Derailment of a train in Havana generates material losses

A derailment at kilometer 116 of the Mariel line, which connects the Special Development Zone (ZEDM) with this capital, took place in the early hours Sunday, causing material losses that have yet to be quantified.

Eduardo Hernandez, director general of the Union of Cuban Railways (UFC), told the Cuban News Agency that the accident occurred at approximately 12:50 this Sunday morning, and that there were no major consequences for the crew and security personnel.

He assured that he does not have exact data of the losses amount. That is why it is necessary to open the containers, classify the product, determine which is recoverable, check the prices, and value the railway equipment that was affected.

He commented that the train was carrying about 900 tons, and that it was going to Cardenas, in the province of Matanzas, with loads of export products for the national economy, such as paints, luminaries, and others.

Alejandro Zanoletti, head of the Cargo Department of the UFC, specified that the cargo was made up of 15 cargo plates – means used by the railroad to transport goods – and 28 containers, and that six plates carrying 10 containers were damaged.

According to Zanoletti, paintings, cans of tuna, beers and luminaries were transported, as well as raw materials for the production of sanitary paper, and there were three containers seriously damaged, one with paint and two with paper.

Regarding the latter, he noted that, as the integrity of the raw material is not affected, the cargo is recoverable.

Orlando Mir, head of the Import Group of the company Miramar SA, explained that within the cargo there were three containers of paint corresponding to his entity, with an amount of almost 34 thousand euros, and that one of them was seriously affected.

The container has oil and water paint, and it is in such a condition that it is not even possible to open the door; they have tried to find solutions, but as the interior substances are flammable, there could be an explosion, so we must be careful, he said.

The head of the Imports Group also stated that the containers went to the Meliá Group hotels in Varadero.

According to the general director of the UFC, a commission has been created by the Ministry of Transport to investigate the causes of the unfortunate accident, which will be announced in the near future.

An ACN team was able to verify the work of Criminalistics forces to identify the causes of the accident. In exclusive statements, Mayor Luis Miguel Quiroz, officer of the Ministry of the Interior’s Instructional Organ, stressed that some elements have been identified, but that it is too early to give a verdict on the possible cause.

He clarified that it is a complicated job for the forces of the Interior, since all the containers and plates have to be lifted, to check the rest of the line and find the origins of the accident, and that it is not known exactly on what date the causes can be known.

One of the people working to free the line is Evaristo Hernandez, crane operator at the UFC, who works since the early hours of the morning to set the railroad.

On the matter, he commented that it is a complex work, since the machine weighs about 80 tons, and he added that the arrival of a new crane is awaited to speed up the work.

As noted, this section has two separate rail lines, so if only one line is cleared, normal train traffic would be possible.

Elvis Leyva, director of Via Ferrea del Territorio Occidental, announced that it is likely that around three or four o’clock in the afternoon this Sunday the railway course will restart.

He also informed that the road is destined for traffic between the Mariel Container Terminal and the rest of the country, and the transport of passengers, mainly residents of Artemisa and ZEDM workers, frequently in the morning and afternoon.

(Taken from ACN in Spanish)