Tacuarembó–Rivera Passenger Train

AFE (Administración de Ferrocarriles del Estado)
Uruguay
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The Journey

Navigate from Tacuarembó to Rivera across a span of 118km.

Scenery Highlights
  • Endless northern green plains and rolling hills of Tacuarembó department
  • Valle Edén stop — gateway to the Hervidero and pastoral countryside
  • Approach to the Brazilian border at Rivera — international twin-city with Santana do Livramento
  • Tranqueras — rural service town and agricultural gateway
  • Cattle ranches and small pastoral settlements along the Línea Rivera
  • Sunrise over the cuchillas on southbound Rivera → Tacuarembó run
Quick Facts
  • Duration

    2.17 hours

  • Distance

    118 km

  • Est. Price

    UYU 55 (35 km tramo mínimo) to UYU 200 (Tacuarembó full to Rivera) — tariffs vigentes desde marzo 2022; approximately USD 1.50–5 per journey

Official Booking Provider
Classes & Accommodations

Meals: None

Ensuite: No

Engine / Locomotive

Fiat-Kalmar Y1R diesel-hydraulic railcar (originally Fiat ALn 668 derivative), Volvo diesel engine and automatic transmission retrofit

Locomotive Weight

Y1R railcar approximately 40 tonnes (tare)

Track Gauge

1,435 mm standard gauge (Uruguayan network)

Braking Technology

Air brake system (Westinghouse-type) on Y1 railcars; supplemented by handbrake

Route Engineering Challenges

  • Single-track operation with limited passing loops along the Línea Rivera

  • Border gauge continuity: AFE runs on 1,435 mm standard gauge; cross-border trains to Brazil do not currently operate (passengers change at Rivera on foot)

  • Modest infrastructure investment — most bridges and trackbed date to British-built era (1878–1913)

  • Rolling-stock fleet: 5 Y1 units acquired from Sweden in two batches (August 2013 and April 2017) — limited spares

Route distance

118 km (Tacuarembó → Rivera)

Maximum operating speed

80 km/h

Journey time

~2 h 10 min in each direction

Rolling stock

Y1R Swedish-built diesel railcars (Fiat-Kalmar, 1979–1981, refurbished 2002 by ABB / Veolia Transport)

Number of Y1 units in AFE service

5 units total (acquired 2013 and 2017)

Passenger capacity per Y1

67 seated

Service pattern

Mondays and Fridays year-round (except non-working holidays)

Schedule source

AFE Servicio de Pasajeros — horario vigente 7 abril 2025

Fare structure

AFE tariffs vigente desde marzo 2022 — UYU 55 tramo mínimo (35 km) to UYU 200 end-to-end

Operator

AFE (Administración de Ferrocarriles del Estado) — Uruguay state railway

Infrastructure investment

Track and Y1 fleet refurbished 2018 in advance of passenger service reinstatement

Border connection

Rivera–Santana do Livramento (Brazil) — twin-city, free pedestrian border crossing

Quick Facts
  • Duration

    2.17 hours

  • Distance

    118 km

  • Est. Price

    UYU 55 (35 km tramo mínimo) to UYU 200 (Tacuarembó full to Rivera) — tariffs vigentes desde marzo 2022; approximately USD 1.50–5 per journey

Official Booking Provider