Tren Francés

Tren Francés (Spanish for "French Train") was the name of the flagship Cuban InterCity service between Havana and Santiago.[4] Owned by Ferrocarriles de Cuba, it was operated by SNCF ex-Trans Europ Express (TEE) PBA coaches, originally used in Europe between Paris and Amsterdam, on the Étoile du Nord service and Mistral 69 coaches used in France between Paris and Nice on Le Mistral. Both of these two French flagship trains were replaced by TGV and Thalys from 1982 (Mistral) to 1996 (Étoile du Nord). The Tren Francés was formed by 12 coaches and a Chinese-built diesel locomotive.[5]

"French Train" redirects here. For other uses, see Rail transport in France, SNCF, or Rolling stock of France.
Tren Francés
A coach of the Tren Francés in Las Tunas station depot
Overview
Service typeInter-city rail
StatusCeased operating
Locale Cuba
Current operator(s)Ferrocarriles de Cuba
Route
StartHavana
Stops4
EndSantiago de Cuba
Distance travelled854 km (531 mi)
Average journey time14 hours, 45 minutes[1]
Service frequencyEvery 3 days[1]
Train number(s)1 and 2[1][2]
Line(s) usedHavana-Santiago
On-board services
Class(es)1st and 2nd[3]
Sleeping arrangementsno
Auto-rack arrangementsno
Catering facilitiesOn-board cafeteria
Technical
Rolling stock1 diesel locomotive (from CR)
12 ex-TEE coaches (from SNCF)
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Route map
The TEE coaches (right) used for the Francés. The pictures shows the TEE Étoile du Nord in Paris Nord station (1995)

Over the years, the coaches deteriorated. In 2019, the service was replaced by a new service using Chinese-built coaches.

Overview

The Tren Francés (also spelled El Francés or Especial),[2][6] named after the country of origin of the coaches (France), donated by SNCF to FFCC in 2001,[3][7] was the fastest long-distance service in Cuba. It had the most modern coaches and was divided into two classes named primera especial (1st) and primera (nominally 1st, identifiable as 2nd). There were no sleeping cars, couchettes or car-carrying wagons.[3]

Route

Travelling along the Havana-Santiago line, the Tren Francés made intermediate stops only at the main cities of Santa Clara and Camagüey. Other important cities traversed along the route were Matanzas, Colón, Ciego de Ávila, Florida, and Las Tunas. Some junction stations to nearby provincial capitals were served at Cabaiguán (for Sancti Spíritus) and Cacocum (for Holguín).

Havana – Santiago (eastbound)[1]
Station Time Km / Mi City served
Havana Central18:270 km (0 mi)Havana
Santa Clara00:06286 km (178 mi)Santa Clara
Camagüey03:39538 km (334 mi)Camagüey
Santiago de Cuba09:12854 km (531 mi)Santiago de Cuba
Santiago – Havana (westbound)[1]
Station Time Km / Mi City served
Santiago de Cuba20:170 km (0 mi)Santiago de Cuba
Camagüey02:07316 km (196 mi)Camagüey
Santa Clara06:38568 km (353 mi)Santa Clara
Havana Central10:57854 km (531 mi)Havana

See also

References
  1. Cuban long-distance timetables at seat61.com (section "Train times & fares")
  2. (in Spanish) "The railway in Cuba" on hicuba.com
  3. seat61.com - no longer mentions Tren Francés
  4. (in Spanish) Ferrocarriles de Cuba (network) on EcuRed
  5. The Tren Francés on cubacasas.net
  6. (in Spanish) Some info about the Tren Francés on santiagoencuba.com Archived 2014-03-06 at the Wayback Machine
  7. (in Spanish) Ferrocarriles de Cuba (actuality) on EcuRed
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