Train schedule
Operating days and departures of the Trans-Andean Railway routes. The national service has been suspended since 2020; the Devil’s Nose and the Tren Tayta Imbabura run today.
Schedules by route
A summary of the operating days and departures for each route. Except for the Devil’s Nose and the Ibarra–Andrade Marín section of the Freedom Train line (Tren Tayta Imbabura), both running, the other schedules are historical.
| Route | Days | Departures | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tren Crucero | Scheduled departures (high season), in both directions | Quito→Durán and Durán→Quito on alternating dates | ○ Historical |
| Devil's Nose (Nariz del Diablo) | Thursday to Sunday and public holidays | 08:00 · 11:00 · 14:00 | ● Running |
| Train of the Volcanoes | Historically weekends and public holidays | Morning departure from Chimbacalle | ○ Historical |
| Freedom Train (Tren de la Libertad) | Ibarra–Andrade Marín section (Tren Tayta Imbabura): Wednesday to Sunday; to Salinas, no service | Tayta: 08:00 · 11:00 · 14:00 from Ibarra; night trains Thu–Sat 20:00 | ◐ Partial |
| Ice Train (Tren del Hielo) | Historically weekends and public holidays | Morning departure from Riobamba | ○ Historical |
| Trail of the Ancestors | Historically weekends and public holidays | Morning departure from Riobamba | ○ Historical |
| Train of Sweetness (Tren de la Dulzura) | Historically weekends and public holidays | Morning departure from Durán | ○ Historical |
| Inca Baths (Baños del Inca) | Historically weekends and public holidays | Departures on demand from El Tambo | ○ Historical |
Devil's Nose — current operating schedule
The train to the Devil's Nose leaves from Alausí to Sibambe (round trip, ~2 h 30 min) on Thursday to Sunday and public holidays, with three departures a day:
Published fare: $18 residents ($9 reduced) · $30 foreigners ($15 reduced), before VAT and the booking fee. Run by the Municipality of Alausí; tickets are sold through Ticket Éxito. The operator does not publish prices on its own site, so these figures come from Ecuadorian press and were checked on 27 August 2026 — confirm at the ticket office or the booking portal before travelling.
The Tren Tayta Imbabura, run by the public company INNOVA EP on the Ibarra–San Antonio–Andrade Marín section of the Freedom Train line, leaves Ibarra station (El Obelisco) from Wednesday to Sunday:
Round trip of 2 h 30 min, with two 30-minute stops. Night trains at 20:00: Tren de las Leyendas (Thursday, $7.50) and Expreso del Imbabura (Friday and Saturday, $15; $7.50 reduced). Day train: $11.50 adults · $5.75 children aged 5–12, seniors and people with disabilities · under-4s free. Tickets on the official website or at the ticket office. Source: trendeltaytaimbabura.gob.ec, checked on 10 October 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Check before every trip
Operating hours and departure frequencies can change at short notice, and the stretches that run can be suspended for weather or maintenance. Before you travel, check the published times and the status of each route here, with the date it was checked, and confirm them with the operator of the stretch.
Service status
Ecuador Train status
Service status · based on the published timetable
Devil's Nose (Nariz del Diablo) · Alausí – Sibambe
Tren Tayta Imbabura · Ibarra
Freedom Train · only the Ibarra – Andrade Marín section (Tren Tayta Imbabura)
Tren Crucero · Quito – Durán
Train of the Volcanoes · Quito – El Boliche
Ice Train (Tren del Hielo) · Riobamba – Urbina
Path of the Ancestors · Riobamba – Colta
Train of Sweetness · Durán – Bucay
Baños del Inca · El Tambo – Coyoctor