Collision in the Andes: What Happened on Peru’s Machu Picchu Railway?

A head‑on collision between two passenger trains occurred on 30 December 2025 on the single-track railway connecting Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu in Peru’s Cusco region. The crash, involving trains operated by PeruRail and Inca Rail, killed one railway worker and injured around 40 passengers. Services along the route were immediately suspended, and emergency response teams accessed the remote mountainous area to assist passengers. Peruvian prosecutors and transport authorities have launched a full investigation into the incident.

The Machu Picchu railway operates primarily as a single-track line, meaning trains travelling in opposite directions share the same track. Single-track operations require careful management to prevent collisions, including strict scheduling, coordination between operators, and safeworking systems that ensure only one train occupies any given section at a time. The line’s steep gradients and challenging geography make these measures especially important, and there are limited passing points along the route.

Historically, the Ollantaytambo–Aguas Calientes section was reported to operate as a non-signalled line using computer-assisted radio dispatching with track warrants. In such systems, a central dispatcher issues movement authority to a train via radio, specifying which section of track it may occupy. The train crew must read back the authority to confirm it matches the dispatcher’s instructions. This method is functionally similar to single-line token systems: it prevents more than one train from entering the same track section at once but relies heavily on accurate communication and disciplined adherence to procedure.

While the precise current signalling and dispatch arrangements on the Machu Picchu line have not been publicly confirmed by PeruRail or Inca Rail, the line’s reliance on single-track safeworking principles makes it vulnerable to human or procedural error. Investigators are examining whether a miscommunication in track warrant issuance, a procedural lapse, or other coordination failures between the two operators may have allowed two trains to occupy the same section simultaneously.

The collision highlights the inherent risks of operating a busy tourist railway over challenging terrain with limited infrastructure. Authorities are conducting interviews, reviewing operational protocols, and testing for potential human factors to determine exactly how the trains came to collide. The outcome of the investigation will likely inform future safety practices on single-track lines worldwide, especially those that rely on radio-based track warrant systems instead of conventional signals.