Rail transport in the Dominican Republic is provided by one state-owned operator and several private ones, mainly for sugar mills. There are no connections with the neighbouring Haiti.
Rail transport in the Dominican Republic is provided by one state-owned operator and several private ones, mainly for sugar mills. There are no connections with the neighbouring Haiti.
Railroads in the Dominican Republic were planned as early as 1877 when the Dominican Government granted a concession for construction of an electric tramway between Santiago to Puerto Plata never constructed.
The first line (Ferrocarril Samaná-Santiago, with 1067 mm gauge), connecting Sanchez to La Vega with 79 kilometers (49.1 mi) long, started in 1881 and was opened on August 16, 1887. A branch of additional 13 kilometers (8.1 mi) long from La Gina to San Francisco de Macorís was opened in 1893. With a later 46 kilometres (28.6 mi) extension from Cabilla to Moca this railroad was enlarged to a network of 139 kilometres (86.4 mi). [1]
The second line (Ferrocarril Central Dominicano, with 760 mm gauge), connecting Puerto Plata to Santiago with 82 kilometers (51.0 mi) long, started its construction in 1891 and was opened by President Lilís on August 16, 1897. Later a 27 kilometers (16.8 mi) extension for the Ferrocarril Central Dominicano (Dominican Central Railway) was started in 1906 between Santiago and Moca, being opened on October 24, 1909. This railway was fully owned and operated by the Dominican Government since 1908. [2]
A northward branch for the Ferrocarril Samaná-Santiago (Samaná to Santiago Railway) connecting its main line from Cabuya to Salcedo was opened in 1909 and an extension between Salcedo and Moca was started in 1913, finally connecting the Samaná to Santiago Railway with the Dominican Central Railway in Moca on February 27, 1918.
There are plans for connecting Santo Domingo to Puerto Plata through Santiago de los Caballeros, but never materialized.
The Dominican Government bought in 1939 the Sánchez-La Vega main line and Cabuya-Moca branch of the Scottish-private owned Ferrocarril Samaná-Santiago and in 1944 took the remaining La Gina-San Francisco de Macorís branch.
Now in full possession of both Ferrocarril Samaná-Santiago and Ferrocarril Central Dominicano railway networks, in 1946 the Dominican State unificated both northern railways to made the state-owned United Dominican Railways (Ferrocarriles Unidos Dominicanos) 248 kilometers (154 mi)-long system. This system lacked of operational autonomy to use its revenues for maintenance and as results, the Puerto Plata-Santiago-Moca railway line was closed in 1951 and dismantled between 1955 and 1957, and the remaining network of Moca-Salcedo-Cabilla, La Gina-San Francisco de Macorís, and La Vega-Cabilla-La Gina-Sanchez lines were closed on February 3, 1976. [3]
The network consists of several lines, for freight and passenger transport, using several gauges. Due to the closure of some of them, during the 20th Century, the network has been partly reduced to a series of scattered branches, mainly concentrated around the cities of San Pedro de Macorís and La Romana.
The list below shows an overview about the original network:
The first rapid transit system opened in the state, inaugurated at the end of 2008, is a metro network serving the capital Santo Domingo. It consists of two lines for a total length of 27.4 km (17.0 mi), with planned expansion. [4] [5] [6] A light rail system has been planned for Santiago de los Caballeros, the second Dominican city. [7] [8]
Transport in the Dominican Republic utilizes a system of roads, airports, ports, harbours, and an urban railway.
The Dominican Republic is divided into thirty-one provincias, while the national capital, Santo Domingo, is contained within its own Distrito Nacional.
La Vega, is the fourth largest city and municipality of the Dominican Republic. It is in La Vega Province. The city is known as the Carnaval epicenter of the Dominican Republic for its tradition and culture, its large agricultural production methods throughout its province.
Gregorio Luperón was a Dominican revolutionary, military general, businessman, liberal politician, freemason, and Statesman who was one of the leaders in the Dominican Restoration War. Luperón was an active member of the Triunvirato of 1866, becoming the President of the Provincial Government in San Felipe de Puerto Plata, and after the successful coup against Cesareo Guillermo, he became the 20th President of the Dominican Republic.
