Hershey Electric Railway

Hershey Electric Railway is an electric railway line stretching roughly 92 kilometers from Casablanca in Havana to Matanzas, serving multiple stops along the way. The system operates four different branches that extend to various communities in the region.

Milton S. Hershey built this railway in 1917 to move sugar from his mill in Santa Cruz del Norte to Havana's port. The line grew as a key infrastructure for the region's sugar industry and has continued operating since its founding.

The railway connects multiple communities across the northern coast and remains central to how locals move between towns. Residents depend on it for work and daily activities, making it part of the social fabric of the region.

Multiple daily trains run in each direction, with the full journey from Havana to Matanzas taking around three and a half hours. Schedules can vary, so visitors should check current departure times before planning their trip.

This is Cuba's only functioning electric railway line, and it operates using train cars purchased from Catalonia's rail system in the 1990s. These vintage vehicles give the service a distinctive character rarely seen elsewhere in the country.

Location: Havana

Official opening: 1917

GPS coordinates: 23.11787,-81.86820

Latest update: December 10, 2025 16:01