Chimbacalle
Quito’s main station and northern terminus of the Tren Crucero
2 routes
Routes that ran through
Main
Main terminal / Main station (northern terminus of the Tren Crucero)
2,817 m
Altitude
Pichincha
Province
Chimbacalle station
The Chimbacalle station, also known as the Eloy Alfaro Station, is the main station of the Trans-Andean Railway and the historic heart of Tren Ecuador. It sits in the Chimbacalle neighbourhood, in southern Quito (Pichincha), at 2,817 m above sea level. It was inaugurated on 25 June 1908 by President Eloy Alfaro, when the railway finally linked the coast with the highlands. It is the terminus of the Tren Crucero and the starting point of the Train of the Volcanoes.
It preserves its platform, ticket office and a railway museum that recalls the epic of the most difficult railway in the world. From here you can easily reach the Historic Centre of Quito, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the El Panecillo lookout and the bohemian street of La Ronda.
Where is Chimbacalle station?
Chimbacalle station is located in Quito, Pichincha. Coordinates: 0.2410° S, 78.5130° W.
What to see and do nearby
Points of interest a short distance from Chimbacalle.
Other stations on the Tren Crucero
Tren Crucero
Other stations on the Train of the Volcanoes
Station facilities
There is no official, up-to-date list of facilities for each station. Most of these stations have had no train since 2020; at those on the two stretches that run (Alausí–Sibambe and Ibarra–Andrade Marín), facilities depend on the operator of each stretch.
Connections from Chimbacalle
Tren Crucero — Quito (Chimbacalle) ↔ Durán (Guayaquil) · service suspended. Days: Scheduled departures (high season), in both directions.
Train of the Volcanoes — Quito (Chimbacalle) ↔ El Boliche · service suspended. Days: Historically weekends and public holidays.
Interchange station. Several railway routes met here (Tren Crucero, Train of the Volcanoes), making it an important point on the network.
Getting there. Chimbacalle is linked by road to nearby towns.
Plan your journey — use our route planner to see which route connects Chimbacalle with other stations.
Bookmark this Trans-Andean Railway guide
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