They announce modifications in passenger transportation rates.

From the 1st. March begins the application of the new rates and prices for passenger and cargo transportation, although for the services provided by non-state management forms they are implemented on the 1st. February, in conjunction with the new fuel prices.

This was stated by the Minister of Transportation (Mitrans), Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila, when speaking on the Mesa Redonda television program, and added that the modifications to the road services of the cooperatives, the Gazelles and the tricycles will also be applied in March.

He specified that 75.8% of passengers will not have any impact on the prices of the services they use, since the differences in rates will be assumed by the State Budget or by the business system.

COST UPDATE

The prices of the modalities of transportation services have a modification, also qualified by the outdatedness, during the last three years, of other components of the costs of transportation activity, commented Lourdes Rodríguez Ruiz, vice minister of Finance and Prices (MFP ).

She stated that these modifications were analyzed in the groups of workers in the sector, taking into account that many of the activities showed results of losses in the financial years of recent years, and that they led to effects on the order of the financial functioning of the companies; also accompanied by the fluctuation of labor and specialists in the sector.

She added that, at the end of 2023, there are 19 transportation companies with losses, something that also affects the income of workers, so this update brings a positive impact on the nearly 62,000 employees.

Rodríguez Ruiz argued that the update of all costs is not only due to the price of fuel, but that, due to the intensification of the blockade and international inflation, there are other increased expenses in key elements for transportation, such as tires, batteries, and spare parts and parts.

THE MAIN URBAN SERVICES MAINTAIN THEIR PRICES

For this point, the Minister of Transportation noted, the decision is to maintain urban prices as they are currently, as well as suburban, interurban, easily accessible rural, difficult to access rural and boat prices.

In general, these are the services that move the largest number of passengers daily, and the State will subsidize the difference in fares which, in 2024, amounts to more than 2 billion pesos.

This – he said – will also apply to the local trains provided by the companies of the Cuban Railway Union, which will continue without changes.

MODIFICATIONS IN GAZELLES AND TRICYCLES

For Havana and Santiago de Cuba, where the gazelle service is provided, it is increased from five pesos to ten; while for electric tricycles the complete route goes from four pesos to ten.

In the case of combustion tricycles, whose rate is 2.50 per passenger, per kilometer, and in each province different rates were made depending on the section; Now it goes to 3.50 per passenger each kilometer, and for other means of local transportation, such as Transmetro, the price goes from five to ten pesos per trip.

NEW RATES IN INTERPROVINCIAL SERVICES

For interprovincial services – national buses and trains, Ferries and Cubana de Aviación – there is a total or partial increase in the fare, which has not changed since January 2021 and has systematically caused losses.

"Interprovincial services do not represent even 1% of the total mass of passengers that moves in our transportation services structure," said Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila.

In the case of National Buses, he stressed, the fares all remain below one thousand pesos, and the price of baggage overload is maintained; while for the train service the price of food on board increases to cost plus 3%.

Regarding maritime transportation by catamaran and ferry to the Isle of Youth, he said that it is subsidized and, in the case of the latter, the State assumes the subsidy of the fare that amounts to 41 million cups in 2024; At the same time, he said that the State Budget will not participate in aviation.

FOR NON-STATE FORMS OF MANAGEMENT

At this point, the head of Mitrans clarified that, taking into account the importance of private carriers in passenger transportation, they must also be differentiated.

«For this reason, we decided to apply to the private sector the same wholesale price that state entities will pay. "They must have their transportation operating license and comply with the prices agreed upon with the provincial governments," he highlighted.

PROTECTION OF VULNERABLE SECTORS

On the subject, the Vice Minister of the MFP stated that, under the principle of not leaving anyone helpless, the bonuses are maintained as they currently are.