British Tourists Caught Up in Fatal Train Crash on Machu Picchu Line

British tourists were among passengers caught up in a deadly train collision on a popular rail route serving Peru’s most famous tourist attraction. The crash, involving two trains travelling towards Machu Picchu, has left at least one person dead and around 40 others injured, according to local reports.

The collision happened on the line linking the village of Ollantaytambo with the Machu Picchu area, a route heavily used by international visitors. Local media in Peru reported that the trains, operated by Inca Rail and PeruRail, struck each other while travelling in opposite directions on the same stretch of track.

Train driver Roberto Cárdenas is understood to have been killed in the crash and is believed to be the only fatality. While it remains unclear whether any British nationals were injured, tourists are reported to be among those hurt in the incident.

Emergency services were dispatched to the scene at around 1.20pm local time on December 30. Video footage circulating online showed passengers and crew calling urgently for medical assistance, while injured travellers were treated at the scene amid the wreckage.

Inca Rail later confirmed that one of its services was involved and said staff were immediately sent to the site to support those affected.

Inca Rail said:

"Company personnel were immediately dispatched to the scene to undertake the necessary actions and evacuate passengers in an orderly and safe manner."

Investigations into how the two trains came to be on the same section of track are ongoing, as authorities work to establish the circumstances leading up to the collision on one of Peru’s busiest tourist rail routes.

Image: Peru21