Passenger Describes 'Chaos' Following Head-On Train Collision Near Machu Picchu

Wed Dec 31 2025 22:14:37 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A significant collision between two tourist trains near Machu Picchu leaves one dead and at least 40 injured, prompting immediate response from emergency services.

A head-on train collision near Machu Picchu has resulted in one fatality and numerous injuries. Witness Niels Honkoop recounts scenes of chaos, with injured passengers requiring urgent assistance. The crash highlights ongoing disputes regarding transport services to the UNESCO heritage site, which has been plagued by safety concerns and demands for better bidding processes from local communities.

A passenger has described chaos after two trains collided head-on near Peru's most popular tourist attraction, Machu Picchu.

Niels Honkoop, 33, told the BBC he had switched seats part-way through the journey from the middle of the train to the back, before it crashed, injuring many of those sitting near the front.

I saw staff running around and people crying and people on the floor and chaos erupted, he said. We got off the train and I saw people bleeding with very severe injuries.

A train driver was killed and at least 40 others were injured in the crash, which took place at around 13:20 local time (18:20 GMT) on Tuesday.

Mr. Honkoop said the table in front of him broke in two. Shattered glass littered the floor of the carriage, and many were lying wounded in the aisle. One woman he saw was trapped between a bench and a table.

He tried to assist by moving luggage and handing out painkillers, as, by coincidence, I'd had a wisdom tooth removed recently so I had lots of painkillers on me.

The UK Foreign Office said it was supporting a number of British nationals involved in the crash, while the US embassy in Peru said that US citizens were among the injured.

After the crash, Mr. Honkoop said another train arrived with medical assistance. He and his tour group were taken to a nearby village where they were given food and medical care before being taken to a hotel.

The collision occurred on the track linking Ollantaytambo Station and Aguas Calientes, the closest town to Machu Picchu. The two trains involved in the accident were operated by PeruRail and Inca Rail respectively.

PeruRail, in a statement, expressed deep regret over the incident and mentioned that staff had immediately provided first aid to the train driver, conductor, and passengers involved. The specific cause of the accident has yet to be determined.

This incident occurs amid a broader dispute regarding the bidding processes for transport services to Machu Picchu, where local communities claim the system is not sufficiently transparent and fair. Additionally, concerns regarding over-tourism and safety standards for travelers to the ancient site continue to be pressing issues.