Southern Fuegian RailwaySouthern Fuegian Railway at a Glance
About Southern Fuegian Railway
The Southern Fuegian Railway, commonly called the End of the World Train, is a narrow-gauge tourist railway near Ushuaia in Argentina’s Tierra del Fuego province. It runs short heritage excursions that evoke the line’s early industrial and penitentiary uses.
The rides are typically hauled by steam or diesel heritage locomotives over a short scenic route through subantarctic forest and bogland, with interpretive stops telling the railway’s past. The experience is marketed as both historic and scenic rather than as long-distance transport.
The original trackbed and associated works were laid in the early 20th century to support prison infrastructure around Ushuaia. The line later ceased industrial use and was restored as a heritage railway for visitors.
The railway is based at and near the city of Ushuaia at the southern tip of Argentina, with operations focused on tourist departures and returns within the local area.
- Tourist operation: Operates as a narrow-gauge tourist railway often branded the Tren del Fin del Mundo and runs short scenic trips near Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego.
- Historical origin: The line follows part of the original trackbed laid in the early 20th century to service the prison facilities that once operated around Ushuaia.
Nearby Attractions to Southern Fuegian Railway
Best Time to Visit Southern Fuegian Railway
Best time to take the railway is in the southern summer (December-February) when weather is mildest and tourist services are most frequent.
Weather & Climate near Southern Fuegian Railway
Southern Fuegian Railway's climate is classified as Tundra - Tundra climate with cold summers (peaking in January) and cold winters (coldest in July). Temperatures range from -1°C to 13°C. Semi-arid with limited rainfall, distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Acceptable | 6° - 13° | 6° | 46 mm | overcast | 79% | 7.4 m/s | 1.6 very high | 16.3h |
| February | Acceptable | 6° - 12° | 6° | 42 mm | overcast | 80% | 7.5 m/s | 1.2 high | 14.5h |
| March | Acceptable | 4° - 11° | 4° | 48 mm | overcast | 84% | 7.0 m/s | 0.6 moderate | 12.3h |
| April | Poor | 3° - 9° | 1° | 48 mm | overcast | 88% | 6.6 m/s | 0.2 low | 10.1h |
| May | Poor | 1° - 6° | -1° | 50 mm | overcast | 92% | 5.6 m/s | 0.1 low | 8.2h |
| June | Poor | -1° - 4° | -4° | 42 mm | overcast | 93% | 5.6 m/s | 0.0 low | 7.1h |
| July | Poor | -1° - 3° | -4° | 39 mm | overcast | 92% | 5.8 m/s | 0.0 low | 7.6h |
| August | Poor | -1° - 4° | -3° | 37 mm | overcast | 90% | 6.4 m/s | 0.1 low | 9.3h |
| September | Poor | 1° - 6° | -2° | 34 mm | overcast | 87% | 6.8 m/s | 0.4 low | 11.5h |
| October | Acceptable | 2° - 9° | 1° | 31 mm | overcast | 82% | 7.6 m/s | 0.8 moderate | 13.7h |
| November | Acceptable | 4° - 11° | 3° | 39 mm | overcast | 79% | 8.1 m/s | 1.4 high | 15.7h |
| December | Acceptable | 5° - 12° | 5° | 43 mm | overcast | 78% | 7.7 m/s | 1.6 very high | 16.9h |
How to Get to Southern Fuegian Railway
The Southern Fuegian Railway (Tren del Fin del Mundo) operates from near Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego. From Ushuaia city centre it’s a short drive (roughly 8-12 km, about 15-25 minutes) along Ruta Nacional 3 toward Tierra del Fuego National Park to reach the End of the World station (Estación del Fin del Mundo). Tourist shuttles, local buses and taxis from Ushuaia also serve the station.
Tips for Visiting Southern Fuegian Railway
- Reserve seats in advance during Austral summer and cruise-ship season - the Southern Fuegian (End of the World) Railway fills quickly, and morning departures are generally quieter than midday runs when cruise passengers disembark.
- Combine the train ride with a longer visit to Tierra del Fuego National Park rather than treating the train as the sole activity-many visitors rush the short ride and miss nearby forest trails and viewpoints beyond the railway terminus.
- Board at the main Ushuaia station and arrive 20-30 minutes early to collect tickets and find seats; local operators sometimes run multiple departures, so confirm return options if you plan to mix self-guided hiking with the excursion.