Uno de los Atractivos de Ushuaia

Its original name is "Ferrocarril Austral Fueguino", but it is popularly known as "El tren del fin del mundo" or "El trencito" and it is a railway line that connects the Tierra del Fuego National Park with the outskirts of the capital of the province, Ushuaia.

All the tourists who come to the city wish to travel aboard this very particular transport, because besides allowing them to observe a wonderful landscape, it makes the same route that the convicts of the former prison used to make when they went to the forest to cut firewood.

Historia del “tren del fin del mundo”

Its predecessor was named as the "prisoners' train" and started operating in 1909 until 1952. Then, the company Tranex Turismo decided to revive this legend and created the famous "End of the World Train", as it is known today.

This train makes the last 8 km of the original route, which was 25 km long and has a gauge of 50 cm, 10 cm less than the previous one. In its beginnings it was a freight line of the Ushuaia prison and was used to transport firewood, connecting the building (one of the first of the incipient city) with the forest and passing along the coast, in front of the houses of the initial settlers. It carried wood for heating, cooking and construction.

The railroad gradually expanded deeper into the forest, into remote areas as the timber was depleted and into the Pipo River valley. In later times the presidio made many of the inmates available for the train.

In 1947 the prison closed and two years later an earthquake destroyed a large part of the tracks, without subsequent reconstruction, so it was no longer in use in 1952.

The train at the end of the world as a tourist attraction

The railway line was rebuilt in 1994 and began to provide its services for tourist purposes, with dining service and many luxuries. In 1995 a 2-6-2T steam locomotive (named Camila) was purchased in England, which operates with one national and three diesel engines. In 2006 a third steam locomotive was added.

The tour starts at the "Estación del fin del mundo" (Station at the end of the world), 8 km from Ushuaia (to the west) and passengers can also board at the "La Macarena Waterfall Station". After that it stops for 15 minutes at a site with a great panoramic view and then enters the National Park, where you can continue walking or board another transport to return.

The excursions in Ushuaia They have a lot of history and nature. What are you waiting for? reserve your place to travel by train and see the National Park ?