Fatal Head-On Train Crash on Machu Picchu Route Kills 1, Injures 40

PERU : A devastating head-on collision between two passenger trains servicing the world-famous Machu Picchu site has resulted in the death of a conductor and left at least 40 others injured, many in critical condition.

The accident occurred during the Tuesday lunch hour on a single-track section of the railway connecting the town of Ollantaytambo with Machu Picchu. The rail agency, Ferrocarril Transandino, confirmed that a train operated by PeruRail collided directly with another belonging to Inca Rail.

The Cusco prosecutor’s office confirmed that the deceased was the conductor of one of the locomotives. Among the 40 injured, authorities report that a significant number are foreign tourists.

Rescue efforts were severely hampered by the location’s geography. The collision took place in a remote Andean stretch with no direct road access. Video footage from the scene showed:

Emergency responders and police in neon jackets navigating the tracks.

Injured passengers being evacuated on stretchers through the rugged terrain.

A dozen ambulances stationed at the nearest accessible points to transport the wounded.

The exact cause of the collision remains unknown. Both rail companies have suspended services temporarily as investigators examine the signaling systems and potential human error on the single-track line.

This disaster follows a period of instability for the route; in September, nearly 2,000 tourists were stranded when local protesters blocked the tracks over bus bidding disputes. However, authorities have not yet linked this accident to any external interference.

Machu Picchu, a 15th-century Inca citadel and UNESCO World Heritage site, is Peru’s primary tourist draw. It averages 4,500 visitors daily, the vast majority of whom rely on these specific rail links to reach the ruins situated at 2,500 meters (8,200 feet).