A catastrophic head-on collision between two tourist trains on the single-track route to Machu Picchu has resulted in one fatality and at least 40 injuries, with approximately 20 victims reported in serious condition. The incident occurred Tuesday near the ancient Inca town, disrupting transportation to Peru’s most iconic UNESCO World Heritage site.
According to local government authorities, emergency response teams deployed 20 ambulances to the rugged terrain surrounding the crash site between Ollantaytambo Station and Aguas Calientes. Medical personnel evacuated injured passengers to healthcare facilities in Cusco, though rescue operations faced significant challenges due to the difficult topography. Hundreds of tourists remained stranded at the scene awaiting evacuation, as reported by local media outlet Peru21.
The U.S. Embassy in Peru confirmed American citizens were among those injured, though police have not yet released formal identification of victims. The involved trains were operated by rival companies PeruRail and Inca Rail, both providing service to the renowned archaeological site.
PeruRail issued a statement expressing profound regret for the incident and confirming their staff provided immediate first aid to the train driver, conductor, and passengers. The exact cause of the collision remains under investigation.
This tragedy occurs amidst ongoing disputes regarding transportation services to Machu Picchu, where local communities have raised concerns about insufficiently open bidding processes for lucrative transit contracts. The site’s limited accessibility creates highly profitable operations for approved transport providers, with ticket prices remaining steep for visitors.
Built in the 15th century in the Peruvian Andes, Machu Picchu stands as one of the Seven Modern Wonders of the World. While officials implemented daily visitor caps in 2011 to address preservation concerns, the infrastructure supporting tourism continues to face scrutiny amid persistent worries about overtourism.