Nearly 50 years after a military dictatorship shuttered the railway, a heavy diesel locomotive arrived in Jaramillo, Santa Cruz. The provincial government is advancing a project to restore the Puerto Deseado–Las Heras rail line, aiming to launch tourist services by early next year.
Decades of abandoned infrastructure in the Argentine Patagonia are seeing a rare reversal as provincial authorities push to revive a historical rail corridor. The arrival of an ALCO RSD-35 diesel-electric locomotive in the northern Santa Cruz locality of Jaramillo marks a tangible step toward reopening a route that has sat dormant since 1978.
A 2,000-Kilometer Road Journey and the First 20 Restored Kilometers
The heavy locomotive, weighing nearly 80 tons, traveled across the country from Córdoba, passing through Buenos Aires, Río Negro, and Chubut before arriving in Santa Cruz. It was transported in a truck via National Route 3. Donated by Belgrano Cargas, the six-axle unit joins the provincial recovery initiative spearheaded by the provincial government under Governor Claudio Vidal.
Technical crews from the state-owned enterprise Yacimientos Carboníferos Río Turbio (YCRT) have already repaired the initial 20 kilometers of track, specifically in the Jaramillo-Fitz Roy sector where tasks such as installing railroad tracks are still being completed. Ahead of the locomotive’s arrival, workers utilized a specialized rail-road bivial vehicle to inspect the network and conduct operational tests.
From Military Decree Closures to Tourist Hopes
The rail network between Puerto Deseado and Colonia Las Heras features intermediate stations including Tellier, Fitz Roy, Jaramillo, Minerales, Pico Truncado, Koluel Kakye, and Piedra Clavada. The line was silenced on February 15, 1978, following decree 3.599/77 issued on November 30, 1977, by the military dictatorship that shuttered 984 kilometers of deficit-ridden tracks nationwide. For over 60 years prior, the line served as an economic lifeline for remote Patagonian communities, moving wool clips toward the Atlantic port while delivering mail, education, and medical access.
Local leaders emphasized the community’s role in preserving the rusted infrastructure over the decades. In Jaramillo and neighboring Fitz Roy, pioneer residents who witnessed the final train’s departure in 1978 gathered alongside provincial officials for the welcoming ceremony.
Summer Timelines and Future Freight Aspirations
The provincial administration faces an aggressive calendar to launch operations. Governor Claudio Vidal stated the intention to have the tracks totally repaired, or mostly so, by late December, specifically toward the end of December 2026. Two passenger cars are currently undergoing repair in Buenos Aires to support the initial tourist excursions between Jaramillo and Fitz Roy slated for early next year. Authorities also project recovering historical infrastructure, including the Jaramillo Railway Museum. Vidal noted regarding the locomotive’s arrival and the ongoing work, Esto es un primer paso
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Beyond passenger runs, the government intends to evaluate freight logistics options to lower regional transportation costs and support small and medium-sized enterprises, emphasizing that the railway could be used for other activities including cargo transport down the line. Meanwhile, Materfer is building a zero-kilometer dual-system unit to expand the tourist circuit as the second phase of track rehabilitation gets underway toward Las Heras.