Expreso del Sur (Ferrobus)

Ferroviaria Andina (FCA)
Bolivia
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The Journey

Navigate from Oruro Central Station (Estación Central de Oruro, 3,706 m) to Villazón Border Station (Estación Villazón, 3,447 m) — adjacent to La Quiaca, Argentina across a span of 650km. This is an overnight service.

Scenery Highlights
  • Sweeping 360° views of the barren, infinite Altiplano — among Earth's most desolate and dramatic landscapes
  • Sunrise over the high plateau from Río Mulato toward Uyuni — pink-orange light on the cordillera
  • Approach to the Salar de Uyuni from the east: vast white salt crust visible from the train in the dry season (May–November)
  • Quebrada de Tupiza canyon descent — deep red and ochre rock formations, winding track, cacti on the cliffs
  • Wild vicuñas, llamas, and Andean foxes (culpeo) grazing on the high plateau at dawn
  • Night sky over the Altiplano at 3,700+ m — among the clearest, most star-filled skies on Earth
  • Border frontier atmosphere at Villazón station — the bustle of cross-border traders and Argentine-bolivian commerce
Quick Facts
  • Duration

    12.5 hours

  • Distance

    650 km

  • Est. Price

    Budget-friendly (Bs 100–170 end-to-end, ~US$14–24)

Official Booking Provider
Classes & Accommodations

Meals: None — dining car available for purchase

Ensuite: No

Meals: None — dining car available for purchase

Ensuite: No

Engine / Locomotive

Stadler SALi (South American Light) diesel-electric locomotive — Co'Co' wheel arrangement, 5,000 m+ altitude capable, delivered 2017 to Ferroviaria Andina

Locomotive Weight

~80 tonnes (Stadler SALi)

Track Gauge

1,000 mm (metre gauge)

Braking Technology

Compressed-air disc brakes on modern SALi locomotives; vacuum brakes on heritage ENFE rolling stock retained as backup

Route Engineering Challenges

  • Operating at up to 4,000 m altitude — reduced air density requires pre-emptive engine warm-up and limits diesel combustion efficiency

  • Extreme diurnal temperature variation on the Altiplano: −20 °C winter nights to +25 °C summer days

  • Washout and ballast damage during the December–February rainy season, especially Río Mulato → Uyuni

  • Single-track operation with passing loops only at major stations (Uyuni, Río Mulato, Atocha)

  • Canyon section descent into Tupiza — sharp curves, grade changes, and rockfall risk during summer storms

  • Cross-border gauge compatibility with the Argentine Belgrano Railway at Villazón (both 1,000 mm gauge — direct connection)

  • Limited servicing infrastructure between Oruro and Villazón — most maintenance done in Oruro or Uyuni depots

  • Remote Altiplano station stops with minimal platform infrastructure — passengers board directly from ballast

Line operator

Ferroviaria Andina (FCA) — concessioned 1996

Parent network

Former Ferrocarril Antofagasta–Bolivia (FCAB), built 1888–1924

Route distance

~650 km (Oruro–Villazón)

Maximum altitude

~4,000 m (Altiplano crossing between Oruro and Uyuni)

Maximum speed

100 km/h (locomotive limit); operating speed 50–70 km/h

Rolling stock

Ferrobus railcars (modern narrow-gauge push-pull) + Stadler SALi diesel-electric locomotive

Carriage type

Ferrobus narrow-gauge passenger railcar

Number of stops (express)

6 (Oruro, Río Mulato, Uyuni, Atocha, Tupiza, Villazón)

Cross-border connection

Villazón ↔ La Quiaca (Argentina) — same 1,000 mm gauge

Operating days

Tuesday & Friday (southbound from Oruro); Wednesday & Saturday (northbound from Villazón)

Time zone

America/La_Paz (UTC−4, no DST)

Booking horizon

1–4 weeks ahead (longer for July–August and Easter)

Currency on board

Boliviano (BOB); US dollars widely accepted in Uyuni and Tupiza

Quick Facts
  • Duration

    12.5 hours

  • Distance

    650 km

  • Est. Price

    Budget-friendly (Bs 100–170 end-to-end, ~US$14–24)

Official Booking Provider