Russian Railways has the capability and technologies for implementing complex infrastructure projects,” says RZD chairman, Mr Oleg Belozerov. “We are ready to share our experience and continue working together in a long-term partnership. This large-scale project will have a tangible, positive effect on the Cuban economy. Safety and speed of transport will increase, so will freight traffic and population mobility.”