The Roman CatholicMetropolitan Archdiocese of Santiago de los Caballeros is a Latin Rite Metropolitan Archdiocese in the Dominican Republic.
The Dominican Restoration War or the Dominican War of Restoration was a guerrilla war between 1863 and 1865 in the Dominican Republic between nationalists and Spain, the latter of which had recolonized the country 17 years after its independence. The war resulted in the restoration of Dominican sovereignty, the withdrawal of Spanish forces, the separation of the Captaincy General of Santo Domingo from Spain, and the establishment of a second republic in the Dominican Republic.
Señorita República Dominicana 1979 was held on December 20, 1978. There were 28 candidates who competed for the national crown. The winner represented the Dominican Republic at the Miss Universe 1979. The Señorita República Dominicana Mundo entered Miss World 1979.
Señorita República Dominicana 1978 was held on December 14, 1977. There were 28 candidates who competed for the national crown. The winner represented the Dominican Republic at the Miss Universe 1978. The Señorita República Dominicana Mundo will enter Miss World 1978. Only contestants for 27 provinces and one municipality entered. For the top 10 they showed their evening gown and answered questions so they could go to the top 5. In the top 5 they answered more questions.
Señorita República Dominicana 1974 was held on February 2, 1974. There were 28 candidates who competed for the national crown. The winner represented the Dominican Republic at the Miss Universe 1974. The Virreina al Miss Mundo will enter Miss World 1974. Only the 27 province, 1 municipality entered. On the top 10 they showed their evening gown and answered questions so they could go to the top 5. In the top 5 they would answer more questions.
Señorita República Dominicana 1972 was held on March 1, 1972. There were 28 candidates who competed for the national crown. The winner represented the Dominican Republic at the Miss Universe 1972. The Virreina al Miss Mundo will enter Miss World 1972. Only the 27 province, 1 municipality entered. On the top 10 they showed their evening gown and answered questions so they could go to the top 5. In the top 5 they would answer more questions.
Señorita República Dominicana 1968 was held on January 24, 1968. There were 24 candidates who competed for the national crown. The winner represented the Dominican Republic at the Miss Universe 1968. The Virreina al Miss Mundo entered Miss World 1968. Only 25 provinces and one municipality entered. The top 10 wore their evening gowns and answered questions so they could go to the top from which five were selected.
The Señorita República Dominicana 1965 pageant took place on February 20, 1965, featuring a field of 26 contestants vying for the national crown. The victor would subsequently represent the Dominican Republic at the Miss Universe 1965 competition. The pageant included participants from all 25 provinces and one municipality.
Señorita República Dominicana 1956 was held on January 29, 1956. There were 24 candidates who competed for the national crown. The winner represented the Dominican Republic at the Miss Universe 1956. On the top 10 they showed their evening gown so they could go to the top 5. In the top 5 they would answer more questions. This edition would send their first delegate to Miss Universe.
The Dominican Army (Spanish: Ejército de República Dominicana, is one of the three branches of the Armed Forces of the Dominican Republic, together with the Navy and the Air Force.
Señorita República Dominicana Mundo 1966 was held on September 30, 1966. There were 26 candidates who competed for the national crown. The winner represented the Dominican Republic at Miss World 1966. The top 10 showed their evening gowns and answered questions to advance to the top 5, where they answered more questions.
The Miss República Dominicana 2010 was celebrated on April 17, 2010 at the Teatro La Fiesta, Hotel Jaragua in Santo Domingo.
Tourism in the Dominican Republic is an important sector of the country's economy. More than 10 million tourists visited the Dominican Republic in 2023, making it the most popular tourist destination in the Caribbean and putting it in the top 5 overall in the Americas. The industry accounts for 11.6% of the nation's GDP and is a particularly important source of revenue in coastal areas of the country. The nation's tropical climate, white sand beaches, diverse mountainous landscape and colonial history attracts visitors from around the world. In 2022, the nation's tourism was named the best-performing nation post-pandemic with over 5% visitors more in comparison to pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
Diario Libre is one of the leading newspapers in the Dominican Republic.
Gaspar Polanco Borbón was a Dominican Republic military general and politician. He has been one of the most notable military figures in the history of the Dominican Republic and served as the country's president.
Media related to Rail transport in the Dominican Republic at Wikimedia Commons
