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Head-On Train Collision on Machu Picchu Line Kills Driver, Injures Dozens as Service Halts

Evacuations are complicated by the site’s limited road access.

Overview

  • Two passenger trains operated by PeruRail and Inca Rail collided on the CuscoOllantaytamboMachu Picchu route in the Qorihuayrachina–Pampacahua sector.
  • Authorities confirmed one fatality, identifying the train driver as Roberto Cárdenas, with reports of dozens of injured passengers.
  • The Ministry of Health deployed medical teams and 12 ambulances and activated ground and air referral systems to move the wounded to higher-capacity hospitals.
  • Rescue work is slowed by difficult terrain and the lack of direct road access to the crash site, and rail services on the corridor are suspended.
  • Investigations are underway to determine causes and responsibility, with preliminary reports naming PeruRail Frequency 602 and Inca Rail Frequency 65, as tourism groups demand stronger oversight of the corridor.