I enjoy travel by train. Argentina has few long distance trains but the sleeping car always seems to be sold out. Is there any secret to buying a compartment?

Which route?

Im not an experienced train rider, but I suggest you do your research to see what you are getting into. Argentine trains are no Orient Express... and Im trying hard to be diplomatic. Even if you could secure an entire compartment, I'd be surprised there would be much enjoyment and very few (if any) potential for on-board services. Sadly, the real (White Glove & Butler) Pullman Service that was available in Argentina in the 70s and early 80s is looong gone.

I have enjoyed a compartment going from BsAs to Bahia Blanca. No, certainly not the Blue Train. But there is something about sleeping on a train anywhere in the world that is great. My problem is actually buying a ticket.

Right now the service to Bahia Blanca has been suspended due to problems with the bridge that crosses the Rio Salado.

No one is really sure when it will restart.

Tickets need to be bought well in advance as frequencies are somewhat limited and prices are very cheap. This applies in particular to school holiday periods such as summer (through December and January) and late July/early August.

I took the train between Buenos Aires and Tucum�n some 20 years ago and it was a fun ride (I was young) although we got stuck for a long while in the middle of nowhere in Santiago del Estero because of some cows blocking the rails. The couchette was clean and decent, definitely not luxurious. We came back home on a sleeper bus which was more comfortable and was 10 hours faster than the train. In any case, brace for long delays as the rails in some parts are almost a century old. Of course nobody will speak a word of English but train staff are known for being very friendly.

The Tren Patag�nico between Bariloche and Viedma has become quite popular with Europeans and US-Americans as you go through the whole Patagonian steppe which ranks high among the most boring parts of Earth but foreigners love the feeling of isolation. I understand the service is operated by the Government of R�o Negro and not by Ferrocarriles Argentinos so booking might be a challenge. Also you will need to figure out an exit plan out of Viedma which is one of the country's least interesting cities. Bariloche on the other hand is gorgeous - like Switzerland on steroids.

What is the service from Mar del Plata to Buenos Aires like these days? The online timetables seem to show two services a day. How easy is it to book?

looks like it has been upgraded to three direct and three commuter trains each way daily....

BA MardelPlata schedules

Enjoy your wandering
FRed

The third train only operates one day per week

Thanks for this. I need to travel on a Friday from Mar del Plata to Buenos Aires. My crappy Spanish tells me the morning train is fine but on the afternoon timetable there is something to note. Does that mean changing trains?

The afternoon train joins up with the train from Pinamar in General guido.

As far as I know , you do not change - it is the passengers from Pinamar who have to change in the cases where they do not join the two trains together.